Her sensitive, intuitive play with other musicians, her ability to approach the sound with a chameleon-like instinct is particularly apparent when accompanying, but she is just as at home in the spotlight when it comes to her take on Traditional Canadian Fiddle music, which under her masterful bow becomes an intoxicating, seemingly impossible blend of almost all the genres that span across the country; French Canadian, Métis, Celtic in its' many Canadian incarnations, and undertones of Rock, Country, Gypsy Swing, Old Time, Appalachian, Cajun, Klezmer and Jazz.
Having picked up the violin at age 3, her connection to the instrument has become seamless, an extension of her body through which she endeavors to translate words into tones and textures that somehow bring about a greater understanding of the song.
Tania co-founded the critically acclaimed group The Duhks in 2001, and founded her own independent label on which she released two solo albums in 1998. She has toured Canada, the U.S., China, Australia and Europe on a full-time basis for over 10 years and with the Duhks is a two-time Grammy award nominee (one win) and a four-time Juno award nominee (one win).
An activist from an early age, Tania partnered with Save The Children Canada on her first cross-Canada tour at age 16, and is the founder of GreenDux, a think tank and promotional tool for Artists, Companies and Non-Profits with the ultimate goal of promoting sustainability and innovation through music and entertainment.
In late 2009, Tania began to work with songwriter Mary Gauthier on her new concept record, entitled The Foundling. They are now touring the album as a duo all over the world.
When not on tour with Mary, Tania is available as a fiddle instructor, studio musician, producer and sidewoman, and is currently working on a book on how to be healthy as a touring musician.
SELECTED
FESTIVALS
Bonnaroo
(USA)
Stagecoach
(USA)
Telluride Bluegrass
Festival (USA)
Merlefest
(USA)
Vancouver Folk
Festival
Edmonton Folk
Festival
Calgary Folk
Festival
Canmore Folk
Festival
Winnipeg Folk
Festival
Ottawa Folk
Festival
Stan Rogers Folk
Festival
Wintergrass
(USA)
Springfest/Magfest
(USA)
Philadelphia Folk Festival
(USA)
Newport Folk Festival
(USA)
Four Corners Folk Festival
(USA)
Woodford Folk Festival
(AUS)
National Folk Festival
(AUS)
Apollo Bay Folk Festival
(AUS)
Tonder Folk Festival
(DEN)
Cambridge Music Festival
(ENG)
Shrewsbury Folk Festival
(ENG)
COMPETITIONS AND
AWARDS
Juno Award Nominee, Best
Roots & Traditional Album by a Group (2002, 2006,
2009)
Grammy Award Nominee, Best
Country Song with Vocals by a Group or Duo
(2007)
Juno Award,
Best Roots
& Traditional Album by a Group (2005)
Grammy Award, Best
Traditional Folk Album (2005)
Folk Alliance Award,
Emerging Artist of the Year & Band of the Year
(2006)
Western Canadian Music
Award, Outstanding Roots Recording (2005)
Americana Music Awards,
Emerging Artist of the Year (2005)
Youth Classical Chamber
Ensemble, Competed at the provincial level in the BC Festival of
the Arts, in Prince George, BC (1999)
Best Senior Fiddle, BC
Festival of the Arts, Victoria (1998)
Youth Fiddle Award,
Kamloops Annual Fiddle Contest (1997)
Youth Leader of the Year,
CFAX 1070 Community Awards (1999)
Tania Elizabeth's sound on the fiddle is unmistakable no matter what genre she happens to be sitting in on. You can hear the soft, multilayered long notes, the electric, Hendrix-inspired wails, the driving set of tunes and just know that
