Canada's premier fiddle championship marking 59 years

The 59th Canadian Open Old Time Fiddle Championship takes place Aug. 5 to 9 in Shelburne.

Sponsored by the Shelburne Rotary Club, the event will feature Canada's top fiddlers in competition for more than $17,000 in prizes.

Community events in conjunction with the championship will include fiddle workshops, camping, a giant Fiddle Parade featuring the Metropolitan Toronto Police Winged Wheels, midway, fiddle jam session, an open air market, non-denominational church service and pork barbecue.

Aug, 6 at 7:30 p.m., the Rotary Club of Shelburne will welcome Canadian Open Old Time Fiddle Champion and Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Champion April Verch and her band to the stage. Verch is a world-class fiddler, a champion Ottawa Valley stepdancer, acclaimed composer and a vocalist whose voice has been hailed as "absolutely captivating" by the Toronto Star. She has released seven recordings to date. Her 2001 album Verchuosity earned a JUNO nomination for Best Roots/Traditional Album. Her most recent effort, Steal the Blue, was released in 2008 and features the songs and vocals of many of Nashville's bluegrass and roots musicians.

The Shelburne show will feature Ottawa Valley stepdancing, vocal selections and numerous styles of fiddling, including Old Time Canadian, Ottawa Valley, Bluegrass, and Old Time American. Those who have heard Verch during one of her previous appearances in Shelburne know that her stepdancing and singing alone are worth the price of admission. For more information about her, visit her Web site at www.aprilverch. com

The Canadian Open Old Time Fiddle Championship starts with the playdowns Aug. 7 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Centre Dufferin Recreation Complex (Shelburne arena). Classes that will compete in the afternoon include the young (nine and under, 12 and under) and the young at heart (65 and over). The evening features the remaining classes.

The contest finals will take place Aug. 8 at 6:30 p.m. and will feature entertainment by several young fiddle and stepdancing groups, including CAPE Ceol, Elly Squared, and Triple Explosion. The judges' showcase was such a hit in 2008 that it will be featured again in 2009: Webb Acheson, Doug McNaughton and April Verch will take to the stage to demonstrate their renowned fiddling skills. Come and enjoy Canada's top fiddlers waltz, jig, and reel their way to more than $17,000 in prizes.

Tickets include an event package, which will be $40 for adults amd $20 for children 12 and younger. Tickets for the April Verch Show Aug. 6 are $20 for adults an $10 for children Tickets for the competition playdowns are $10 for adults and $3 for children, and $20 and $10 for the fiddle championship.

Tickets can be ordered by phone by calling (519) 925- 8620.

For more information, visit www.shelburnefiddlecontest. on.ca