A Unique Glimpse into the Members of the Orchestra and Choir

As a young violinist, Cade Fiddaman explores multiple styles of music genres. You'll be lucky enough to hear his Celtic playing on March 3rd and 4th.

If you don’t know of him yet, you are about to discover Cade Fiddaman. We might even be bold enough to say, he’ll be the star of the upcoming 50th Anniversary Collage performances on March 3rd and 4th. Moving to Bozeman when he was about five years old, Cade has lived here for 13 years, participating with the Symphony for the past two seasons.

As a home-schooled student, most of Cade’s involvement in the community has been as a violinist/fiddler. In addition to the playing regularly with the Bozeman Symphony, he is currently involved with two contra-dance bands as well as a fiddle/cello duo with his brother.

In 2016, Cade’s violin teacher, Carrie Krause, recommended that he audition for the Symphony. Since, Cade says “I am now on my second season with the orchestra, and have no thoughts of stopping.”
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Cade started playing violin when he was just two-and-a-half years old. Originally, he wanted to play the cello (and be like Yo-Yo Ma, he says,) but my parents couldn't find a cello small enough so he took up the violin instead (we think this was the right choice!). When Cade came to Bozeman, he started taking Celtic fiddle lessons, and now plays both Celtic and Classical styles regularly.

About playing music, Cade shares, “I think my favorite thing about playing violin is the ability to put emotion into music, I find this to be one of the most rewarding things there is.”

For Cade, playing in the symphony has been a wonderful experience. It has afforded him the opportunity to play great music with a skilled and dedicated group at a young age. “It has greatly increased my understanding, skill, and enthusiasm” he says.

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Michael Mleko (left) and Cade Fiddaman (right) play at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds on July 4, 2016.

The collage experience was introduced to Cade last season as part of Holiday Collage in December, 2016. Cade played as an orchestra member, he did not perform any solo/chamber repertoire. This year, Cade’s solo will be one you’ll instantly start tapping your feet to. He will perform Calliope Meets Frank, a duo with assistant principal cellist Julia Cory Slovarp. The piece is a medley of three Scottish fiddle tunes: Calliope, MacArthur road, and Frank's reel, as arranged by Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas for their album Fire and Grace. This is a modern Scottish style, that although deeply influenced by traditional techniques, has a fresh edge with new grooves and expressions.

About the upcoming concert Cade shares: “I always enjoy listening to other musicians, it is also fun to play so many different styles. The collage program offers a unique glimpse into the members behind the orchestra and their personal styles and ideas, it also is an amazing chance to hear new styles and repertoire.” In other words, “It’s a lot of fun!”