Local youth Aimee Poirier of Antler, Patrick Tinant of Bellegarde, Emily Dubois of Langbank, as well as Simone Boutin and Emily Klatt of Carlyle created a fiddle group called High Strung earlier this year as a way to fundraise money for a trip to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
Having played in Redvers, Carnduff, Kenosee, Carlyle, and Kennedy they have successfully played to many fiddle lovers in the southeast.
"Five fiddlers, four years, one passion," is their tagline, which accurately explains their dynamic as the five young fiddle players have been playing together for four years after first beginning to take lessons with Michele Amy six years ago. Over the years they have developed a love of fiddling through their time learning the art and have grown as performers.
As some of them will graduate this year, the five decided to organize a trip to the Celtic Colour Music Festival in Cape Breton between Oct. 11 and Oct. 19.
On Saturday, Sept. 14, the group performed in Memorial Hall in Carlyle to approximately 40 audience members.
They were joined on the stage by LeAnne Poirier on piano, Pierre Tinant on guitar, and Ben Dubois on guitar.
"They make us sound good," Emily Klatt said of their parent helpers during the performance.
The group then went on to perform jigs, reels, waltzes, and medleys with the crowd stomping their feet and clapping along.
In the end the group thanked the crowd for their support.
"Without you we're just a bunch of kids playing to nobody," Klatt laughed.
"You're helping us fulfill a lifelong dream, for some of us, and something we'll never forget."
As the youth finished a member of the crowd stood up to thank them for their passion and for playing that evening, wishing the youth good luck in the future.
When High Strung finished their performance the crowd got to their feet in a standing ovation, which brought an encore performance.
During the performance the group played both together and with solo features as well. Boutin called up Mitch Dureault to perform with her making the solo into a duet.
The young fiddlers will soon take off to Cape Breton and have successfully made it happen through their dedication and passion of music.
