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Acoustic Folk Roots
Patti Kusturok is one of Canada’s most respected fiddlers, having been inducted into the North American Fiddlers’ Hall of Fame. After growing up in a household that always had Don Messer 8-track tapes playing, she knew at a very early age that all she wanted to do was play this wonderful music. Her style of playing is geared to inspiring listeners to hit the dance floor, which she has done at countless rural dancehalls across the prairies.
Patti was fortunate to have been encouraged and mentored by some of Canada’s fiddle legends, including Graham Townsend and Reg Bouvette, and many of Manitoba’s Métis fiddlers. In her teens, Patti shared the stage many times alongside Reg as she absorbed his feel and learned from him on the spot. These moments proved to be incredibly special and truly helped form her into the player she is today.
Patti had much success in the competition circuit where she garnered titles such as Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Champion and North American Fiddle Champion multiple times.
These days Patti makes her living as a fiddle instructor as part of a team who travels to northern Manitoba communities to bring fiddling to the schools. In addition, Patti hosts workshops, teaches at fiddle camps, and performs regularly at all venues from small town fairs to world renowned festival stages. She has done “Patti Kusturok’s 365 Days of Fiddle Tunes,” in which she recorded and uploaded one tune every single day to YouTube. She did this in 2015 and again in 2019. That is a lot of tunes!
Patti now devotes her career to the promotion and preservation of the music she loves.
She is clearly passionate about sharing the tunes she grew up on with as many people as possible. Patti absolutely loves connecting with people via this beautiful aural tradition, and will continue to do so as long as her fiddle is at hand.