Pierre Schryer & Danielle Enblom
One of Canada’s leading traditional fiddlers and a celebrated performer and producer, Pierre Schryer, is an influential figure among fans and fellow musicians in the Celtic scene. Known for his captivating energy and warmth on stage, Pierre performs in the styles of Irish, Scottish, Québécois, Cape Breton, Canadian Old Time, American Swing, and more.
Pierre was immersed from an early age in the Franco-Ontarian traditions of his heritage along with his fiddling triplet brothers. The Schryer Triplets, with their sister Julie on piano, recorded 2 albums and appeared several times on the popular CBC broadcast presentation “The Tommy Hunter Show.” As a solo performer, he has received numerous titles and awards including Canadian Open Fiddle Champion, Canadian Grand Masters Champion, Violoneux Championnat, and North American Irish Fiddle Champion.
Since the mid-1990s, the Pierre Schryer Band has toured Canada, the USA, Ireland, Europe, and the UK. Pierre has shared the stage with hundreds of leading traditional artists and has performed with orchestras across Canada with his acclaimed Symphony Pops show. Of his seven recordings, 2 Worlds United was a significant 1999 duo album with Irish button accordionist Dermot Byrne that bridged their traditions across the Atlantic, and was distributed worldwide by Claddagh Records. Blue Drag was nominated for a 2004 JUNO Award and Mélange for a 2008 Canadian Folk Music Award. His 2019 album Mandorla, with BC guitarist Adam Dobres, received 2020 Canadian Folk Music and Western Canadian Music Award nominations.
Pierre’s talents extend beyond his musical abilities, he’s an accomplished luthier and artist currently performing on one of his own violins and bows. Schryer, as producer, also created and directed his own festival “Canadian Celtic Celebration,” in Thunder Bay, Ontario from 2000 to 2017. Dedicated to passing on the tradition, Pierre teaches at numerous fiddle camps and retreats, and is committed to creating community through traditional music sessions, community dances and collaborative projects wherever he resides.
Danielle Enblom is a sean-nós dancer and award-winning step dancer and jigger from Mni Sota Makoce — Minneapolis, Minnesota. Known for her joyful and musical approach, Danielle’s dancing is rooted in traditions from North America, Ireland and Scotland.
At an early age, Danielle was a regular at sessions and céilí dances in the Twin Cities, learning and competing in Irish step dancing. As a teenager, she began traveling to Ireland and learning sean-nós dancing, opening her world to old regional styles of dance in Ireland and North America. In 2005, under the Diploma in Traditional Irish Music from University College Cork, Danielle studied fiddle with Connie O’Connell, Matt Cranitch, and Bobby Gardiner, and learned dancing from the inimitable Cork step dancer Peggy McTaggert. From 2010 to 2012, Danielle toured internationally with Sole Mates Dance alongside Kieran Jordan, completed a research-based MA in Ethnochoreology at Munster Technological University in Tralee under Dr. Sharon Phelan, and deepened her experience in the old dancing master traditions of Sliabh Luachra.
Enblom’s own roots are Red River Métis, French Canadian, and Swedish. She has studied French Canadian step dance with Pierre Chartrand and Norman Legault, and Métis jigging with knowledge keeper Yvonne Chartrand. In 2023, she danced in the Indigenous-led Métis opera Li Keur: Riel’s Heart of the North. A sought-after instructor at festivals, camps, and retreats, she currently tours with Franco-Ontarian fiddler Pierre Schryer and BC guitarist Adam Dobres.
Concert: Saturday 21 November
7:30pm - 10pm @ The Pleasance Theatre, Edinburgh
Pierre Schryer & Danielle Enblom with Natalie Hass will open our Saturday night concert.
Workshops:
Pierre Schyrer - Sunday (time tbc) - Lomond Room
Ontario and Quebec tunes (Intermediate +): Learn a couple of tunes in the Canadian tradition, exploring the approach and style, as well as the bowing and phrasing.
Natalie Haas - Saturday 2pm - Ochil Room
Cello Accompaniment (Intermediate +): How to add groove and chordal backing from a cellist’s perspective.
Find out more about the artists:
Pierre Schyrer - Instagram