BIOGRAPHY
Michael Burnyeat is a skilled and versatile musician based in Vancouver, specializing in Celtic, Folk, and Country genres. With a strong reputation as both a fiddler and multi-instrumentalist, he is in high demand among bands and singer-songwriters for his tasteful accompaniment skills.
Michael's fiddle education has been guided by esteemed mentors such as Mark Sullivan, a three-time Canadian Grandmasters fiddle champion, fiddle legends Calvin Vollrath and Liz Carroll, and respected Vancouver music community organizers Michael Pratt and Lynn Mcgown.
His talent has earned him recognition, with notable achievements such as being a two-time BC fiddle Champion (2017, 2018), and two-time Traditional Champion at the Grand North American Fiddle Championships (2023, 2024). Additionally, he has been a top 10 finalist at the National level Canadian Grandmasters Fiddling Championship on seven consecutive occasions (a record for a BC fiddler), cementing his position as a respected and accomplished fiddler in the Canadian contest circuit. He has also served as a judge for the BC Fiddle Championships on several occasions, and an adjudicator for the Victoria Performing Arts Festival among others.
He has four solo albums to his credit, A Sense of Tradition (2018), On The Edge, (2022), Fiddlin' Around the Christmas Tree (2023) and most recently Saltchuck (2025) released through Daniel Lapp's Woodbox Records. Folkworld magazine listed A Sense of Tradition as one of the best folk albums of the year. He has also lent his fiddle playing to numerous folk, country, and world albums and tracks. Michael also operates his own home recording studio, where he recorded his recent albums. As a recording engineer and a studio musician he has undertaken recording projects for numerous folk musicians, singers, songwriters, including the popular youtuber and musicologist Farya Faraji and movie trailer music production company Audiomachine.
Actively involved in the British Columbia music community, in addition to co-founding the UBC Fiddle Club with Micki-Lee Smith where they created a supportive environment for aspiring musicians on campus to develop their talents, Michael, alongside Kai Gronberg, also co-founded the Open Door Fiddlers, a youth student fiddle group. He is also an in-demand music teacher at Open Door Music School in Kitsilano, as well as serving as an instructor and mentor at various fiddle and music camps, retreats, and events throughout Canada.
Over the last number of years he has hosted many weekly and monthly jam sessions and kitchen parties around Vancouver. He led the sessions at the long running Jericho Folk Club for many years as well as currently co-leads a weekly jam at the Wolf and Hound Pub in Kitsilano. Through his skilled leadership, Michael has fostered a sense of community and shared musical enjoyment, helping to make these sessions cherished events within the local music community.
With over a decade of classical violin training and orchestral experience, including with the UBC Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Academy of Music Symphony, and Vancouver Youth Orchestra, Michael's musical background also encompasses a solid foundation in classical music and musical theory, and contributes to his versatility as a musician.
Some of Michael's career highlights include opening for multiple grammy winner and Canadian music superstar Sarah Mclachlan, acclaimed Irish musician Sharon Shannon, Canadian Celtic music legends The Barra Macneils, and American folk trio I'm With Her, and accompanying 3-time Juno winning singer-songwriter David Francey and Scots Singer of the Year Iona Fyfe. Besides performing at folk music festivals including the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, Bear Creek Folk Festival, Canmore Folk Festival, and Islands Folk Festival among many, Michael has also shared his musical talents at many folk clubs and community events across BC, as well as toured with popular Irish group JigJam on their Canadian tours. His musical endeavours have taken him across Canada, and have gained recognition, with appearances on Breakfast Television, Shaw TV, Global News, CTV, and CBC. Additionally, Michael showcased his ''acting chops'' by playing the role of a fiddler in a dance scene for the Hallmark movie The 27-Hour Day (2021).
Currently, Michael is involved in a diverse range of exciting musical projects. He forms a duo with Konstantin Bozhinov, an accomplished accordion player; together creating a fusion of Celtic, Folk, and World music. He also currently fronts his own band The Saltchuckers as well as commonly collaborates with many Folk, Celtic, and Country musicians and singer-songwriters including David Francey, Pat Chessell, Jocelyn Pettit, The Soda Crackers, Craig Mcgregor, Andy Hillhouse, Brian Holmes, Blackthorn Blossoms, the M@Ms, Brian Robertson, Adam Dobres, and Mark Kilianski.
As a freelance musician, he often performs either as a soloist or accompanist at trad music events, as well as playing in a variety of musical configurations at weddings, markets, fairs, special occasions, seniors residences, corporate and academic events and conferences, house concerts and parties, and other celebrations.
In addition to his musical performances and collaborations, Michael shares his expertise through his YouTube channel, where he offers fiddle tutorials, including the "30 Different Fiddle Styles" and ''366 Days of Fiddle Tunes'' series, which have garnered a loyal following.
Outside of his musical pursuits, Michael Burnyeat holds a Bachelor's degree in English from the University of British Columbia.