Samantha Robichaud

Los Angeles – July 27, 2005 – The Daniel Pearl Foundation announced today that 18 year old Samantha Robichaud, a native of New Brunswick and one of Canada’s most accomplished young musicians (www.samantharobichaud.ca.), has been awarded one of the two 2005 Daniel Pearl Memorial Violins. The specially crafted instrument, received from composer/violinist Mark O'Connor at the Strings Conference in San Diego, California, honors Robichaud’s exceptional musicianship.

The Daniel Pearl Memorial violins were crafted by Jonathan Cooper of Maine in honor of
the journalist and talented musician who joined a variety of classical, folk, bluegrass and jazz groups throughout his life making friends and bridging cultural differences through music. Robichaud will have the instrument for one year and plans to use it for all of her musical endeavors wherever she travels.

“I have played on many stages across Canada and the USA, including Carnegie Hall and have performed for the Queen of England, to have Mark O'Connor award me this beautiful violin for a year to play in Daniel's memory is something that will be special to me for the rest of my life.” Said an emotional Robichaud. “I will play this violin at all my performances in the next year, and speak of Daniel, how he loved his music, life, and was so opened minded to other cultures and backgrounds.”

Samantha’s vivacious personality, combined with a track record of over 200 awards for a variety of fiddle specialties, make her an up and coming force to be reckoned with. Her fourth recording, “Vivacious”, received two East Coast Music Awards nominations in the Instrumental Artist & Roots/Traditional Categories, displaying the influences of her Acadian heritage. Like Daniel Pearl, Samantha has demonstrated a strong love for all styles of fiddle playing and music, with a drive to perfect her own unique style influenced by classical training.

Samantha has showcased at the International Folk Alliance Conference in San Diego, in New York at the Association of Performing Arts Presenters and in Montreal at the Folk Alliance/Strictly Mundial Samantha has also played at such notable venues as the Bluebird Café in Nashville, the Knitting Factory in New York City and the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. She also was a Principal Violin with the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra and played with the Orchestra at Carnegie Hall in 2003.

Displaying a special affinity for the ideals that Pearl displayed throughout his work makes Robichaud a natural spokesperson for preserving Pearl’s legacy through her music. “On my last CD I wrote a song called ‘Why does it matter?’ I wrote it from my heart, why does it matter our color, our citizenship, religions, we are all part of this world we should live life to the fullest and enjoy each other.
Since I did not have the opportunity to meet this wonderful man, I am so honored to be chosen to be part of keeping his memory alive.”

Daniel Pearl’s murder by terrorists in Pakistan in 2002 touched millions who never knew him. By developing innovative international programs focused on journalism, music and respectful dialogue, the Daniel Pearl Foundation seeks to counter the hatred and intolerance that took his life. www.danielpearl.org.
www.samantharobichaud.ca www.musicmanagement.ca
For more information on Samantha Robichaud please contact Bruce Morel 902-435-0330
- Daniel Pearl Foundation

Riverview fiddler Samantha Robichaud has earned second place in the teen category of the International Songwriting Competition for her song Elmo's Reel.

The 17-year-old will receive $1,000 in prizes for her song, which was judged on creativity, originality, lyrics, melody and composition.

Her entry was one of 11,000 submitting to a variety of categories from aspiring and established songwriters around the world. Their best offerings were judged by an impressive group of industry people, including Sean P. Diddy Combs, country artist Clint Black, singer/songwriter Macy Gray and Staind frontman Aaron Lewis.

Samantha's song Vivacious was given an honourable mention and she was seventh in the People's Voice online voting.

Other Maritime winners were J.P. Cormier of Nova Scotia who placed third in the instrumental category and Gordie Sampson, along with Blair DalY and Troy Verges of Halifax, who earned first place in the performance category.

The overall grand prize winner was 18-year-old Gin Wigmore of Auckland, New Zealand, who also came in first place in the teen category. - N/A

AUGUSTA -- Two top Canadian roots-music artists, Dave Gunning and Samantha "Fiddling Sam" Robichaud, will join Maine's finest Acadian performers for a showcase concert Thursday at Jewett Hall on the University of Maine at Augusta campus.

The show will feature recent winners of Canada's East Coast Music Awards in a dazzling display of rhythm, beauty and skill. The Maine-based Don Roy Trio will round out the program with fiddle, dance and other gifts of the Acadian tradition.

Gunning comes to Maine fresh from Canada's East Coast Music Awards, where he earned the "Folk Recording of the Year" for his album, "Two-Bit World."

