Red River Fiddle & Dance Society
Societe violon et danse de la Riviere Rouge

Caitlin Armstrong, 24, was born and raised in The Pas, Manitoba. Caitlin has competed in various fiddle competitions, including the Grand Masters, and has travelled to several music camps, expanding her musical knowledge. She teaches private and group lessons in her hometown and continues to pass down the fiddling tradition. Caitlin enjoys playing a variety of musical styles and has her own signature sound. She enjoys playing onstage and meeting other musicians. Caitlin currently works as a lifeguard/swim instructor at the local pool and is entering her third year of nursing in the fall. She can also be seen curling at the local curling club with family in the evenings. 

Kyle Burghout, originally from Ottawa and now based in Winnipeg, has established himself as one of Canada’s premier fiddlers, as a performer, composer, and educator. His many awards include North American Irish Fiddle Champion, Grand North American Old-Time Fiddle Champion, and seven-time finalist at the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Competition.  He has performed across Canada as well as internationally, and has composed more than 60 fiddle tunes as well as larger works for chamber and orchestral ensembles. He has released three studio albums, and recently published his first tune book of 38 original fiddle tunes.  Kyle continues to teach fiddle lessons both in-person and online to students all across Canada, as well as at various fiddle camps as a guest instructor. He is also the Executive and Artistic Director of the Gatineau Hills Fiddle Festival in Chelsea, QC. 

Nya Chapman is from Winnipeg, Manitoba and is 15 years old. Since the age of three, she has had a keen interest in the violin and began taking fiddle lessons when she was six. Nya is grateful for the mentorship of a number of talented fiddlers and musicians at the various lessons, camps and workshops that she has attended over the years. She appreciates the joy that performing for an audience brings and is honoured to be participating in this year’s Canadian Grand Masters. In her fifth year of training at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet professional school, Nya also loves classical ballet and the musicality of dance. 

Jane was first introduced to fiddle music through a Suzuki violin workshop, and she has gone on to explore numerous styles such as Old Time, Celtic, French Canadian, Métis, Ottawa Valley, Jazz and Bluegrass. She has competed and judged at many prestigious competitions across the country, and has performed at countless concerts, festivals, events and charities. Jane has collaborated on several studio albums, and has released two albums of her own. When not busy performing and touring with her duo Jane & Kyle, she enjoys a full private teaching schedule which she has been running for over ten years, and is on the board for organizations such as the CGMFA and the Gatineau Hills Fiddle Festival. Jane graduated from the University of Ottawa in 2018 with a Bachelor of Music performance degree. That same year, she became the second Manitoban ever to win the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Competition. 

Danika is excited to return to the CGM for the third time. She started fiddling at the age of 6 and since then, she and her fiddle have been inseparable. Now 15, Danika loves performing with her family band, Hutlet 2.0, at events throughout Manitoba. She released her first fiddle album at the age of 10 and enjoys competing at various fiddle contests. Danika started teaching fiddling this year and enjoys seeing her students grow to love fiddle music. She and her family were chosen to be the Official Voyageur Family for the Festival du Voyageur 2024-2025, where she was able to share her love of Franco-Manitoban culture and music with everyone around her. She also enjoys playing piano and acro dancing.