Biography
Kimberley Fraser was born on Cape Breton Island, and nurtured within its rich musical heritage. She first began to impress audiences at the age of three with her step-dancing talents. Soon after that she took up both the fiddle and the piano. Like many in Cape Breton, music is not new to Kimberley’s family. She proudly owns the fiddle of her great great grandfather, spanning the musical tradition within her family over a hundred years.
Though still in her early 20s, Kimberley’s career is already a distinguished one. She has traveled the world, from Victoria to Afghanistan, bringing Cape Breton music with her wherever she goes. She has played with Cape Breton’s finest, including Ashley MacIsaac, Natalie MacMaster, Gordie Sampson and the late John Allan Cameron. Internationally, Kimberley has shared the stage with such notables as Alasdair Fraser, Lunasa and Martin Hayes. Kimberley is also in demand for her piano skills, accompanying various Cape Breton fiddlers at home and abroad. She had the honour of being the pianist for the acclaimed Irish musical group, Cherish the Ladies, during their tour of Sweden in May of 2004. In 2000, Kimberley received the Tic Butler award for significant contribution to Cape Breton culture.
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In 2005 Kimberley graduated from St Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia with an honours degree in Celtic Studies and a minor in Jazz music. A master at the trio of fiddling, step dancing and piano, Kimberley is a much sought after teacher for all three. She has been a long time instructor at the renowned Gaelic College in Cape Breton as well as the Ceilidh Trail Music School in Inverness, Cape Breton where she has worked alongside such notables as Buddy MacMaster, Brenda Stubbert, and Jerry Holland. Her reputation as a teacher has also brought her to conduct workshops at the Swannanoa Gathering in Asheville, North Carolina, The American Festival of Fiddle Tunes in Port Townsend, Washington and the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention in Aberdeen, Scotland. Kimberley is continuing her music education by attending the acclaimed Berklee College of Music in Boston. She joins a long list of distinguished musicians who have studied contemprary and folk music at Berklee.
Kimberley’s latest accomplishment includes the release of her second studio album, Falling on New Ground, that won the 2008 East Coast Music Award for best Roots/Tradtional Album of the Year. This self-produced album reflects on her experiences and growth as a musician since the release of her first studio album Heart Behind the Bow in 2000.
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.