Famous Female Fiddlers
- Photo: Metaweb (FB) / CC-BYBridget Catherine Regan (born February 3, 1982) is an American actress known for portrayals such as Kahlan Amnell in the television series Legend of the Seeker, Rebecca Lowe/Rachel Turner in White Collar, Rose Solano in Jane the Virgin and Dottie Underwood in Agent Carter. She has portrayed Sasha Cooper on the TNT drama series The Last Ship since 2016.Moreย Bridget Regan
- #977 of 1,134 onThe Most Beautiful Women In The World
- #672 of 1,102 onThe Most Beautiful Celebrities Of Our Time
- #46 of 138 onThe Best Hallmark Channel Actresses
- Photo: user uploaded imageVanessa-Mae (้็พ Chรฉn Mฤi) (born 27 October 1978) also called Vanessa-Mae Vanakorn Nicholson, is a British violinist with album sales reaching several million, having made her the wealthiest entertainer under 30 in the United Kingdom in 2006. She competed under the name Vanessa Vanakorn (her father's surname) for Thailand in alpine skiing at the 2014 Winter Olympics. She was initially banned from skiing because a qualifying race for her benefit was alleged to be corrupt, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport later nullified the ban, citing lack of evidence for her own wrongdoing or any manipulation. The International Ski Federation later had to issue an apology to her.Moreย Vanessa-Mae
- #117 of 180 onThe Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
- #43 of 51 onThe Best Classical Violinists in the World
- #19 of 25 onThe Most Gorgeous Female Classical Musicians
- Photo: Metaweb (FB) / CC-BY-SA-2.0Martha "Martie" Elenor Erwin (before Maguire; born October 12, 1969) is an American musician who is a founding member of both the female alternative country band Dixie Chicks and country bluegrass duo Court Yard Hounds. She won awards in national fiddle championships while still a teenager. Erwin is accomplished on several other instruments, including the mandolin, viola, double bass and guitar. She has written and co-written a number of the band's songs, some of which have become chart-topping hits. She also contributes her skills in vocal harmony and backing vocals, as well as orchestrating string arrangements for the band. Erwin learned several instruments at a young age, honing her skills with her younger sister, Emily Strayer (born Emily Erwin) and two schoolmates (a brother and sister team, Troy and Sharon Gilchrist) for over five years as a part of a touring bluegrass quartet while in high school. After graduation, the sisters forged an alliance with two other women they had met through the Dallas music scene, Laura Lynch and Robin Lynn Macy, forming a bluegrass and country music band, busking and touring the bluegrass festival circuits for six years. After the departure of Macy, and the replacement of Lynch with singer Natalie Maines, the band widened their musical repertoire and appearance. The result was a trio so commercially successful that it took the country music industry by surprise, with a number of hit songs, albums, and awards that have set records in the music industry. Erwin subsequently stood by her bandmates as they were engulfed in political controversy.
- Sharon Helga Corr MBE (born 24 March 1970) is an Irish singer-songwriter, musician and television personality. She is best known as a member of the pop-rock band The Corrs, which she co-founded in 1990 with her elder brother Jim and younger sisters Caroline and Andrea. She plays the violin, piano and guitar, and sings backing vocals. She began learning the violin when she was six years old. She has played in national youth orchestras and is qualified to teach the violin. The Corr siblings were awarded honorary MBEs in 2005 by Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of both their musical talent and their charitable work raising money for Freeman Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne, victims of the Omagh Bombing, and other charities. In March of 2019, Corr was awarded an honorary doctorate (DUniv) by the Open University, in recognition of her "her exceptional contribution to education and culture". In 2012, Corr was revealed as one of the coaches on the first series of the RTร talent show The Voice of Ireland.On 22 March 2019, Corr was awarded an honorary Doctorate of the Open University, recognising her contribution to music and her charitable work. The ceremony took place at the Barbican Centre, London.
