Ryan D’Aoust

Ryan D’Aoust is an award winning fiddler from the Norway House Cree Nation in Northern Manitoba. Ryan learned to play fiddle through the Frontier School division’s Fiddling program offered in his school when he was in grade 6. His exceptional passion, talent, and commitment to his community soon led to his becoming a much sought after fiddler at a very young age. Ryan has played at countless square dancing and jigging contests throughout Manitoba.

His first album “South Side of the Strings” recorded in 2006 when he was still a teenager won a Canadian Aboriginal Music Award for best fiddling album of the year. His second album entitled “York Boats And Legends” included four original compositions which drew inspiration from his home community and supportive family.

Ryan’s style of fiddling is rooted in the tradition of Metis fiddling which goes back over 350 years in Northern Manitoba and is also influenced by the classic Canadian fiddle style purveyed by fiddlers such as Don Messer, Graham Townsend and Calvin Vollrath. Ryan is a magician with his bow and is known for his musical articulation, tone and danceable style. He is highly respected within the Fiddling community and appreciated not only for his playing, but for his sense of humour and warm demeanor.

Ryan performs both as a solo artist and as co-leader of the Band Highway 373 with his brother Clayton and has been a fiddle instructor for the Frontier School Division since 2011. He currently teaches in his home community of Norway House. In addition to performing across Canada, Ryan organizes and teaches fiddle workshops, arranges out of town performances for gifted players and helps promising students attend summer music camps.

Tradition and legacy have resonated with Ryan for his whole career. As both a player and teacher his goal is to transmit the joy and sense of community that comes with the fiddle music. Ryan is also enriching that legacy by creating new compositions that add to the canon of Metis music comprised of traditional music and tunes written by the great Metis fiddlers of bygone era including Andy DesJarlis, Reg Bouvette, and Marcel Meilleur. His hope is that his artistic contributions to the fiddling craft will help inspire and motivate young players in the future.

The concert is $10 USD or free to Old Time Fiddle Workshop participants.

All times are Central Standard Time and are subject to change. For more up to date information, please contact the IMC office via email or phone 701-263-4211 (June-July) or 701-838-8472 (September-May).  All events at the International Music Camp are subject to the International Peace Garden Gate Fee.   2026 Admission is either $12 per day per person or $50 for a family annual season pass. 

This project was funded by the Manitoba Arts Council.