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Brittany
Haas is the most talked-about young fiddler in California
since the prodigious Stuart Duncan came out of San Diego twenty
years ago. At 16, she plays with the vivacity and depth of
feeling of great players many years her senior.
Great-great granddaughter of a Missouri fiddler, Brittany
took up the violin at age 5. Summers studying and playing
at Alasdair Fraser's "Valley of the Moon" Scottish
Fiddling School sharpened her technique and understanding
of traditional music. It was there in 1997 that she met Southern
Appalachian fiddle master Bruce Molsky, who has most influenced
her music. Molsky introduced her to Darol Anger, who took
her as a student and has made her a member of his exciting
"American Fiddle Ensemble."
Brittany's debut recording, produced by Anger, includes special
guest Molsky, as well as Scott Nygaard, Mike Marshall, Alison
Brown, Rushad Eggleston (of "Fiddlers 4") and others.
Brittany won the "best recognition of tradition"
prize in the American String Teacher Association's first-ever
Alternative String Styles Awards in March 2003. Her old-time
band won first place at the Northwest Fiddle Summit band competition
in June 2003. When she isn't busy with her high school studies
or with Anger's AFE, Brittany performs with the San Francisco
Scottish Fiddlers, the Yonder Mountain String Band, Danny
Barnes, her sister, cellist Natalie Haas, and as special guest
in numerous bands.
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