Messiah College hosts April Verch, fiddling at its finest
November 21st, 2008
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GRANTHAM, Pa. (Nov. 21, 2008) — Pure energy and captivating melodies unite for a brilliant display of musicianship as the April Verch Band brings bluegrass, Brazilian and Celtic sounds to the third concert of Messiah College’s Cultural Series season. The unique performance of fiddling, singing and stepdancing will be performed on Dec. 12 at 8 p.m. in Miller Auditorium, located in the Climenhaga Fine Arts Center on the college’s Grantham campus. Tickets are $23 and can be purchased at www.messiah.edu/tickets or by calling (717) 691-6036.
About the April Verch Band
By age 10, April Verch knew she wanted to play the fiddle and dance for a living; and that is exactly what she did. Born, raised and now living in Pembroke, Ontario, Verch began her musical and performing career from a very young age of three, drawing on the area’s rich, distinctive musical and stepdancing tradition. She enhanced her talents at Berklee College of Music in Boston, but left after only a year to pursue her dreams, winning the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Champion and the Canadian Open Fiddle Champion titles. Verch achieved her first record deal in 2000, and her release “Verchuosity” earned her much deserved recognition including a JUNO nomination, the Canadian equivalent to a Grammy. Her latest release, “Steal the Blue,” features Verch and her band along with many notable musicians performing bluegrass styles. The band members include world-class musicians Marc Bru, percussion; Lincoln Meyers, guitar; and Cody Walters on upright-electric bass.
About the Cultural Series
The 2008-09 season is a Celebration of Strings. On Feb. 16, Quartet San Francisco will entertain with a repertoire of jazz, tango, pop, funk, blues, bluegrass, gypsy swing and big band, and the season will conclude with the Georgia Guitar Quartet on March 13.
About Messiah College
Messiah College, a private Christian college of the liberal and applied arts and sciences, enrolls 2,800 undergraduate students in more than 60 majors. Established in 1909, the primary campus is located in Grantham, Pa., near the state capital of Harrisburg. A satellite campus affiliated with Temple University is located in Philadelphia.