Parker fiddles way to first in New Hampshire competition
Amelia Parker has talent on the fiddle and a competitive streak that is going to take her to a national competition in the United States in 2019.
A month ago, the 13-year-old Grade 8 student at West Pictou Consolidated swept her under18 division at a regional competition at the New Hampshire Highland Games. She won best in reel, march and air to carry off the commemorative silver sup.
“I just go and do my best but I really like to have something to take home when I’m done,” Amelia admitted shyly.
She is excited about a national competition, but is not making any predictions.
“It sounds good but I night get there and do bad. I hope not.”
She had been to the New Hampshire games, the crème de la crème of highland games in North America, once before so her family knew the competition was fierce but Amelia did not focus on that.
“I was there when I was seven or eight and it was fun. I got a third or a fourth.”
That was in a competition for new fiddlers, open to all ages.
“The judge said the prize was for her bowing so we thought that was pretty good at her age,” said Amelia’s mother, Brenda Parker.
Amelia was entered in fiddling and dancing competitions, but the weekend was as much family vacation as anything because Amelia’s two older sisters were able to go along.
“In the last few years we had not had a trip where all of us could go. Usually at least one of the older girls was working so this was going to be a nice family trip and we’d see how Amelia got along,” said Brenda.
The fiddle competition called for all traditional music and Amelia and Brenda had chosen pieces that originated in Scotland – Father John MacMillan of Barra for the march, Archibald MacDonald of Keppoch for the air, Miss Drummond of Perth for the strathspey and Angus Campbell’s Reel.
“At the last minute, I started having trouble with the reel, the piece I knew best. Every time I played it, I messed myself up at the same spot. That was making me really mad,” said Amelia.
She was at the point of wondering why she had come, something she is apt to do just before any competition, according to Brenda.
Because her fiddle and dance times were close together the organizers of the fiddle competition allowed her to perform early in the class.
“When I was finished I thought I played pretty well but after having so much trouble with the reel, I was just glad I didn’t die up there on stage.”
She did not give much thought to the competition.
“I just played my tunes and that was it. I didn’t know how good the other fiddlers were because I didn’t have time to stay and listen to them.”
The minute Amelia finished playing, she and Brenda sprinted across Loon Lake resort to meet Amelia’s sister Allyson, a longtime highland dancer who just opened Parker School of Dance, at the dance competition. Father Jim and sister Susan stayed behind to get the outcome of the fiddling contest.
“We met them when I finished dancing and they told me they had terrible news. They said I didn’t get a fourth and I didn’t get a third and I didn’t get a second, either. Then they said I got first,” said Amelia.
Brenda added it took a few minutes to sink in.
“First she just said OK and then she wondered if they were still joking. We all had a little trouble taking in that she had won this really big event.”
Amelia also managed to be fifth runner-up in the dancing championship and was third in the choreography challenge.
Brenda remembers they were on their way home from a concert when then six year-old Amelia asked if she could take fiddle lessons. She was soon signed up with Fleur Mainville.
“We expected a lot of squeaks and squawks but she caught on really fast. She’d only been playing two or three months when Fleur put her in the Pictou County Christmas Fund concert. She got there all excited and then Fleur had to talk her into going on stage.”
Ray Stewart was accompanying her on guitar and Amelia remembers it well.
“I thought he was going too slow for me so I stopped and he told me to keep going, that I was doing fine.”
She had the same doubts at a Maritime Fiddle Festival in Ontario in 2012.
“I got there and it was a big scene, a great big stage and a big audience and lots of lights. It was not what I was used to at all. What am I doing here and where is the back door? – that’s what I was thinking.”
She played River John Sunset Waltz, Cock of the North and Miss MacLeod’s Reel, placing fourth in nine and under and then getting the best marks in ages eight and under, which resulted in trophies and prize money.
“That part I liked a lot. Then I had to go play again at night and that was OK, too. I like to compete but sometimes I’m nervous.”
Amelia’s current teachers are Julie Johnstone and Hayley MacLeod and she often goes to fiddling camps at the Gaelic college in Cape Breton. She plays in a number of groups, including the Caledonian Orchestra but she is happiest working away at a new tune on her favourite fiddle, made by Don Millard of Tatamagouche.
“I just love trying to get the sound right.”
Rosalie MacEachern is a Stellarton resident and freelance writer. She seeks out people who work behind the scenes on hobbies or jobs that they love the most. If you know someone you think she should profile in an upcoming article, she can be reached at rosaliemaceachern4@gmail.com.