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.
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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.
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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 six consecutive occasions, cementing his position as a respected and accomplished fiddler in the Canadian contest circuit. Recently he has also served as a judge for the BC Fiddle Championships.
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He has released three solo albums, A Sense of Tradition (2018), On The Edge, (2022) and Fiddlin' Around the Christmas Tree (2023) which reflect his dedication to upholding traditional and fiddle music. 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 and country albums. Michael also operates his own home recording studio, where he recorded, mixed, and mastered his second and third album. As a recording engineer and a studio musician he has undertaken recording projects for folk musicians, singers, songwriters, and even the 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 and is the creative director of the Open Door Fiddlers, a youth student fiddle group. He is also an in-demand music instructor at Open Door Music School in Kitsilano.
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Over the last number of years he has hosted many weekly and monthly jam sessions at the Wolf and Hound pub. Additionally, he has played a significant part in leading the session component of the long running Jericho Folk Club for many years. 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.
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With 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.
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Some of Michael's career highlights include opening for multiple grammy winner and Canadian music legend Sarah Mclachlan, acclaimed Irish musician Sharon Shannon, and 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 many folk music festivals including the Bear Creek Folk Festival, and Islands Music Festival, Michael has also shared his musical talents at many Rogue Folk Club, Vancouver Folk Song Society, and Irish Consulate events and alongside the Vancouver Youth Choir at the Orpheum, and Musica Intima at St. James Hall, as well as performing with JigJam at the Blueshore Financial Theatre and the Calgary Folk Club. His musical endeavours have gained recognition, with appearances on Breakfast Television, Shaw TV, Global News, 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. Additionally, he collaborates with Brian Holmes, an exceptional Irish guitarist and singer, to entertain audiences with their performances in local pubs. Furthermore, Michael joins forces with Brian Robertson, a seasoned West Coast folk singer-songwriter, where their collaboration showcases a delightful blend of songs and lively fiddle tunes. He also is a regular player with the Pat Chessell Band and the Irish Wakers.
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.
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​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.
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Outside of his musical pursuits, Michael Burnyeat holds a Bachelor's degree in English from the University of British Columbia.
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