SCOTT WOODS

Studied classical violin from age four with several instructors including Edouard Minevich who is now concertmaster with the Regina Symphony. Scott’s love of fiddling has been passed down through six generations of his family. Two-time winner of the Canadian Open Fiddle Contest, two-time winner of the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Championships, three-time winner of the Canadian Novelty Fiddle Championship, three-time winner of the Canadian Duet Fiddle Championship and Canadian Fiddle Entertainer of the Year.  For seven years Scott was the musical director and played the part of Don Messer in Memories of Don Messer’s Jubilee which toured extensively in Canada.  Also plays guitar, bass, drums, piano, clarinet, saxophone and mandolin.

CAROLYN WOODS

Keyboard. Started playing piano at age four. Studied classical piano with the Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto. Plays organ and keyboard at church. Began chording for old time fiddle music at age eight. Has been house pianist at fiddle and step dance contests for many years, including the Canadian Open in Shelburne, Ontario. Toured across Canada for eight years as pianist with Memories of Don Messer’s Jubilee.  In January 2009, Carolyn went on a mission trip to Kenya. Carolyn lives in Fergus, Ontario.

KENDRA (WOODS) NORRIS

Fiddle, Clarinet, Saxophone, Accordion and Backup Vocals. Winner of the Canadian Open (19-45 class) many times. Three time winner of the Canadian Open Duet fiddling Class with brother Scott. She teaches private violin and piano lessons at her home in Waterloo, Ontario. A Music Ed. graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Western Ontario. During the day, Kendra teaches elementary school. She has a gift for writing harmony and arranging.

BRUCE WOODS

Drums, Saxophone and Fiddle. Also accomplished on piano and clarinet. Studied classical violin and piano and was lead alto sax player for the Merv Woods Orchestra (dance band). Has played with many old time dance and show bands. Winner of several old time fiddle competitions. Teaches fiddle privately.

IVAN FELKER

Guitar and Vocals. Has played guitar since age seven. Ivan performed with his father’s dance orchestra. He has backed up many great performers including Rudy Meeks, Ed Gyurki, Chuck Joyce, Graham Townsend and Smiley Bates. Ivan has judged the Canadian Open and the Ontario Open Singing Contests. Retired from the transportation industry. Ivan has been with this show since 1974. He resides in Kitchener, Ontario.

KARL WATSON

Narrator & Electric Bass. Started playing violin as a youngster, then switched to cello. His first dance job was at age eleven with his sister, brother, and Merv Woods (Scott’s Dad). As a teenager he took up the bass fiddle and later the electric bass guitar. He played for many years with piano player Bill Beattie and the Melodaires. Karl is originally from Fergus, but now makes his home in Arthur, Ontario.

BEN NORRIS

Drums, Fiddle, Guitar, Bass and Mandolin.  Began his musical career playing fiddle at age 3. Along with his Mother (Kendra), Ben was awarded Most Entertaining Fiddler at the 1993 Canadian Open Fiddle Contest in Shelburne, Ontario - he was five years old. Ben is now twenty-one and is in second year (co-op program), studying science at the University of Waterloo.

MERYL NORRIS

Step Dancer. Began her dancing career at age three with ballet lessons, then switched to step dancing. Meryl has studied with Canadian Open Step Dancing Champion, Judy Waymouth of Stratford. Currently studying privately with another Canadian Champion, Chanda (Gibson) Leahy. Meryl also enjoys sports and plays ringette.  Meryl is 17 and in grade 12.

GINI WILLIAMS

Vocals. Began singing gospel music with her father at an early age. She has performed in Theatre groups and churches. Traveled for over 20 years with the Woods family performing various venues from the Royal York Hotel to a raft on the Elora Quarry. She also played the part of Marg Osborne in Memories of Don Messer’s Jubilee in 1999.  Gini lives in Waterloo, Ontario.

DOUG STRONACH

Drums. Started drumming in pipe bands at age 9 in Perth, Scotland. He quickly progressed and by 16 became the World Junior Solo Snare Drum Champion. He has played and taught clinics throughout the world. He is an accredited judge and Music Board Member of the Pipes and Drums Society of Ontario, and frequently judges. He moved to Canada in 1988 and studied Jazz Drumming with Rich Greenspoon in Toronto. Doug has played many different styles of music from contemporary to traditional and currently runs a recording studio in Fergus, where he writes and records music for independant artists as well as his own.

LINSEY BECKETT

Fiddle, Bass, Step Dancing, Drums & Mandolin.  Linsey is from a musical family from Kemble, Ontario.  Along with her brother Tyler, she has performed at the Canada Day Celebrations in Ottawa for the CBC, the International Milk Festival in Toronto, World Youth Day Celebrations and the International Plowing Match.  Linsey toured across Canada with Memories of Don Messer's Jubilee from 2001 to 2006.  Linsey is in high demand by Canadian Coutry and Pop artistists and has recently been on the road with the touring show Bowfire.  Linsey is in fourth year at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo.

AMANDA MACINNIS

Step Dancing & Fiddle.  Amanda loves to step dance and play the fiddle and has been doing both since age 4.  She has already received awards for both dancing and fiddlings at numerous competitions across Ontario.  Amanda also enjoys singing, musical theatre and playing baseball.  Amanada is 9 years old and lives in Dundalk, Ontario.

NADINE BOLES

Vocals. Singing and performing since the age of five. Nadine studied classical piano with the Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto. Performed for many years at a variety of events and with several dance bands. For the past several years, she and her husband Gary, also a musician have been focussing on bluegrass music. Nadine plays guitar and sings lead and harmony vocals.  She also plays the mandolin.

KYLE WAYMOUTH

Step Dance & Fiddle.  Kyle started step dancing at the age of 3. Having already established quite a name for himself in the solo dance competitions, Kyle has won over 45 first place finishes to date.  Kyle is also a member of the step dance group Powerhouse, who is the current and 4 time Canadian Open Group Step Dancing Champions. Although competiton has been a prime focus for Kyle, he has also done extensive entertaining. His most memorable performaces would include the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee; the Nickle City Cloggin Convention in Grand Island, New York; and the Niagara Centre for the Performing arts where he was a guest dancer in the show Celtic Blaze.