Franklin County Fiddlers spread music, cheer on six-day trip

FARMINGTON — The Franklin County Fiddlers, of Mt. Blue High School, recently returned from a six-day trip around the state and to the Boston area.

The trip, which was from March 28 to April 2, began at the Maine State House on Thursday, March 28, where the group performed in the rotunda, and then opened the House session with the national anthem. That performance led to an invitation to perform in the Senate chamber. The group also performed for residents in the resident wing and memory care wings at the Togus VA and played for a contradance at the University of Maine at Augusta.
On Friday, March 29, the fiddlers had a tour, led by alumnus fiddler Silas Rogers, of the Apprenticeshop boat building school in Rockland, then performed at the Farnsworth Museum. They also played a concert share with the Belfast Bay Fiddlers in Belfast.
The fiddlers played for the Downeast Country Dance festival in Topsham on Saturday, March 30.
In Portland, the younger students held an impromptu outdoor performance on the Western Promenade, while the older fiddlers performed for patients and families at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital.
On Monday, April 1, in Boston, the Fiddlers toured Berklee College of Music with an official Berklee tour guide, and current Berklee student and FCF alumnus, Brendan Hickey. The students had three one-hour clinics with Berklee faculty members Joe Walsh, Bruce Molsky and Matt Glaser. They performed at the Lilypad in Inman Square, Cambridge, Mass.
The fiddlers’ last performance stop was at Somerville High School and East Somerville Community School.
Throughout the trip, which also included sight-seeing, the students felt as if they were both learning, and making a difference by sharing their message and music, they said.
The Franklin County Fiddlers are led by founder Stephen Muise. Members are Emma Charles, Hope Chernesky, Kahryn Cullenberg, Tomas Cundick, Mazie Gordon, Zack Gunther, Maeve Hickey, Aubrey Hoes, Gretchen Huish, Sam Judkins, Shaylynn Koban, Clay McCarthy, Alexandra McCauley, Brynne Robbins, Auley Romanyshyn, Chelsea Seabold, Makenzie Seaward, Colby Sennick and Rachel Spear.
After the trip, Alexandra McCauley said, “I loved getting to start with the veterans and end with the kids.”
Chelsea Seabold said the visit to Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital was “so crazy impactful…completely altered my mindset for the rest of the trip.”
Aubrey Hoes said the trip “opened my eyes to possibilities in music.
Chaperone Karri McCarthy said, “Everywhere we went, people were so impressed with their musical skills as well as their manners. Mt. Blue was well represented! It was a privilege to be part of [it].”
The fiddlers will perform at the Fiddlehead Festival from noon to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, May 4, in Farmington, and at their Spring Concert, 7 p.m. Sunday, May 19, in the presentation forum at Mt. Blue High School.
Recent local performances include a concert that raised more than $600 toward restoration of Chesterville Meeting House; the post-inauguration homecoming for Gov. Janet Mills, and the inauguration on Jan. 2. They played for the Jay/Livermore Falls Chamber of Commerce night at Calzolaio’s, have played at two Farmington contradances, performed at the Rotary Club’s Festival of Trees and held their annual Home for the Holidays concert in December, where all of the proceeds went to the food bank at Mt. Blue High School.
FCF was also invited to share music and their “don’t be afraid to be awesome” message with students at Academy Hill School in Wilton. They performed at Student of the Month assembly at Mt. Blue High School, the St. Patrick’s Day Dinner at St. Joseph’s Church and at Weld Town Hall.
Thanks for the recent trip from the group go to their parents for supporting them; chaperones McCarthy, Ken Charles and Debby Muise; Weld Extension, the Rotary Club, the Farmington contradance, St. Joesph’s Church; a anonymous donor and Nancy and John Cureton, who helped with travel expenses; Pam Chernesky and Gretchen Huish, who provided hand-made bowls to present as gifts; Mark Prentiss and Kim Roberts at True Mountain Maple Syrup provided syrup for thank-you gift; Alex McCauley, who provided signed post cards.
The group also thanked Michael and Susie Romanyshynn for connections to Lilypad and Somerville Public Schools; FCF alumni who made a point to find the fiddlers during the trip, including Zak Kendall, Emma Enoch, Riley Laflin, Savannah Swain, Ellie Buckland, and Roger and Hickey; State Rep. Scott Landry, Sen. Russell Black and Sen. Brownie Carson, for their invitations and hospitality at the Maine State House; Rick Fitzsimmons and Dottie O’Dell; Togus VA, Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital, parents who attended performances, families who provided snacks, gifts and support, Mt. Blue Regional School District administration, school board and faculty.

PHOTO: The Franklin County Fiddlers, with founder and leader Stephen Muise, Gov. Janet Mills, and State Rep. Russell Black in the rotunda at the Maine State House at the beginning of thier six-day trip. (Submitted photo)