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 began playing the violin under the direction of Jim Tengesdal in Minot, North Dakota. She has been playing the violin for 15 years and represents herself as an accomplished musician. She has won awards and star ratings, including several “best in room” awards, at regional and state competitions for her classical playing. Shelby received her Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Music Education degree from Concordia College Moorhead, Minnesota in 2021 under the violin instruction of Dr. Sonja Bosca-Harasim. Shelby demonstrated her leadership skills and classical musicianship at Concordia, holding the position of concertmaster of the Concordia Orchestra in 2020 and 2021. Continuing her education at Concordia College, Shelby received her Master of Music in Music Education degree in 2023. She has been the Director of Orchestras at West Fargo Horace High School in North Dakota since 2021. Shelby was a mentor for young musicians in the North Star Chamber Camp at Concordia College in 2018, where she coached a string ensemble. She is an active member of the Fargo Moorhead Symphony Orchestra and instructs private violin students in her spare time. Shelby is a competitive old-time fiddle player with many accomplishments. From winning the International Music Camp Old-Time Fiddle Contest Championship three times to winning the Minnesota State Old-Time Fiddle Championship and winning several contests in between, Shelby has proven herself as a fiddler. She has taught the beginner fiddle class and has been an adjudicator of the Old-Time Fiddle Contest at the International Music Camp Old-Time Fiddle Workshop since 2022. She has performed her fiddle music at the Norsk Hostfest for several years, one of which including a performance alongside the musicians and comedians, Williams and Ree. She performs her fiddle music at banquets, annual meetings, and weddings. In the time that permits, Shelby volunteers her music at churches and 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!