Robichaud is a lively, youthful Atlantic Canadian fiddler with Acadian roots who first picked up the fiddle at the age of 4 and has never put it down. Her passion, desire and drive have led to performances at the Grand Ole Opry and Carnegie Hall, a command performance for Queen Elizabeth II and multiple nominations to Canada's East Coast Music Awards in the Instrumental Artist and Roots/Traditional categories for her latest recording, "Vivacious."

Maine's Don Roy Trio are no strangers to good storytelling and good fiddling. Despite his "South of the Border" upbringing in Rockland, Roy grew up surrounded by Acadian and Celtic music from the Canadian Maritimes and beyond. Roy and his performing partners -- pianist/step-dancer Cindy Roy and bassist Jay Young -- delight in these cultural connections and love to regale audiences with the stories behind the tunes. - Kennebec Journal

By Ron Wynn

Canadian singer/songwriter Lennie Gallant’s compositions and performances offer audiences the best of three related yet distinct genres. The stories, imagery and approach often echo country, while the singing and arranging reflects a pronounced folk tinge and frequently Gallant’s band invokes an aggressiveness and attitude straight out of rock. Gallant’s music will be featured tonight in a very special show at the Bluebird Café.

His appeal as a creator of compelling material has been noticed at home and in America. More than 30 artists have cut Gallant tunes, and he’s also had songs featured in films, theater, television shows, documentaries and special events.

The evening at the Bluebird is being billed as the Atlantic Canadian Singer-Songwriter Showcase and is being presented with the support of Foreign Affairs Canada. Fellow Canadian Derrick Ruttan, whose own works include Dierks Bentley’s hit “What Was I Thinking?” is presenting the show.

Others on the program include Samantha Robichaud and Dave Gunning. Robichaud has issued four discs, among them the current Vivacious, and is the 2004 Maritime Fiddle Champion. Gunning also has done four releases, among them a tribute to Gordon Lightfoot, and his most recent release is Two Bit World.

“I’m extremely happy and quite thrilled to be appearing on this type of showcase and especially at the Bluebird,” Gallant said. “The singer/songwriter form is by far my greatest influence, and it is the field where I’ve gotten so much joy and inspiration throughout my life. I also really love country music, though I’m not a straight-ahead country vocalist. But Johnny Cash was one of my real heroes, along with Bob Dylan.”

Now involved in mixing the music for his forthcoming new release, Gallant, Robichaud and Gunning have all been nominated or received awards from Canada’s East Coast Music Association. Gallant also received his country’s highest honor last year when he was inducted into the Order of Canada, and he’s well known for earnest, direct songs spotlighting key issues that have both topical clout and universal appeal.

Gallant also shares with Robichaud and Gunning a fierce pride in his Acadian heritage. He fulfilled a longtime ambition in 2003 when he recorded Le Vent Boheme, a CD in French. It was voted East Coast Francophone Album of the Year and also earned Gallant Acadian Artist Of the Year at the Gala Eloizes and Album and Artist of the Year at the Gala des Etoiles.

“That was the most difficult thing I’ve ever done in my life — recording in French,” Gallant said. “It wasn’t just a question of having to think in another language after you’ve always written the other way, but of getting the jargon and the usage and the slang. I wrote every song at least five different times and went over them with people who had been speaking French for much longer than I had to make sure that I wasn’t sacrificing the credibility of the language. It was very memorable, but I’m really glad to be back working in English.” - The Nasvhille City Paper

BY KAREN RAWLINES

Thanks to some careful fiddling, two original songs by a Riverview teenager have made the final cut of the International Songwriting Competition.

Samantha Robichaud, 17, has made it as a finalist in the instrumental category with her song Vivacious and is also among the 11 finalists in the teen category with Elmo's Reel.

Now her fate is left to a panel of judges that includes such names as Sean (P. Diddy) Combs, Macy Gray, Clint Black, Bo Diddley and a who's­ who of record company executives.

The teen, nicknamed Fiddling Sam by friends and family, is taking the whole thing in stride, saying it's an honour to find out she has made the cut.

"I never dreamed that my songs would make it," she said.

The fiddle-playing phenom had her songs selected from a pool of 11,000 entries from more than 70 countries. The only other Maritimers nominated are Gordie Sampson and J.P. Cormier, both big names on the East Coast.

Ms. Robichaud, who first picked up the fiddle at the age of four, says "it's amazing" that listeners get so much out of her songs.

"There's a lot of emotion that I put into it," she says. "(People) hear it in the songs and feel it in the music."

The music really has no choice but be imbued with everything Samantha's got; after all, she'll confess, it's pretty much her life.

The Grade 12 student at Riverview High School was happy to get a snow day off from class on Monday – she used the free time to catch up on some homework for online courses she's taking from the Berklee School of Music in Boston. The school's website describes Berklee as the world's largest independent music college.