- Photo: Alison Krauss / YouTubeAlison Krauss, an American bluegrass-country singer and musician, has been a significant figure in the music industry since her debut album in 1985. Born on July 23, 1971, in Decatur, Illinois, Krauss discovered her love for music at a young age, learning to play the violin at just five years old. Her talent quickly shone through, and by the age of eight, she was participating in local talent contests. At fourteen, she won the Walnut Valley Festival Fiddle Championship, leading to her first record deal with Rounder Records. Krauss's career escalated rapidly from there with her band, Alison Krauss and Union Station. Her unique blend of bluegrass, country, and folk music, combined with her captivating soprano voice, led to widespread acclaim. She became a household name after her album Now That I've Found You: A Collection sold over two million copies, making it one of the best-selling bluegrass albums of all time. Throughout her career, Krauss has released over a dozen albums, with her work spanning solo projects, collaborations, and contributions as a producer. Recognized for her exceptional musical abilities, Krauss has earned numerous awards throughout her illustrious career. With over 27 Grammy Awards to her name, she holds the record for the most wins by a female artist and is tied for the third most wins by any artist. In addition to her Grammy accolades, she has also received several Country Music Association Awards and International Bluegrass Music Awards.Moreย Alison Krauss
- Dig Deeper...The Best Alison Krauss Albums of All Time
- And Deeper...320 Famous Leo Celebrities
- #175 of 227 onThe Most Trustworthy Celebrities In The World
- Photo: Metaweb (FB) / Public domainEileen Ivers (born July 13, 1965) is an American fiddler. Ivers was born in New York City of Irish-born parents, grew up in the Bronx and attended St. Barnabas High School. She spent summers in Ireland and took up the fiddle at the age of nine. Her teacher was the Irish fiddler Martin Mulvihill. She toured with Mick Moloney's band The Green Fields of America, founded in 1977. She graduated magna cum laude from Iona College in New York and has done post-graduate work in mathematics.Moreย Eileen Ivers
- #45 of 62 onThe Best Irish Folk Bands/Artists
- #52 of 249 onFamous Irish Americans
- #52 of 58 on50+ Celebrities Born on July 13
- Photo: Metaweb (FB) / Public domainNatalie MacMaster (born June 13, 1972) is a Canadian fiddler from the rural community of Troy in Inverness County, Nova Scotia, who plays Cape Breton fiddle music. MacMaster has toured with the Chieftains, Faith Hill, Carlos Santana and Alison Krauss, and has recorded with Yo-Yo Ma. She has appeared at the Celtic Colours festival in Cape Breton, Celtic Connections in Scotland, and MerleFest in the United States.
- Photo: Metaweb (FB) / CC-BYTracy Bonham (born March 16, 1967) is an American alternative rock musician, best known for her 1996 single "Mother Mother". Raised in Eugene, Oregon, Bonham is a classically trained violinist and pianist, and is also a self-taught guitarist. She received two Grammy nominations in 1997 for Best Alternative Album and Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. She also appeared with The Blue Man Group on the Complex Rock Tour Live DVD and tour.
- Photo: user uploaded imageCarla Kihlstedt (born 1971) is an American composer, violinist, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist, originally from Lancaster, Pennsylvania and currently working from a home studio on Cape Cod.She is a founding member of Tin Hat Trio (1997, renamed Tin Hat), Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, The Book of Knots, Causing a Tiger and Rabbit Rabbit. Other musical projects include 2 Foot Yard, Charming Hostess and Minamo (Carla Kihlstedt & Satoko Fujii). She is a recognized classical composer who has performed with the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), has worked occasionally on projects with Tom Waits, John Zorn, and Fred Frith, and recorded numerous albums as a guest or session musician. Kihlstedt has studied at the Peabody Conservatory of Music, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and Oberlin Conservatory of Music.On September 28, 2011, she voiced the character of "Mom" on Edmund McMillen's The Binding of Isaac.In February 2012 she founded Rabbit Rabbit with her husband (and former Sleepytime Gorilla Museum drummer) Matthias Bossi. Rabbit Rabbit released their debut album, Rabbit Rabbit Radio โ Vol. 1 in 2013. The band revolves around a song-a-month subscription website called Rabbit Rabbit Radio.
- Photo: user uploaded imageAubrey Haynie (born March 27, 1974) is an American bluegrass musician who plays the fiddle and mandolin. In his career, he has recorded three studio albums for the Sugar Hill Records label, all three of which contained mostly songs that he wrote himself. He also holds several credits as a session fiddler and mandolinist.
- Photo: Metaweb (FB) / Public domainSarah Chang (Korean: ์ฅ์์ฃผ; born Young Joo Chang; December 10, 1980) is an American classical violinist. Recognized as a child prodigy, she first played as a soloist with the New York Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1989. She enrolled at Juilliard School to study music, graduated in 1999, and continued university studies. Especially during the 1990s and 2000s, Chang had major roles as a soloist with many of the world's major orchestras.Moreย Sarah Chang
- #7 of 25 onThe Most Gorgeous Female Classical Musicians
- #25 of 52 onThe Best Violists in the World
- #15 of 51 onThe Best Classical Violinists in the World
- Photo: Metaweb (FB) / Public domainLucia Micarelli is an American violinist and actress best known for her collaborations with Josh Groban, Chris Botti and classic rock band Jethro Tull, and her role as Annie Talarico in Treme.
