A little bit on the shy side, Martine Redshaw comes alive when she is discussing, or playing, music. She played her violin like a guitar while she was interviewed. Staff photo/Brian Larsen
Martine Redshaw, Hovland, is this year’s first place winner in the Junior Division of the Minnesota State Old Time Fiddle Championships held August 3, 2019 at Merritt Elementary School Auditorium in Mountain Iron on August 3, 2019.
In the first round Martine played two songs, then three songs in the second round. Her father, John, on guitar, accompanied her. All of the songs are played by memory, and the judges wanted to hear old time, danceable songs, said John.
“I played the Tennessee Waltz and The Arkansas Traveler for the first round,” Martine said. “And for the second round I played Soldier’s Journey, My Own Waltz and Dill Pickle Rag.”
Martine, age 13, was at the young age of the Junior Division, which spanned ages 13 to 25.
Martine is the daughter of John Redshaw and Kristen Carlsgaard of Hovland. John was the longtime band teacher at I.S.D. 166 and Kristen taught Spanish at I.S.D. 166. The couple homeschool Martine.
This isn’t her first musical competition. Last year Martine placed first in her age group in the fiddle competition held at the Pepin, Wisconsin Laura Ingalls Wilder Days. She also won the classical violin Junior Strings Bowl competition held in Thunder Bay, Ontario last year. Because she won in Thunder Bay, she wasn’t allowed to compete in her age group this year.
John started Martine on guitar at age 5. She accompanied her mother, who was competing in the Pepin, Wis. fiddle competition, on guitar when she was 6 or 7. The family used to play old time music at the senior center, said John, but they haven’t been called in quite a while.
During the school year Martine practices classical violin and classical piano, spending about one and one half hours per day on each instrument. In the summer, she switches over to practice playing the fiddle.
When she was asked which musical style she prefers playing on the violin, Martine thought for a moment and answered, “I think classical. It takes more concentration. But I do like to play the fiddle because it’s fun,” she added.
Fiddlers have much more leeway in how they interpret a piece of music while classical violinists try to precisely play a piece as it was written by the composer, but both styles have their charms.
During the school year Martine travels every other week to Thunder Bay to receive violin lessons from Olga Medvedeva, who completed her violin studies in St. Petersburg, Russia. During the summer Martine takes fiddle lessons from an online instructor.
What does music hold for her future?
“I’m not sure if I want to keep this up full-time. But I do know that I want to keep practicing and playing my instruments,” she said, adding that she has met many interesting people through music.
Martine loves to read and write, and spending time outside is a favorite activity. Her family has long been involved in horses, and they have a ranch where they ride often, but Kristen said they are getting out of the horse business.
“We want to have more time as a family to travel,” she said.
The Minnesota Old Time Fiddle Contest
“Since our contest is certified by the National Old Time Fiddler’s Association, our Minnesota State Champion fiddler qualifies to participate in the National Old Time Fiddle Championships in Weiser, Idaho next June,” said Sheila Wilcox, orchestra director.
Representing Minnesota at nationals will be Olivia Skaja of Deer River.
The Minnesota State Old Time Fiddle Championship was made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, thanks to appropriations from the Minnesota State Legislature’s general and arts and cultural heritage funds, and in part by a grant from Lake Country Power’s Operation Round Up, Wilcox said.
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