Kyle Burghout
Fiddle Instructor & Contest Judge
Kyle Burghout, originally from Ottawa and now based in Winnipeg, has established himself as one of Canada’s premier fiddlers, as a performer, composer, and educator. His many awards include North American Irish Fiddle Champion, Grand North American Old-Time Fiddle Champion, and seven-time finalist at the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Competition. He has performed across Canada as well as internationally, and can most often be seen performing with Jane Cory in their duo project Jane & Kyle. To date, Kyle has composed over 60 fiddle tunes, as well as larger works for chamber and orchestral ensembles. He has released three studio albums, and his first book is being released this summer. Kyle is also the Artistic & Executive Director of the Gatineau Hills Fiddle Festival in Chelsea, QC.
Caitlin Baker
Fiddle Instructor & Contest Judge
Growing up in Grand Rapids, Manitoba, Caitlin Baker began playing the fiddle at the age of four. With her love for a wide variety of musical genres, Caitlin is known to play everything from
Old Time fiddle tunes, to Classical music, to Rock. With a great interest in such a variety of music, she enjoys immersing herself in styles new to her, most recently having joined a Flamenco troupe in Brandon, Manitoba! In addition to the fiddle, Caitlin also enjoys singing and plays an assortment of other stringed instruments, including guitar, mandolin, and banjo.
As an educator, Caitlin enjoys teaching her private students in Brandon, Manitoba, where she is entering her final year of her Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance with a minor in Gender & Women’s Studies. In addition to teaching privately, Caitlin also teaches a variety of music workshops and camps throughout the year, including at Fiddle Jamborees held by the Frontier School Division, and at summer camps like Western Canada’s Clear Lake Fiddle Camp. When she isn’t making music, you can probably find Caitlin reading new books or camping!
Shelby Huston
Fiddle Instructor & Contest Judge
Shelby Huston has been an active fiddle player for over 12 years. She started her musical journey under the direction of accomplished fiddler and educator, Jim Tengesdal. Through his instruction, Shelby gained a passion for performing and educating. She is an orchestra teacher in West Fargo, ND enjoying her first year of teaching after graduating with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree from Concordia College, Moorhead MN. She is an active member of the Fargo Moorhead Symphony Orchestra and teaches violin students in her spare time.
Shelby is a competitive old-time fiddle player with many accomplishments. From winning the International Music Camp’s Old-Time Fiddle Contest Championship three times to winning the Minnesota State Old-Time Fiddle Championship and several championships at contests in between, Shelby has proven herself as a fiddler. She has performed her fiddle music at the Norsk Hostfest for five years, one of which including a performance alongside the musicians and comedians, Williams and Ree. She performs her fiddle music at banquets, events, weddings, and on live television. Shelby volunteers playing music for her church and playing fiddle music, including country/bluegrass as well as old-time fiddling, at nursing homes in North Dakota.
Tim Osmond
Guitar/Banjo Instructor
Tim Osmond wears quite a few hats. The cowboy hat though is just for show. He couldn’t tell you how to rope and/or ride. He can, however, tell you a thing or two about banjo pickin’, bluegrass music, jamming, artist representation, tour booking, marketing, designing unique posters, and producing multi-act shows for hundreds of eager listeners. For over 20 years Tim has been playing banjo, guitar and Dobro professionally with different ensembles, but lately with the five-piece bluegrass ensemble The Stanley County Cut-Ups, swing/jazz/bluegrass trio The Spectacles, or as a solo performer.
Other notable achievements include:
– Founder and curator of the annual Manitoba Jamboree (2022-present)
– Co-founder and former artistic director of Canada’s only non-profit house concert network ‘Home Routes’ (2006-2021)
– Creator and host of bluegrass radio show ‘Sunday Drive’ on CJUM for 10 years (2005-2015)
TBA – Bass Instructor
Mat Reimer
Contest Accompanist
Photo & Bio Coming Soon!