- Photo: user uploaded imageLindsey Stirling is an American violinist, dancer, performance artist, and composer. She presents choreographed violin performances, both live and in music videos found on her YouTube channel, Lindsey Stirling, which she introduced in 2007. Stirling performs a variety of music styles, from classical to pop and hip-hop to electronic dance music. Aside from original work, her discography contains covers of songs by other musicians and various soundtracks. Her music video, "Crystallize" finished as the eighth-most watched video of 2012, and her cover version of "Radioactive" with Pentatonix won Response of the Year in the first YouTube Music Awards in 2013. Stirling achieved one million singles sold worldwide by August of 2014. As of April 2015, her Lindseystomp YouTube channel exceeded 6 million subscribers and over 980 million total views. Stirling has been named in Forbes magazine's, 30 Under 30 In Music: The Class Of 2015. Forbes notes her quarter-finalist position on America's Got Talent season five in 2010, a #2 position on the Billboard 200 for her second album Shatter Me in 2014, and her 6 million subscribers on YouTube.Moreย Lindsey Stirling
- #185 of 227 onThe Most Trustworthy Celebrities In The World
- #853 of 1,285 onThe Most Beautiful Women Of All Time
- #791 of 1,134 onThe Most Beautiful Women In The World
- Torrey Joรซl DeVitto (born June 8, 1984) is an American actress, musician, philanthropist and former fashion model. She is best known for her recurring roles as Melissa Hastings in the ABC Family/Freeform mystery television series Pretty Little Liars (2010โ2017), Dr. Meredith Fell in The CW fantasy drama The Vampire Diaries (2012โ2013) and as Carrie in The CW drama One Tree Hill (2008โ2009). In 2013, she starred as Maggie Hall in the seventh and final season of the Lifetime drama Army Wives. In 2015, she began starring as Dr. Natalie Manning in the NBC medical drama Chicago Med. She is also involved in a number of philanthropic organizations and is a Hospice Ambassador.Moreย Torrey DeVitto
- #40 of 138 onThe Best Hallmark Channel Actresses
- #22 of 35 onThe Best Hallmark Channel Actors & Actresses Under 40
- #295 of 312 onHallmark Channel Actors and Actresses
- Photo: Metaweb (FB) / CC-BYEmilie Autumn Liddell (born on September 22, 1979), better known by her stage name Emilie Autumn, is an American singer-songwriter, poet, violinist, and actress. Autumn's musical style is described by her as "Fairy Pop", "Fantasy Rock" or "Victoriandustrial". It is influenced by glam rock and from plays, novels, and history, particularly the Victorian era. Performing with her all-female backup dancers The Bloody Crumpets, Autumn incorporates elements of classical music, cabaret, electronica, and glam rock with theatrics, and burlesque.Growing up in Malibu, California, Autumn began learning the violin at the age of four and left regular school five years later with the goal of becoming a world-class violinist; she practiced eight or nine hours a day and read a wide range of literature. Progressing to writing her own music, she studied under various teachers and went to Indiana University, which she left over issues regarding the relationship between classical music and the appearance of the performer. Through her own independent label Traitor Records, Autumn debuted with her classical album On a Day: Music for Violin & Continuo, followed by the release in 2003 of her album Enchant. Autumn appeared in singer Courtney Love's backing band on her 2004 America's Sweetheart tour and returned to Europe. She released the 2006 album Opheliac with the German label Trisol Music Group. In 2007, she released Laced/Unlaced; the re-release of On a Day... appeared as Laced with songs on the electric violin as Unlaced. She later left Trisol to join New York based The End Records in 2009 and release Opheliac in the United States, where previously it had only been available as an import. In 2012, she released the album Fight Like a Girl. She played the role of Painted Doll in Darren Lynn Bousman's 2012 film The Devil's Carnival, as well as its 2015 sequel, Alleluia! The Devil's Carnival.Moreย Emilie Autumn
- #52 of 58 onThe Best Harpsichordists in the World
- #144 of 349 onThe Best Electronica Artists
- #6 of 59 onThe Best Steampunk Bands
