…So full of joy, so full of life… visibly sparkled! - Judith McNeil, May 2007

Emily, Kathleen & Grace perform with an excitement and joy that shouts “Get up and dance!!” - Auckland Folk Festival 2009

“Overwhelmingly there is a sense of joy and passion that comes from you guys when you play this music…” - Richard Driver, September 2008

…An infectiously lively, foot-stomping Celtic violin group…. - NZ’s Got Talent, 2008  

Meet Fiddlelore – a vibrant group of three young girls, Grace Foote (19), Kathleen Wojcik (17), and Emily Roughton (21), who play Scottish fiddle with rhythm, style and pizzazz!

The girls got together in 2005 after discovering their mutual passion for the dancing fiddle music of Scotland and Cape Breton and have been inseparable ever since. Fiddlelore play with a joy and exuberance that has endeared them to audiences everywhere they go. With a rapidly expanding repertoire of both traditional and original material, the girls also incorporate a variety of instruments and vocal items into their fun, foot-stomping performances.

They are accompanied by award-winning singer / guitarist Penelope Foote. Penelope has been NZ’s Country Music Songwriter of the year and has won many national singing awards. She is currently studying classical singing and has recently received both national and international awards for top marks in a Trinity exam.

Also playing with them is guitarist Mark Mazengarb who recently joined forces with the girls after hearing them perform at the Auckland Folk Festival in January 2008. Mark (24) majored in classical performance at the Wellington Conservatorium of Music through Massey University, graduating in 2006 with the completion of his BMus degree. During the last year of his studies Mark undertook an exchange to America where he was based at the University of North Carolina, and had the opportunity to learn from a variety of esteemed guitarists including Tommy Emmanuel. In 2008 Mark was the recipient of the Frank Winter memorial award, which enabled him to travel to Nashville to attend the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society convention (CAAS) and several other workshops and festivals. Mark intends to spend 2010 travelling and playing in various parts of the world.

Together, their styles range from Scottish fiddle to gypsy swing, with Mazengarb’s superb bluegrass influence adding another level to this colourful bunch.

In September 2008 Fiddlelore appeared on NZ’s Got Talent, making it through to the semi finals. Together with guitarist Mark Mazengarb they were guest artists at the Auckland Folk Festival in January 2009. In January 2010 they were also recipients of the Frank Winter Memorial Award, and are currently recording the long-awaited CD, and helping Penelope study a big map of Scotland as they plan a tour through Europe with Mazengarb in 2011.

We have our own youtube channel: www.youtube.com/fiddlelore so be sure to pay us a visit and subscribe to our videos! We’re also on Facebook, so become a fan today!