Sedra Bistodeau
Encyclopedia
Sedra Bistodeau is a fiddle
r and violin
ist from Princeton
, Minnesota
.
Bistodeau, whose family performs traditional, bluegrass, and western music as the "Bistodeau Family Band," has won or placed in a number of old-time fiddling contests, both solo and in tandem. In the 2005 American Heritage Music Festival's Grand Lake National Fiddle Fest, possibly the second most important contest of the genre,
she placed first in the "Jr. Jr. Division", took first (with her sister) in the Twin Fiddle Contest, and with her family's band, took first in the Jukebox Contest.
In 2009, at the age of 14, Bistodeau took first place in the Minnesota State Fair
Talent Contest with a performance of Hungarian Rhapsody#2.
In 2010, at the premiere old-time fiddling event, the National Old-Time Fiddlers Contest held annually in Weiser, Idaho
, Bistodeau took fourth place in the masters division and first place with Alex DePue in the Twin Fiddling (duet) division.
Miss Bistodeau also studies classical violin under the tutelage of professor Sally O'Reilly of the University of Minnesota
, and is a friend of conductor and musician Peter Ostroushko
. Bistodeau was credited as a player—and named in a song title—on Ostroushko's 2010 album, When the Last Morning Glory Blooms
.
She has also performed for several years with Minnesota Youth Symphonies
.
Bistodeau appeared as a guest performer on several episodes of A Prairie Home Companion
, performing with her sister Deena Bistodeau, who is also a fiddler.
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
r and violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist from Princeton
Princeton, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,933 people, 1,624 households, and 998 families residing in the city. The population density was 887.7 people per square mile . There were 1,670 housing units at an average density of 376.9 per square mile...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
.
Bistodeau, whose family performs traditional, bluegrass, and western music as the "Bistodeau Family Band," has won or placed in a number of old-time fiddling contests, both solo and in tandem. In the 2005 American Heritage Music Festival's Grand Lake National Fiddle Fest, possibly the second most important contest of the genre,
she placed first in the "Jr. Jr. Division", took first (with her sister) in the Twin Fiddle Contest, and with her family's band, took first in the Jukebox Contest.
In 2009, at the age of 14, Bistodeau took first place in the Minnesota State Fair
Minnesota State Fair
The Minnesota State Fair is the state fair of the U.S. state of Minnesota. Its slogan is "The Great Minnesota Get-Together." It is the 2nd largest fair in the United States, and the largest state fair in the United States in terms of average daily attendance, though the State Fair of Texas runs...
Talent Contest with a performance of Hungarian Rhapsody#2.
In 2010, at the premiere old-time fiddling event, the National Old-Time Fiddlers Contest held annually in Weiser, Idaho
Weiser, Idaho
Weiser is a city in the rural western part of the U.S. state of Idaho and the county seat of Washington County. With its mild climate, the city supports farm, orchard, and livestock endeavors in the vicinity. The city sits at the confluence of the Weiser River with the great Snake River, which...
, Bistodeau took fourth place in the masters division and first place with Alex DePue in the Twin Fiddling (duet) division.
Miss Bistodeau also studies classical violin under the tutelage of professor Sally O'Reilly of the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
, and is a friend of conductor and musician Peter Ostroushko
Peter Ostroushko
Peter Ostroushko is an American violinist and mandolinist.-Background and career:Of Ukrainian ancestry, Ostroushko grew up in northeast Minneapolis...
. Bistodeau was credited as a player—and named in a song title—on Ostroushko's 2010 album, When the Last Morning Glory Blooms
When the Last Morning Glory Blooms
When the Last Morning Glory Blooms is an album by American musician Peter Ostroushko, released in 2010.-History:A collection of nine waltzes and one ballad, many of the songs were written by Ostroushko for family and friends that he didn't expect to record...
.
She has also performed for several years with Minnesota Youth Symphonies
Minnesota Youth Symphonies
Minnesota Youth Symphonies, commonly referred to as MYS, was founded in 1972. The program has four orchestras composed of elementary through high school aged musicians. Participation is based on an audition in which the prospective student must perform an appropriate solo, orchestral excerpt, major...
.
Bistodeau appeared as a guest performer on several episodes of A Prairie Home Companion
A Prairie Home Companion
A Prairie Home Companion is a live radio variety show created and hosted by Garrison Keillor. The show runs on Saturdays from 5 to 7 p.m. Central Time, and usually originates from the Fitzgerald Theater in Saint Paul, Minnesota, although it is frequently taken on the road...
, performing with her sister Deena Bistodeau, who is also a fiddler.
External links
- Bistodeau's prize-winning performance at the Minnesota State Fair http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCws0Ki4ysQ
- Bistodeau's third-round performance at the Weiser National Old Time Fiddler's Contest http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVgRz5MklpQ&feature=related
- Bistodeau's performance with Alex DePue in the Weiser National Twin Fiddling Competition (2010 winners) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNjmUCr4amc&feature=related