- Photo: Twentieth Century Fox / Wikimedia Commons / Public DomainMarlene Dietrich, an iconic figure of the 20th century, was born in Berlin, Germany on December 27, 1901. She began her career in the early 1920s as a violinist and actress in Berlin, eventually transitioning to film and establishing herself as one of the industry's most distinguished performers. Her breakthrough role came in 1930 when she starred in Josef von Sternberg's The Blue Angel, captivating audiences worldwide with her distinctive voice, striking beauty, and beguiling screen presence. Dietrich moved to Hollywood in the 1930s, where she quickly became a symbol of glamour and sophistication. During this period, she worked diligently to create an image that captivated both male and female audiences, blurring the lines between femininity and masculinity. Her roles in films such as Morocco and Shanghai Express highlighted her versatility as an actress. Throughout her career, Dietrich was praised not only for her talent but also for her commitment to her craft and her refusal to conform to traditional gender norms. Despite her successful acting career, Dietrich was equally known for her contribution during World War II. Utilizing her fame, she sold war bonds, performed for Allied troops, and even worked as an anti-Nazi propagandist. Passionate about social causes, she used her influence to advocate for peace and humanitarian ideals. Dietrich passed away in Paris on May 6, 1992, but her legacy continues to inspire filmmakers and actors today. Her unique style, unapologetic spirit, and commitment to activism have firmly established Marlene Dietrich as a timeless icon in the entertainment industry.Moreย Marlene Dietrich
- #467 of 1,150 onThe Greatest Musical Artists Of All Time, Ranked
- #297 of 341 onThe Best Female Vocalists Ever
- #107 of 348 onThe Best Actresses In Film History
- Photo: Metaweb (FB) / CC-BYAmanda Christian Amaya-Shaw (born August 2, 1990) is an American Cajun fiddler, singer, and actress from Mandeville, Louisiana.Moreย Amanda Shaw
- #49 of 68 onThe Best Cajun Bands/Artists
- #24 of 59 onWho Is The Most Famous Shaw In The World?
- #9 of 35 onThe Best Swamp Pop Bands/Artists
- Photo: Metaweb (FB) / CC-BY-2.5Carrie Luz Rodriguez (born July 31, 1978) is an American singer-songwriter and the daughter of Texan singer-songwriter David Rodriguez and Texas painter Katy Nail, and is the granddaughter of prolific Texas essayist Frances Nail. She sings and plays the fiddle, mandobird and tenor guitar. Her touring band members include Luke Jacobs (acoustic and electric guitar, vocals, lap steel guitar, pedal steel), Hans Holzen (acoustic and electric guitar, vocal, lap steel guitar, mandolin), Erik Deutsch (keyboards), Kyle Kegerreis (acoustic and electric bass), and Don Heffington (drums, percussion).
- Eliza Carthy, MBE (born 23 August 1975) is an English folk musician known for both singing and playing fiddle. She is the daughter of English folk musicians singer/guitarist Martin Carthy and singer Norma Waterson.
- Photo: Metaweb (FB) / Public domainLaurie Lewis (born September 28, 1950 in Long Beach, California), is an American singer and bluegrass musician.
- Photo: Metaweb (FB) / CC-BYHanneke Cassel (born April 14, 1978) is an American folk violinist. She was raised in Oregon and graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance at Berklee College of Music in 2000. Hanneke is the 1997 United States National Scottish Fiddle Champion, and she has performed and taught across the United States, Scotland, Sweden, China, New Zealand, France, England, and Austria. Her debut album, My Joy, received the following feedback from Alasdair Fraser:"A great debut album by one of the most talented and fun-loving young fiddlers you could ever hope to meet! This is fiddle music played with great stylistic integrity and personal flair - definitely a joy to listen to! Go Hanneke, and gie it laldie!"
- Photo: Metaweb (FB) / Public domainJanine Jansen (Dutch pronunciation: [สษnine jษnsษn]); born 7 January 1978 in Soest in the Netherlands) is a violinist and violist.Moreย Janine Jansen
- #1 of 25 onThe Most Gorgeous Female Classical Musicians
- #16 of 52 onThe Best Violists in the World
- #4 of 51 onThe Best Classical Violinists in the World
- Photo: Metaweb (FB) / Public domainJulia Fischer (born 15 June 1983) is a German classical violinist and pianist. She teaches at the Munich University of Music and Performing Arts and performs up to 60 times per year. On 1 January 2008, at the Alte Oper in Frankfurt, Fischer performed Camille Saint-Saรซns' Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor and Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor.
