They say the children are the future but when I meet young leaders like Tashina Clarridge I think, the future is now. Young artists are informed by and transcend the boundaries shaped by previous generations. From working with some amazing young talents in the past few years both at Berklee and my annual camp , I’ve come to really believe this. Except young people don’t always communicate as well, or don’t have the guts or discipline to do things, aren’t mature enough to take on big projects, etc… Tashina Clarridge is an exception. She and her brother Tristan founded their Mt Shasta Music Camp six years ago. Very much like my own Creative Strings Workshop, they attract the best and brightest young creative string players, with a heavy proportion of folk-influenced fiddle styles, but also a healthy inclusion and respect for jazz. (CSW leans a little more towards jazz while still including fiddle styles). After staying at the Clarridges in Boston from time to time I’ve gotten to know them a bit, and I think it’s fair to say they live by their own creed. “Respect” !!
Here is an interview with Tashina about Mt Shasta camp and other odds and ends related to fiddlecamps. Also in the video below I accompany Tashina on a fiddle tune.
