Franco-American music: Donna Hébert & friends

donna@fiddlingdemystified.com – 413-230-3107

Cited for “outstanding artistic achievement,” by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick at the 2009 Commonwealth Awards, Donna Hébert is a 2008 Massachusetts Artists’ Fellow in the Folk Arts. One of the state’s most prestigious art awards, the fellowship from the Massachusetts Cultural Council recognized Donna’s virtuoso Franco-American fiddling. Donna was also named a Creative Teaching Partner by the Council, allowing her to bring her Fiddling Demystified for Strings program to classrooms around the state.

Mentored by Louis Beaudoin and Gerry Robichaud in the 1970s,  Donna absorbed their Québecois and Acadian fiddle styles and has played their music from her first recording with Yankee Ingenuity on Philo/Fretless in 1976, also producing Gerry Robichaud’s Philo/Alcazar LP in 1977. She now performs with Louis’ daughters and grandchildren in The Beaudoin Legacy. With tracks on two Smithsonian anthologies, Donna has founded, played and sung for over 40 years in many different groups, including Rude Girls, Chanterelle with Josée Vachon, Yankee Ingenuity, Groovemama, the Beaudoin Legacy and Mist Covered Mountains. In 2010, Donna joins forces with Irish accordion legend John Whelan to feature the music of the Irish and French connection.

With Franco-American songstress Josée Vachon, Donna founded heritage group Chanterelle in 1993, recording two CDs, French in America and Soirée chez nous. Both Donna and Josée contributed original songs and performances to the the 1999 Smithsonian-Folkways anthology, Mademoiselle voulez-vous danser: French-Canadian music from the New England borderlands. Donna and Josée still perform together for concerts, festivals, public and private schools. Look for them Sunday Dec 6 at Le Foyer in Pawtucket and with Daniel Boucher and Max Cohen Sunday May 1 at the Blackstone River Theatre, Cumberland RI.

Recognized as a master fiddler with eight NEA Master-Apprentice Awards in the Folk Arts from New England arts councils, Donna has mentored Franco-American fiddlers from Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut and New Hampshire, teaching each one the repertoire, style and joie de vivre she imbibed herself from her mentors in the 1970s. Three of her apprentices perform in the Beaudoin Legacy. Adjunct fiddle instructor at Amherst College, Donna authored and publishes the lauded Fiddling Demystified for Strings series.  She also teaches fiddling to children and adults at summer camps and through her Great Groove Band youth performance programs at Old Songs and Philadelphia Folk Festivals. “Fiddling Demystified should be required reading for all string teachers thinking of branching out into fiddling,” Strings Magazine, 9/09.

In February, May and July 2010, Donna is joined by guitarist and musical partner Max Cohen and Franco fiddler and singer Daniel Boucher for performances at Le Foyer in Pawtucket RI, the Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland RI and Festival Mémoires et Racines in Québec. A Franco-American phenomenon whose father, Jules, is an accordionist, Daniel also runs Jam Français in Bristol CT. Dan’s original tunes are destined for the French-Canadian fiddling canon, with some tunes already establishing themselves among fiddlers.

 
Donna is also available for occasional performances with Québecois pianist Rachel Aucoin and accordionist Sabin Jacques. Both musicians recorded with her on “In Full Bloom.” Rachel and Sabin live near Québec City and are members of the Tidal Wave / Raz de marée band. Listen to them play La valse joyeuse, Hommage a Philippe Bruneau, Les accordeonistes and Les femmes together on Donna’s CD sampler page.

To book Donna with any of these artists for a program of French-Canadian fiddle music, songs, and stories,

Contact donna@fiddlingdemystified.com • 413-230-3107