Name: Heather Lewin

Birthplace: Milwaukee, WI USA

Currently residing: West Allis, WI USA

Musical past and present in one rambling run-on sentence: Music was always a big part of our family gatherings…everyone sang & danced & played instruments (Hee-Haw and Lawrence Welk were always on at grandma’s house)…so around age 9, I started singing & dancing with a variety group called The Sunshine Kids, which inspired me to take vocal lessons…& about that same time, my parents bought an organ, which came with a half-year of free private lessons & my older sister refused to play it, so I took organ lessons… In summer of that year, I tried trombone & it was way too big for me (& tasted horrible), so I returned it and asked for something else, but the only instrument they had left was a viola (which I’d never actually heard of before, but I was just glad I didn’t have to blow into it)… so I played viola throughout middle school, then I went to High School of the Arts as a vocalist & I started playing cello while I was there (& loved it!) &  played in lots of orchestras (MYSO,  Central Wisconsin Symphony, Shorewood Players, Whitefish Bay Players, Concord Chamber Orchestra)  then went to college to study cello & music education & eventually started teaching music & began fiddling & started playing for dancers & joined lots of different bands (The O’Shyttes, the Consorte of Somesorte, Bounding Main, The Romaniax, Roberts Quartet, West of Ennis, The Mighty Lumberhorn, Athas, Slainte L’Chayim, Irish Fest Ceili Band, Astral Subastral, Andreas Transo’s Handful of Earth Band), some of which I still fiddle & sing with today.

Website: heatherlewinmusic.com

1.  Who are some of your favourite composers, musicians and bands from the past and present?

Composers: Arbeau, Praetorius, Playford, Telemann, Vivaldi, Corelli, Bach

Fiddlers: Liz Carroll, Casey Driessen, Bruce Molsky, Ben Sollee, Trevor Exter, Chris Bain, Franklin George, Henry Reed

2.  Is there a particular song or musical passage that never fails to move you emotionally?

Bill Withers- Ain’t No Sunshine

3.  How would you describe your perfect day?

Waking up in another country with a pocketful of cash, a fiddle and nowhere in particular to be. Going sightseeing, making music and sampling local cuisine. Stumbling upon a used bookstore, where I’d find a rare antique book that I’ve always wanted. Eventually meeting up with friends or family & going to a museum or festival. Ending the night in a cosy bed with my recently acquired book & some great tunes playing quietly in the background until I fall asleep.

4.  What would your friends say they appreciate the most about you?

My fearlessness?

5.  What is your most valued material possession?

Old family photos

6.  Who were you, or would you be, nervous to meet?

I love meeting new people. I’m completely fascinated by everyone.  Not nervous, just curious. That said, the highest profile people I’ve met & played for are the governor of Chiba, Japan & the President of Ireland. Both are great gals.

7.  If you could blink your eyes and be in a favourite place right now, where would that place be?

Ireland

8.  Is there something you would like to do more of in the future?

Sing more & play the blues.

9. Where would you like to find yourself in ten years?

Still fiddling.