She stands to win some more of that expert tutelage should her songs strike the right chord. In addition to the bounty of prizes - the overall winner bags a prize of $10,000 cash, plus $30,000 in merchandise and services - the first-place winner in the teen cat­egory will receive a full scholarship to the 2005 five-week Summer Performance Program at Berklee.

In 2004, Ms. Robichaud released her fourth album, Vivacious, a record that has already nabbed a pair of nominations at the East Coast Music Awards in the instrumental, and roots! traditional solo categories.

That record yielded the title song that found its way into the contest­ and happens to be one of Ms. Robichaud's favourites for its unique jazz style.

Elmo's Reel is more of a traditional Acadian piece, she said, but the second time around, the song throws a Latin flavour into the mix.

The International Songwriting Competition is an annual contest open to both amateur and professional songwriters and musicians, sees sub­missions judged on the basis of creativity, originality, lyrics, melody, andcomposition. - Telegraph Journal

Pauline Furlong

What a flurry 2005 has been al­ready.

Upon returning home from New York City where she was performing, 17-year-old Samantha Robichaud learned two of her songs had been selected from more than 11,000 entries in 70 plus countries as finalists in the International Songwriting Competition. Two other Maritimers - JP Cormierand Gordie Sampson - have had their songs chosen as finalists in the same competition. "What an honour for her," says her mother, Beth Robichaud.

Indeed. The Riverview fiddler is well-known on a Canadian level: she has released her fourth al­bum, Vivacious; sings on two tracks of the release that has ECMA nominations in the Instrumental and Roots/ Traditional Solo categories' was named Maritime Fiddle Champion at the 55th Maritime Fiddle Festival in Dart­ mouth, N.S. and earned the Don Messer Award for compiling the highest number of points during the event.

Since her debut on the fiddle at the age of four, she has received more than 250 awards for her musical abilities, including Junior Maritime Champion, Junior Canadian Champion and New Bruns­wick Provincial Champion. Since age 12 when she was invited to compete with top Canadian fiddlers, she has placed each year in the Masters top 11 fiddlers as one of Canada's Best.

"Songwriting for this year's competition proved to be at an ex­tremely high level, making the se­lection of finalists a most challenging one," says Candace Avery. Samantha - who is also a high school student - is also preparing to perform at the East Coast Music Award's pre-show this year. But don't expect her to change much.

"Sam will be Sam, no matter what," says her mother. "You may see her playing at big events like this, but you will also see her play­ing at the local nursing home this week, too. - Times & Transcript

By Grant Kerr

Boy, what a year this has been. It's becoming increasingly difficult to come up with top-10 lists because, with so much great music coming out of New Brunswick, where does one start? Where does it end? It doesn't, actually, which is great news.

Not only has there been a plethora of stunning albums released, spanning genres, geography and languages, New Brunswick artists have an increasing presence on the world stage. The best part is, most of them are actually remaining in New Brunswick. Here's my top-11 list - it was impossible to narrow it to 10 - as I have seen the year unfold.

Matt Andersen - The big man from tiny Bairdsville started out his year by making a spectacular splash at the East Coast Music Awards in St John's, where he generated more excitement than any artist I have ever seen. Jaded record reps, talent scouts and influential music magazine editors gave Andersen not only a raucous standing ovation, but demanded an unprecedented encore at a showcase that has stringent time constraints. It was nuts. Andersen is magic and his debut EP, One Size Never Fits, has been fittingly nominated for an East Coast Music Award in the blues category. He is working on a new album, which he will release this spring. Look out for Hurricane Matt in 2005!

Curbside Prawjek - Collide, the talented producer/ rapper/ crossword fanatic/ wordsmith behind this unsung hip-hop outfit doesn't get out much. He doesn't have the money to tour much, plays few local shows in his native Saint John, and released just a handful of copies of his debut album, The Mean Streets of Your Warm House, which came out last spring. But Collide, a.k.a. Steve Fudge, is on this list because he deserves to be. His raps are fresh, his rhymes are fresher and he's nobody's fool. A cool voice of reason in a noisy, bling-bling world.

Julie Doiron - This Moncton-born, Sackville-based artist released her latest collection of quietly stunning ballads, Goodnight Nobody, to little fanfare back in September. But this is a beautifully crafted 3 a.m. whisper of an album, featuring Doiron's hushed vocals and spare musical backing. Doiron has had a busy year, releasing this gem at the same time that she and her family were moving back to New Brunswick after six years in Montreal. If only the world had less angry noise and more albums like this, one that takes you away to another universe. Goodnight Nobody is up for an ECMA in the alternative category

Hot Toddy - This Fredericton blues trio made this list last year for its career-best album, Salty Sessions, Vol. I. This year, Tom, Thom and Joel released Salty Vol. II, which has a more experimental edge. It certainly got the attention of the Maple Blues Awards, which has the band up for two prizes: Acoustic Act of the Year, and Bassist of the Year (Tom Easley). The East Coast Music Association has also recognized the band with a nomination in the blues category for 2005.

