Music
Press
August 21, 2008
by Michael Corcoran
Austin American Statesman
http://www.austin360.com/music/content/music/stories/xl/2008/08/0821xlcover.html
...The old is forever young. Profiled here are five infusions of fresh blood, all in their 20s or younger, who are out to add to the rich tradition by doing it their way.
People don't expect what they get from the five high school students who make up the bluegrass-inflected Fireants. - Austin American Statesman XL ent
October 24, 2008
By Margaret Moser
http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A693630
When this year's Austin Music award winners for Best Teen Band Jenny Wolfe & the Pack went their seperate ways, packsters Zeke Jarmon Steven Campbell, and Ian Stewart swarmed to bassist Rebecca Pledger and drummer Victor Ziolkowski to form the Fireants. Their broad spectrum of training from classical to rock blends with bluegrass and won the Old Settler's Talent Competition and the Westlake High School Battle of the Bands. - Austin Chronicle
Mon September 8, 2008
www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS165278+08-Sep-2008+PRN20080908
Ian Stewart, 16, of Austin Tx awarded the Daniel Pearl Memorial Violin in San Diego, Ca.
...Being this year's recipient of the Daniel Pearl Memorial Violin is an incredible opportunity for me to be part of the visionary mission," Stewart said. "The message is formed from the simple idea that music is one of the common languages of mankind and can bridge what divides us. I am overwhelmingly honored to have this award pass through my hands and i hope to bring Daniel's message to the widest possible audience. "
...the daniel Pearl Memorial violins were crafted by Luther Jonathan Cooper of Maine, in honor of the international journalist and talented musician, who played violin and fiddle wherever he traveled prior to his murder at the hand of terrorists. Past winners from the U>S> and Canada have become ongoing musical ambassadors for Pearl's vision of building borderless friendships through music. The winners dedicate concerts each year to the World Music Days mission of spreading "Harmony For Humanity."
"Each year at my String Camp, the students who demonstrate great potential and or exceptional talent are awarded the Daniel Pearl Memorial Violins," said American classical and multi-genre violinist and composer Mark O'Connor, a member of the Daniel Pearl World Music Days Honorary Committee. "As these students practice and perform with the Pearl violins for a year--they may come to appreciate the thirst for knowledge and message of healing that defined Pearl's life and career. - Reuters
Discography
Hinterland--single
Emily D. --Single
The Deuce is Loose--single
Photos
Bio
With an award winning sound that covers everything from roots to rock, The Fireants bring their own twist to the classics as well as original compositions. Ian Stewart, Zeke Jarmon, Rebecca Pledger, Victor Ziolkowski, and Steven Campbell range in age from 15 to 18 and attend three different Austin area high school where individually they participate in marching band, jazz band, orchestra, and classical guitar studies. For the past year, they have combined their talents to explore music on their own terms. Their cross genre Americana style blends a hip musical maturity with playing skills to match. The Fireants are the current winners of the Old Settler's Talent Competition among other awards they have snagged in 2008.
Links
