NEWS RELEASE
ORILLIA OPERA HOUSE
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Spring is in the air in Orillia, and with it comes excitement over the monthly return of the Orillia Opera House’s Artist Life Stories series.
This April 25, fiddling and step-dancing champion April Verch takes the stage as the third artist in the lineup, and for lovers of all things music and dance, this is a show not to be missed.
For over 20 years April Verch has made a name for herself with her signature toe-tapping, upbeat performances inspired by the music styles of Ottawa Valley’s fiddling and step-dancing world. Through singing, dancing, and fiddling, she has performed across 14 countries on four continents, collaborated with music legends throughout various genres, garnered prestigious music and step-dancing awards, and performed alongside a star-studded fiddling ensemble during the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.
Known for her passionate and high-energy performances, April Verch is one of Canada’s most respected names in the fiddling world.
April studied at Berkeley College of Music, alongside music legends Matt Glaser and Darol Anger. By ages 18 and 19, she achieved awards at both the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Championship and Canadian Open Old-Time Fiddlers’ Contest.
Outside of touring with her self-titled group, the April Verch Band, April has also collaborated with music legends such as Canadian country artist Tommy Hunter, Celtic pop band Mad Pudding, old-time legend Joe Newberry, Estonian bluegrass band Curly Strings, Canadian fiddle supergroup Bowfire, Irish tenor John McDermott, and most recently, with her husband and longtime collaborator, Cody Walters.
She has released f14 albums — two of which were nominated for Juno awards — and has performed across iconic stages such as the Kennedy Center and Ryman Auditorium. She has released a successful music book, instructional step-dance DVDs, and also hosts camps, master classes, and workshops for aspiring artists.
As part of the Artist Life Stories series, April will explore the rise of her esteemed music career, uncover the behind-the-scenes events that formed her most iconic collaborations, and even perform some of her most cherished, toe-tapping songs along the way.
Take a deep dive into a life dedicated to music, dance, and the celebratory sounds of northeastern Ontario.
April Verch performs on April 25 at 7:30 p.m. at the Orillia Opera House. Tickets are $60 and can be purchased online at orilliaoperahouse.ca, or through the box office at 705-326-8011. Tickets are on sale now for $60 per individual performance, though all four Artist Life Stories can be purchased in a package at a discounted price by contacting the box office at 705-326-8011 or online at orilliaoperahouse.ca.
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