Natalie Mac Master

About

Through and through, let there be no doubt: expert Juno Award-winning fiddler Natalie MacMaster is a Cape Breton girl. Lest there be any reservation concerning this declaration, you’re invited to check out Cape Breton Girl, her 11th and latest collection of jubilant instrumental music that is beloved by audiences worldwide.

“I just wanted to do a straight-ahead, traditional record, and I find that they’re becoming less and less common,” says MacMaster, a member of the Order Of Canada, the country’s highest civilian honour.

Mission accomplished, as this invigorating collection of toe-tapping jigs, reels and strathspeys is not only a joy to behold, but with titles like “Alex MacMaster’s Jig,” “My Brother Kevin” and “Stoney Lake Reels” embraces all the values that Natalie holds dear: family, tradition, home and faith.

“Those are the things most important to me,” says MacMaster, who is married to fellow fiddler Donnell Leahy and is a mother of four. “I work through my music, to strike a proper balance between life and work wherever possible.”

It’s her dedicated work ethic that has seen her accomplish so much: professionally, her three-decade career has watched her amass multiple gold albums, two Grammy nominations and one win (for her contribution to Yo-Yo Ma’s Songs Of Joy & Peace, for which she received “a nice bottle of champagne”); a Juno Award for Best Instrumental Album for In My Hands; eight Canadian Country Music Awards, 10 East Coast Music Awards, an honorary doctorate from St. Thomas University and honorary degrees from Niagara University, NY, Trent University and – most recently – the Arts & Letters Award from the Canadian Association of New York.