Judges / Guest Performers for 2025
Patti Kusturok
Patti has been a mainstay on the Canadian fiddle scene for the last 50 years. She has performed across Canada and internationally. Currently, she spends most of her time teaching, notably being the fiddle instructor in the Desaultels Faculty of Music at the University of Manitoba. Patti has been judging fiddle contests for decades and teaches at several camps and workshops throughout the year. She was inducted in to the North American Fiddlers’ Hall of Fame in 2016 and is a three time Canadian Grand Master’s champion as well as a three time Grand North American champion.
Paul Lemelin
Two-time Canadian Grand Master Fiddle Champion Paul Lemelin has been playing the fiddle since the age of 4, and has been competing since the age of 8. At home, Paul works as a Mechanical Design Technologist for Vale Exploration. He enjoys teaching the fiddle, guitar, mandolin and piano as well as being a father of 3 boys and one daughter. Paul has won many competitions including first place in the Open category in Sturgeon Falls, Chlemsford, Richmond and three wins in Pembroke, Ontario. Paul was first invited to compete at the CGM in 2006 and has since been invited to compete every year since 2010. The highlight of Paul's career came in 2014 when he won the CGM, followed immediately by a win in Pembroke, a feat only achieved 3 times before. More recently, Paul has repeated a second win of the Canadian Grand Masters in 2021.
Lucas Welsh
I am really impressed by the combination of musical talent, stage presence, and warmth and sincerity Lucas brings to his performances. He can play a number of instruments and has a great voice too. I also appreciate that he can perform alone or as part of an ensemble and is eager to "bring it all" either way
Jarred Albright
Jarred Albright has played the violin since he was seven years old and music has been his focus ever since. He trained classically throughout his youth but quickly fell in love with the fiddle style and joined the Calgary Fiddlers Association, of which he was a member for 11 years. He devoured Celtic, folk, old-tyme, and bluegrass styles before entering post-secondary to pursue jazz performance there.
Since then he has endeavoured to teach himself to sing and play mandolin, guitar, and banjo, and spent 5 years as the Calgary Fiddlers' assistant artistic director and full time accompanist. In 2012 he and Ben Plotnick were awarded the 10k20 grant from Rawlco radio and their bluegrass duo recorded the self-titled CD Rye & Fairy Tales, to much acclaim. He has spent much of his time since then in Toronto but has returned to his home province of Alberta and currently resides in Edmonton.
Music has taken him around the world including the United States, South Korea, Scotland, England, and Ireland. These days Jarred can be found performing with many diverse local acts as a sideman and has also found new excitement in recording, producing, and videography. He happily spends his days practicing, performing, puttering about the recording studio, and sharing his love of music with his many students.
Accompanists
MELIKA LEMELIN, Sudbury, ON
Melika Lemelin has been playing piano since the age of 15. She is one of Ontario’s most sought after house pianists for fiddle and step-dance competitions. Melika has taught at several music camps including Algomatrad, the CGM camp and KLKP. In 2010 and 2012, Melika won 3rd place in the accompaniment category at the Grand Master Fiddler Championship in Nashville, TN. She works full time in the banking industry, is a part-time motorcycle safety course instructor and a mother to 4 beautiful children, three boys and a girl.
Garnet Borch
If you've been in the fiddling community for long you've probably met at least one Borch. Garnet's from a musical family that's been part of the Alberta fiddling community his entire life. Growing up, Garnet attended all the Alberta fiddling camps and competitions and learned much of what he knows on piano from the one and only Blaine The "Pianoman" Lutwick. He's a member of The Borch Brothers, the family band that's been around for 20 years, and his style of accompaniment is a blend of old-tyme, East Coast and making-it-up-as-he-goes. In addition to music, he is inspired by the natural world, spreadsheets and being a force of positive change.
GNA Youth Fiddle Workshop Instructors
Melanie Doderai, Fort Saskatchewan AB.
Melanie holds a B.A, B.Ed and M.Ed. Melanie is an active member of the Alberta Registered Music Teachers Association, holds an Advanced Specialist Certification from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Canada and has published ten theory books for string instruments through Mel Bay Publications. Melanie has been awarded the 2009 Excellence in Music Teaching Award as well as the CMFTA Award for Recognition of Professional Achievement from 2010 to present. Melanie is proud to have the title of being Canada's first aerial silk violinist and was featured on Canada’s Got Talent. You can find out more about her at www.silkandstrings.ca
Deanna Dolstra, Cold Lake, AB.
Born in Oshawa, Ontario, Deanna has been playing fiddle for over 30 years and is trained in Ottawa Valley Step Dance. She competed in fiddle and step dance in the Ontario Contest Circuit for many years, retiring in 2000. She has trained with various instructors across Ontario and also attended the Ceilidh Trail School of Celtic music in Cape Breton.
Deanna released her own independent album in 2002. She played for over a decade with the band "Celtic Powerhouse" with fiddle, step dance, keys, and backup vocals. She has been a guest performer and has appeared on recordings with various other artists and groups. She performs all over Canada during the year, often seen with the Metis Ensemble Nicely Put Together Band since 2017.
Deanna currently teaches predominantly group lessons of all ages, and has over 100 students across East-Central Alberta.