Fiddle Star Visiting Senior Center Before Tonight's Show at ECA

Before Canadian fiddler Natalie MacMaster performs tonight at the Edmonds Center for the Arts, she will make a special appearance at the Edmonds Senior Center from 4 to 5 p.m. in the upstairs ballroom.

She will talk about her travels, play some fiddle, answer question and even show off a bit of step dancing. Admission is free.

MacMaster is a native of Nova Scotia who has created a signature Celtic-inspired sound that has resonated with world audiences through 10 albums, multiple gold records and numerous Juno and East Coast Music Awards.

She began playing the fiddle at age nine and released her first album at 16. Initially shy on stage, she channeled her nervous energy to incorporate stepdancing into her show.

Her strength and confidence has garnered her the respect and admiration of the crème de la crème of top-notch musicians: master violinist Mark O’Connor has repeatedly invited her to be a guest instructor at his camp; legendary cellist Yo-Yo Ma prominently featured her as a guest performer on his 2008 holiday-themed album Songs Of Joy & Peace.

MacMaster also maintains an active touring schedule, performing as many as 100 shows a year with superstars such as Irish legends the Chieftains, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Paul Simon, country sweetheart Faith Hill, banjo sensation Béla Fleck, fellow fiddling marvel Alison Krauss and spiritually stimulating guitarist Carlos Santana, just to name a few.

In 2011 MacMaster released her first album in five years, the self-produced Cape Breton Girl, and has added “author” to her resume with the release of Natalie MacMaster’s Cape Breton Aire, the story of her own musical journey complete with photographs of her beloved Cape Breton Island.

Natalie MacMaster performs Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 Fourth Ave. N., Edmonds. Tickets are $30-$40, $15 for youth and available through the ECA box office at 425-275-9595 or at www.ec4arts.org.