Isabel Oliart

Isabel Oliart is a 29-year-old fiddler from Boston and has been playing the violin since she was 3 years old. She started taking fiddle lessons with Anne Hooper in 2009 and has since worked with other world-renowned teachers such as Winifred Horan, Hanneke Cassel and Katie McNally. She is a graduate of the New England Conservatory and holds a Masters of Music degree at Boston University. Isabel is now pursuing a career in both classical music and Celtic fiddling.

Isabel has competed in Scottish fiddle competitions many times in the US. She won the Junior Competition at the New England Regional in 2013. She won the Scottish F.I.R.E Tune Writing Competition in 2021 with her tune called “The Top of the Mountain.” She has placed second and third in many other competitions over the past years, including the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, the New England Regional Open Competition, and the US Scottish Nationals.

In addition to competing, Isabel plays numerous shows in the Boston area. She has played many times at The Burren Backroom Series in Somerville, Massachusetts. She has been featured on several radio shows, including WGBH’s “A Celtic Sojourn,” as well as multiple appearances on NPR’s “Says You.” She has also played for some Scottish country dances and for sessions in the Boston area. She is now playing with cellist Sammy Wetstein as part of a new duo band. Isabel’s original tunes can be found on her Facebook page and on her Youtube channel, called “Isabel’s Fiddling,” as well as on her new album.

She now pursues a career in both classical music and Celtic fiddling. Primarily a Scottish fiddler, Isabel also has a love for the fiddle music of Ireland, Cape-Breton, as well as Contra dance music.

$15 advance | $18 day-of

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