Fiddle champion Mari Black tours western Maine

FARMINGTON – New England Celtic Arts will present the current reigning Glenfiddich Scottish and Canadian Maritime fiddle champion Mair Black and her trio at the Mexico Maine Congregational Church on Wednesday, March 4 and at North Church in Farmington, Maine for the Farmington Historical Society on Thursday, March 5. Both concerts start at 7 p.m. A jam session begins at 6:15 p.m. in both locations. Audience members are encouraged to bring their musical instruments to the jam sessions.

An internationally-recognized performer, Black is equally at home in a wide variety of musical traditions, including Celtic, Canadian, and American fiddling, jazz, tango, klezmer, folk, and more. She has been featured at Celtic Highland Games, Argentine tango festivals, folk festivals, jazz concert series, and world-famous classical concert venues including Carnegie Hall. Mari has appeared with such diverse artists as Irish fiddle champion Liz Carroll, Americana master Mark O’Connor, and jazzman Willie Ruff. Her music has been heard on the BBC Radio Scotland’s “Take the Floor,” Fox and CBS morning news, NPR’s “Here and Now,” and WGBH Radio’s “A Celtic Sojourn.”

While her shows combine selections from different genres and original pieces with diverse stylistic influences, Black has also proven herself a master of many distinctive musical traditions in their pure form. She is the reigning Glenfiddich Scottish Fiddle Champion and Canadian Maritime Fiddle Champion, the 2013 U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion, the 2012 Canadian Maritime Fiddle Champion, the 2011 Canadian Open Novelty Champion, a 1st prize winner at the 2010 American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition, and a 2-time winner at the ASTA (American String Teachers Association) Alternative Styles Awards.

Black’s recent performing career includes acclaimed performances at the Austin Celtic Festival (Austin, TX), the Yachats Celtic Festival (Yachats, OR), the Saltwater Celtic Festival (Portland, ME), the San Diego Folk Heritage Society (San Diego, CA), The Burren Backroom Series with Brian O’Donovan (Boston, MA), the International Festival del Accordion (Belo Horizonte, Brazil), Club Passim (Boston, MA), and more. She has been featured as a concert soloist with many New England orchestras including the New England String Ensemble and the Boston Virtuosi. No matter how big or small the show, Black’s passion for sharing diverse music and the stories behind it continues to inspire every audience she connects with. She will be traveling with her full trio

The Mexico Congregational Church is at 163 Main Street Mexico Maine. For reservations call 207-562-4445 North Church is located at 118 High Street Farmington, Me. For reservations at North Church call: 207-778-2006. Concert ticket price is $15.00 at both locations. More info available at http://www.necelticarts.com