- Photo: Metaweb (FB) / CC-BYLinda Cullberg Lampenius, better known by her maiden name Linda Lampenius and international stage name Linda Brava, (born 26 February 1970) is a Finnish classical concert violinist. Named as one of the most versatile and accomplished players of her generation, Brava has also performed pop, rock, folk, techno, film, jazz, and world music, among others.
- Photo: Metaweb (FB) / CC-BY-2.5Petra Haden (born October 11, 1971) is an American violinist and singer. She has been a member of That Dog, Tito & Tarantula, and The Decemberists; has contributed to recordings by The Twilight Singers, Beck, Mike Watt, Luscious Jackson, Foo Fighters, Green Day, Weezer, The Rentals, Victoria Williams, Yuka Honda, The Gutter Twins, Sunn O))), and Cornelius. She is the daughter of the jazz bassist Charlie Haden; the triplet sister of bassist Rachel Haden (her bandmate in That Dog) and cellist Tanya Haden (married to singer and actor Jack Black) with whom she has performed as The Haden Triplets; and the sister of bassist-singer Josh Haden, leader of the group Spain.
- Photo: user uploaded imageGundula Krause (born 7 July 1966) is a German folk violinist. She lives in Mainz, Roetgen nearby Aachen and East-Clare (Ireland).
- Photo: Metaweb (FB) / CC-BYApril Verch is a Canadian fiddler and step dancer raised in the community of Rankin, Ontario, located approximately 15 km southwest from Pembroke, Ontario. She attended Berklee College of Music in Boston before embarking on her professional career. While she is best known for playing traditional Ottawa Valley style fiddle tunes, Verch's repertoire branches into many other fiddle styles. She has appeared as performer and teacher at Mark O'Connor's Fiddle Camps, and performing as a fiddler, singer, and dancer on the PBS television series, "Song of the Mountains."
- Sara Ullrika Watkins (born June 8, 1981) is an American singer-songwriter and fiddler. Watkins debuted in 1989 as fiddler and founding member of the progressive bluegrass group Nickel Creek along with her brother Sean and mandolinist Chris Thile. In addition to singing and fiddling, Watkins also plays the ukulele and the guitar, and also played percussion while touring with the Decemberists. With Nickel Creek, Watkins released five studio albums, one compilation album, and seven singles. During the band's seven-year hiatus, Watkins released three solo albums: Sara Watkins and Sun Midnight Sun on Nonesuch Records and Young in All the Wrong Ways on New West Records.Moreย Sara Watkins
- #524 of 556 onThe 250+ Best Singers Of All Time, Ranked
- #31 of 48 onThe Best Ukulele Players in the World
- #34 of 69 onThe Greatest Ukulele Players of All Time
- Jenny Wilhelms (born 1974) is a Finnish musician. She studied classical and folk music in many Nordic countries. She has been the lead singer of the innovative folk band Gjallarhorn from 1994. More recently, according to her bio for her appearance at the 2011 Tampere vocal music festival, she "specialises in vocal physiology for non-classical singers and teaches privately, gives masterclasses and works with choirs and ensembles." Wilhelms is focused on the vocal and fiddling tradition in Scandinavia and has studied various Nordic folk music styles. Wilhelms studied at the Malungs Folkhรถgskola (Dalarna, Sweden), the Mellersta รsterbottens Konservatorium, (Karleby, Finland), The Sibelius Academy, (Helsinki, Finland), The Grieg Academy (Bergen, Norway), the World Academy of Music and Dance, Ireland, and the Conservatory of Keski-Pohjanmaa, Finland. Wilhelms has arranged and composed folk music for choirs and vocal ensembles. Her four pieces, ordered for the 55th anniversary of the Flora Female Choir at the ร bo Academy, won the first prize in a Scandinavian Choir arranging competition in 1999. Wilhelms has studied and taught the medieval ballads of Scandinavia, Finnish runo-chanting, Icelandic rรญmur chanting and Cow calling (kulning) from Sweden and Norway. All these elements can be found in Gjallarhorn's music.
- Photo: Metaweb (FB)Polly Bradfield is an American violinist from the New York City free improvisation scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Her closest musical associates were Eugene Chadbourne and John Zorn. She also played on records by William Parker and Frank Lowe. Her music career ended when she moved to California sometime in the 1980s. Her last appearance on record was on Zorn's The Big Gundown in 1986.
