Mel Bay Scottish Fiddle Encyclopedia
On stages from Scotland’s Edinburgh International Festival to America’s Kennedy Center, Bonnie Rideout’s unique style of Scottish fiddling has charmed audiences with a vast array of traditional Scottish dance tunes, Highland bagpipe music and ancient Gaelic melodies, each reflecting the rich musical tradition of her heritage. Bonnie has been featured on the BBC, CBS News Sunday Morning, NPR’s Performance Today and Morning Edition. She is also consistently played on NPR's, The Thistle and Shamrock. In addition to authoring seven music books for the Mel Bay Publishing Company, Bonnie has recorded thirteen solo albums and appeared as guest musician on dozens of CDs with Sony, Ryco Disc, Dorian, Rounder Records and Maggie’s Music. In 2003, she incorporated her own record label, Tulloch Music, Ltd. Her CD, "A Scottish Christmas" became a New York Times "Top Ten" Holiday best seller and is now a successful touring show which is already booked into 2008. Her popular recording, "Gi’Me Elbow Room" received the coveted Parent’s Choice Gold Award. Two of her recordings received GRAMMY nominations, and all have received the Washington Area Music Association's "WAMMY" awards every year since 1994. Bonnie was recently chosen by Mel Bay Publishing Company as one of the 20th century’s most influential traditional fiddlers.She is the only American to hold the honor of representing Scottish fiddle music at the prestigious Edinburgh International Festival. She is the first woman to hold a national Scottish fiddle title and the youngest to have garnered the U.S. championship, winning it for three consecutive years. Although her competition days ended quickly in order to become an adjudicator and professional recording artist, Bonnie has maintained a consistently high profile in the international Celtic music scene for over twenty years.Ms. Rideout lives in the greater Washington, D.C. area with her husband and three children. They all share her passion for music, gardening, kayaking and mountain climbing.