Kelly Jay - Jay, yes that's her real name, is a pop singer who was crowned the first Saint John Idol in '03. Using that as a launching pad, Jay recorded her slick debut album this past spring in Toronto with hotshot producer Mark S. Berry (David Bowie, I Mother Earth). Enlisting some of the best modern pop writers that this continent has to offer, Jay recorded a winner. Propelled by its catchy first radio single, Stupid, Electric is stuffed full of 10 radio-ready pop gems. With a national distribution deal that has her record in stores coast to coast, and a lot of hard work, Jay has been getting airplay as far west as Alberta. Look for Kelly Jay live in '05.

Roger Lord - The Moncton-based classical pianist is better known internationally than he is in his own country. This past year has seen Lord touring China, Argentina and Mexico with more globetrotting planned for '05. His recently released first solo CD, Louis Moreau Gottschalk of Louisiana - Selected Works (Distribution Plages), has deservedly received critical raves in the international press including "Bravos!!!" in the European music magazine, TRAD, based out of France. An accessible romp that is best described as Chopin meets Scott Joplin.

Samantha Robichaud - Riverview's teenaged fiddler released her fourth album, Vivacious, an aptly-titled release that rips through many musical genres Robichaud also sings on two tracks of the release that has ECMA nominations in the Instrumental, and Roots/ Traditional Solo categories. Constantly on the road, despite still being in high school, Robichaud recently was named Maritime Fiddle Champion at the 55th Maritime Fiddle Festival in Dartmouth, N.S., along with the Don Messer Award for compiling the highest number of points during the event.

Three Season Ant - What a year for this Quispamsis rock quartet. Releasing its debut full-length album, 2 Days After Yesterday, this poppy young rock band picked up four Covenant Awards, courtesy of the Canadian Gospel Music Association, including Best New Artist. Add - The New Brunswick Reader

SYDNEY, N.S. (CP) - Riverview fiddling sensation Samantha Robichaud leads the pack of New Brunswick nominees for the 2005 East Coast Music Awards with two nominations for her album, Vivacious.

The nods came in the instrumental recording of the year and the roots/traditional solo recording of the year categories.

New Brunswick will be well represented at this year's awards, with Julie Doiron and Vetch nominated in the alternative recording of the year category, as well as local group Bluegrass Diamonds and One Mile Hill in the bluegrass recording of the year category. Matt Andersen and Hot Toddy are both in the running for blues recording of the year, will Yvonne Kershaw and Steven Peacock's album has been nominated for classical recording of the year, as has the latest from Moncton's Jasper Wood.

In the country recording of the year category, Shanklin Road and Brian Mallery both earned nods as did Danny Boudreau and Daniel Leger in the enregistrement francophone de l'annee.

Alma favorites Isaac and Blewett are up for folk recording of the year, Moncton's Banshee are nominated for roots/traditional group recording of the year, and Quispamsis group Three Season Ant are in the running for rock recording of the year.

Three New Brunswick performers earned recognition in the gospel recording of the year category: Emmaus Road, The Ascensions and The LaPointes. Finally, in the urban single track recording of the year, Pimp Tea has been nominated twice - for Shake Ya Caboose and for a collaborative effort with Mickey D and Bonshah. - Times & Transcript

Samantha Robichaud, 17, picked up the 2004 Maritime Fiddle Championship title at the 55th Maritime Fiddle Festival in Dartmouth last weekend.

Robichaud, who earlier this year released her fourth recording, Vivacious, also won best waltz, best jig and the Don Messer Memorial Award (given to a Maritime resident fiddler who compiles the highest points during the weekend event).

This is the second time the Riverview, N.B. native has won the Don Messer Award. She received it previously in 1999, when she was 12. That year she also won best waltz, reel and jig trophies as well as the Junior Maritime Champion title.

And this year, one of her students, Melanie Belliveau, won the Junior Maritime Champion title.

Since the age of four, Robichaud, has received over 250 awards. In 1999, she won the Junior Canadian Championship and the New Brunswick Provincial Championship and was invited to take part in the Masters in Ottawa. At the time, she was the youngest fiddler to be invited.

She has been invited back each year since and each year placed among the top 11 Canadian fiddlers. She will compete at the event this year Aug. 28 and will also perform at the Ottawa Folk Festival. - Halifax Herald