Amy Gilliam Carwile | Amy began learning the violin at age of eight, playing traditional old-time fiddle music alongside her three siblings at county fairs, grange halls and community events. Recognizing her budding talent, her family trekked to competitions across the country on weekends and during the summers in support of her growing passion for fiddle music. Those formative years laid the foundation for a rich musical career that would eventually marry her to fiddle music for life.

Over the last two decades, she has competed in dozens of fiddle contests throughout the United States and Canada garnering awards such as Northwest Regional, Washington State, Pend O’Reille International, Rocky Mountain and Colorado Open Fiddling Championships. Amy has also served as a judge at numerous fiddle contests including Oregon State, Colorado Open, Indiana State, Wyoming State, Idaho Open, Northwest Regional and the prestigious National Old-Time Fiddlers Contest held annually in Weiser, Idaho.

She has instructed privately for 15 years, passing down the old-time fiddling heritage to hundreds of students of all ages, from three-year-old toddlers to 80-year-old seniors. In tandem with her private instruction, she travels the U.S. and internationally conducting fiddle workshops and master classes as well as teaching at summer music camps including the International Fiddle School at Vanderbilt University.

Amy’s performing career spans 20 years. For three years she performed with a band in the Inland Northwest, playing fiddle and singing background vocals. In 2004, Amy traveled the U.S. and Scotland with the Celtic band, Full Moon Ensemble contributing to their unique blend of Irish, Scottish and early American music. In a performance at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, Amy played violin with The Moody Bluegrass Ensemble alongside musicians, Tim O’Brien, John Cowan, Larry Cordle, Claire Lynch and others including The Moody Blues. Amy currently performs as a duo with her husband Daniel, adding fiddle, piano and vocals to their fusion of musical styles. They have been juried into the Kentucky Arts Council’s Performing Arts Directory and are a part of Southern Artistry through the Southern Arts Federation.

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