Last year, the nonprofit Four Lakes Traditional Music Collective (FLTMC) gave a scholarship to Madison’s MadFiddle, a youth fiddle ensemble led by musician and teacher Shauncey Ali. We recently followed up with Shauncey to learn what he did with the scholarship and this is what he told us.

“I wanted to use the scholarship to impact as many young people as possible, while also touching on a youth population for which private violin lessons might be less common.

In December, I constructed a 40-minute “History of American Folk Music” presentation that was equal parts lecture and performance. It outlined a historic overview of the development of folk music in the U.S., emphasizing the impact that immigration and slavery have had on existing genres.

I presented a series of assemblies at Glendale Elementary School, to a student body that is 75 percent Hispanic, African-American and Asian.

Then in April I did a brief residency with Glendale’s fifth grade strings class, which occurs concurrently with recess. I was amazed to learn that these students had elected to learn a stringed instrument over running around on the playground. It was very special to share traditional fiddle tunes and songs with students for whom this experience was new.”

We at the Sugar Maple couldn’t be more impressed – or humbled. Glad we could play a small part in this important work that connects youth with music and history.

As you wrap up this season of gift-giving, consider a donation to the Sugar Maple Music Festival.

With your support the Four Lakes Traditional Music Collective, the 501(c)3 that puts on the annual festival, bring acts not normally seen in Madison and builds a community around music. In addition to the two-day Sugar Maple festival we promote a love of music throughout the year with our concerts, workshops and support of local nonprofits that foster a lifelong love of music in kids.

Sugar Maple is a community – and you are part of it. Your generosity helps bring people together under a big tent to celebrate something we can all agree on. Music!

Mark your calendar right now for our 15^th annual festival on August 3 and 4, the first weekend in August at Lake Farm County Park.

Make your tax-deductible year-end gift here before the end of 2017. It’s easy! And thank you for being part of our community.

Kaia Kater performing at the 2017 Sugar Maple Music Festival

Studies show that when kids learn music their brains work harder, they have higher test scores and their concentration improves. Not to mention, making music is just plain fun. If these studies are to be believed, Madison’s youth string ensemble, MadFiddle, is doing its part to create a generation of joyful geniuses. Led by Shauncey Ali, MadFiddle is receiving the first Sugar Maple Music Festival Scholarship, awarded by the Four Lakes Traditional Music Collective, the volunteer-led nonprofit that puts on the annual Sugar Maple Music Festival.

The Collective strives to make roots and traditional music accessible to people of all ages throughout Dane County and beyond. The $500 scholarship supports MadFiddle’s work in fostering musical passion and creating performance opportunities for young people.

“MadFiddle brings roots music to the next generation of players. Music is something they will be able to play and share their entire lives,” says Bob Batyko, president of the Four Lakes Traditional Music Collective Board of Directors. “Making the arts available to kids is more important than ever, and Shauncey’s ongoing commitment to doing just has touched the lives of countless young people and families.”

Buy Tickets
The scholarship will be presented during MadFiddle’s final show of its spring season, to be held at the Stoughton Opera House April 30. Learn more and buy tickets at the box office before or the day of the show.

Early bird tickets for the 14th annual Sugar Maple Music Festival, to be held Aug. 4 and 5, will be on sale May 1 – June 1. Early bird tickets are almost half the cost of the door price. Buy tickets on Brown Paper Tickets starting May 1.

This scholarship was made possible thanks to a donation from the Francis Johansen Memorial Fund.

About MadFiddle
Founded in 2011, MadFiddle is a youth violin ensemble that explores and performs fiddle music from around the world. The repertoire draws largely upon the traditions of old-time, Appalachian, Celtic, bluegrass and Scandinavian folk tunes, but also includes music composed by some of today’s most influential acoustic artists. MadFiddle meets weekly and performs with an energetic backing band called Highway 151. MadFiddle is directed by Shauncey Ali, an award-winning teacher, fiddler, violist and composer who created the program as a way to nurture the alternative string scene in and around Madison, Wisconsin.

Molly Tuttle
Thursday Jan 12, 7:30 pm (2 sets)
The Barrymore Theatre Lobby
Tickets $10 in advance by phone, on-line or at the door
Presented by the Four Lakes Traditional Music Collective

“[Molly Tuttle] sings with the gentle authority of Gillian Welch, yet plays astoundingly fleet flat-picking guitar like Chet Atkins on superdrive.”  – American Songwriter Magazine

A virtuoso multi-instrumentalist and award winning songwriter with a distinctive voice, Molly Tuttle has turned the heads of even the most seasoned industry professionals. Since her performing debut at age 11, she’s appeared on A Prairie Home Companion, was featured on the cover of Flatpicking Guitar Magazine (the first woman ever to be featured on the cover), won first place in the prestigious Chris Austin Songwriting Competition at MerleFest, and recently graduated from the Berklee College of Music, which she attended on a Hazel Dickens Memorial Scholarship.

Her lovely voice, impeccable and fiery guitar playing, and sensitive song writing make Molly Tuttle a star on the rise. She has already received more than two million YouTube views and, with her project The Goodbye Girls, appeared on the Newport Folk Festival and opened a series of sold out theater shows in Fall 2015 on tour with The Milk Carton Kids. In 2016, the Molly Tuttle Band has toured extensively and will be featured on several prominent festivals including Rocky Grass Festival, Wintergrass Festival, and many others, and received a 2016 IBMA Momentum Award as Instrumentalist, singling her out as one to watch in the genre. Molly now makes her home in Nashville and has completed work on her debut solo album with producer Kai Welch, to be released in early 2017.

What a weekend!  From the Thursday pre-fest show at the Union Terrace with Devil in a Woodpile to the closing notes of the Jay Farrar trio Saturday night, Sugar Maple #13 was just about perfect.  For all you do to support this festival, THANK YOU!

Mark your calendars!  The 14^th annual Sugar Maple Traditional Music Festival will be August 4-5, 2017.

The Four Lakes Traditional Music Collective (FLTMC) is the non-profit group who puts on the Sugar Maple fest.  We’ll take August off and then jump right in to start planning for 2017.  Interested in getting involved?  Have comments or suggestions?   Drop us a line at fourlakesmusic@gmail.com.  We’d love to hear your ideas!

Check out all the 2016 festival photos courtesy of Kent Sweitzer Photography.