Born into a musical family, her mother played the fiddle, and her father played the accordion. She would sometimes accompany them on the guitar or piano. She really acquired the love for fiddle music after moving to Halifax, NS, and started attending fiddle contests. At the age of 44 she decided to register for fiddle lessons with Skip Holmes, a well known musician in the area. After her husband Art’s retirement from CN, they moved back to Moncton. She's very happy to have the opportunity to play with the Sussex Avenue Fiddlers, as she gets to share what she likes most, - playing with her mother Lina Richard, niece Melanie Richard, and nephew Denis Richard, all who have been fiddlers in the group. Yvonne is a dedicated fiddler and she along with her treasured Boudreau violin never miss a practice or an event.
Garnet was born at Baie Verte Road, NB, and came from a musical family of five. He moved to Moncton in 1955, where he married his wife Eileen. They have one daughter and two sons. He retired from Eaton's with over thirty eight years service. When retiring he decided to take up fiddling as a hobby, took lessons from Jocelyn Bourque for five years, and has been playing up a storm ever since. Active in their church, Garnet and Eileen both traveled to Nashville with us. Garnet attends practice regularly, and also plays with Ernest Despres and the Greater Moncton Fiddlers.
Gerry was born in College Bridge, NB, and came from a musical family. His father, Tim,was a classical violinist and played piano very well. His mother, Lea, also played piano. Gerald started playing piano at age four and took lessons for four years. At age twelve, while attending Saint Joseph College, he started lessons in classical violin, where he became a member of the Saint Joseph Youth Orchestra, performing at music festivals in Moncton and Memramcook. Gerald is a member of the Greater Moncton Fiddlers. In 2002 he became a member of the Sussex Avenue Fiddlers, for which he feels honoured, and we are honoured to have him. Gerald is an electronic technician by trade. He lives in Dieppe, NB, with his wife Cecilia.
Lucille remembers as a youngster hearing her Richard cousins from Minto, NB, making music on the fiddle and guitar. She liked the sound. So as a young teenager she self taught herself to play the guitar, and that helped her later, when, in the 1970's, she decided to take up the fiddle. She found the self teaching method a slow process, because of the lack of the knowledge of the correct techniques, that should be used in order to play this instrument properly. One day she read in the newspaper about Ivan Hicks' teaching program, and decided to join his group. After a number of years, she found due to other commitments, that she would have to give the fiddle up. She discovered giving it up wasn't that easy. She says, "I tried to give it up completely, but that just can't be done, it's in you, the music is always there, its always in the background, lurking, waiting to come out of you." So in 1995, after a six year break, she is back with Ivan Hicks and the Sussex Avenue Fiddlers again. She also plays with the Greater Moncton Fiddlers group. Lucille comes from a family of eight children, and now lives in Dieppe with her husband Jean-Paul.
George is the oldest sibling in his family, with 3 brothers and 3 sisters. All of us with their dad would sit around the kitchen and sing and play music, sometimes all through the night. George plays guitar, mandolin, harmonica, fiddle and sings whenever he gets the chance. He is retired and he and his wife live in Nauwigewauk. They have 2 daughters and 4 grandchildren. Their youngest daughter and her son play guitar. Their grandaughter is learning fiddle. My oldest daughter's son is learning guitar. Besides his family and music, George's other passion is his Harley Davidson. George says, "I'm very proud to be a member of the Sussex Avenue Fiddlers".
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Valerie Bourque
Valerie lives in Moncton with his wife Florence, and grew up in a musical family. His father, Eddie, played the harmonica, and the tune Val composed, "Eddie’s Waltz," is named after his father. As a youngster, he had a keen interest in harmonica, and also learned to play the fiddle, piano, guitar, banjo, and accordion. House parties were the order of the day when he was growing up, and he could often be found playing the music for these events. He dropped his music for about twenty years, but in 1982, after long service with CN as a pipefitter, he picked up his fiddle, and music is once again a big part of his life. His daughter Jocelyne, who is a former Maritime Fiddling Champion, teaches over 200 fiddlers and stepdancers in the Moncton area, some young, and some not so young, all at her own school.
Since his retirement as a claims agent from CN Rail, Jack has been able to devote more time to fiddling and to composing. As a composer, he has contributed, "Alta Crawford’s Jig," "Marvena Welling’s Jig" and "Rainbow Reel" to our music book, "Sussex Avenue Fiddlers Original Compositions". He has several others to his credit. He appreciates the support of Ivan and Vivian Hicks and the Sussex Avenue Fiddlers. He says, "We have a lot of fun getting together to make music and to enjoy each others company." Jack is a confident fiddler, and leader, plays guitar and sings, especially at impromptu get togethers. He plays for many outings, Senior’s Homes, Concerts, and Parties etc., teaches a dozen fiddle students, and leads at practices, and other events when Ivan and Vivian are away. Jack enjoys the Scottish tunes, and often attends St Ann’s Collage in Cape Breton, NS. He and his wife Kay traveled to Nashville with us, and both are interested in Genealogy. In his spare time, Jack repairs, sells, rents violins, snow plows driveways, and grows Christmas trees on his farm near Moncton.
Sylvia began playing the fiddle in 1989 with Ivan and Vivian Hicks. She comes from a musical family. For many years her father Joe Smith, was a well known fiddler on New Brunswick’s Kingston Peninsula. After his death, she decided to follow in his foot-steps. Sylvia has found it to be a most rewarding and exciting hobby, and has made many fine friends. "Music is one of the best hobbies in my life." she says. She composed the tune "Bonnie’s Waltz," and named it for her daughter Bonnie. She plans to continue playing and hopes to improve her technique over the years. Sylvia would like to thank her husband Archie, and family for their patience. Rhythm is in her bones, dance floor, sing songs on bus trips, masquerades, you name it. She is also turning into quite the yodeller as you may hear in our concerts. In 2003 she retired from her x-ray career and now has more time for gardening, her cottage and of course music.
During the summer months, she holds Kitchen Parties at Long Reach on the beautiful Kingston Peninsula. These are great fun and you can email Sylvia for info on these.
Alta was born in Rockport, New Brunswick. Her father was a light-house keeper and her mother was the church organist. Her first memories of music were of sacred music, and then, as a young girl, she played the guitar, with her uncle on the fiddle, for house parties and square dances. She joined the Sussex Avenue Fiddlers in 1988 and she enjoys the music and the fellowship of the group. Alta lives in Moncton and spends her summers at her cottage at Caissie Cape on Northumberland Strait. The title of her composition, "Cassie Cape Waltz," reflects her love for her cottage life. She says, "When you play music, you have wonderful friends." Alta enjoys them all.
Born in Moncton, NB, in 1946, Alyre is from a family of thirteen children. Most of his brothers and sisters play various musical instruments. His father played the fiddle and accordion and his mother played the piano and sang. Alyre has been a member of the Sussex Avenue Fiddlers since 1981. He plays the fiddle, guitar, piano and electric bass and also sings harmony with his family. Five of his sisters, and three of his brothers will get together once in a while to play music for seniors, and other occasions. Retired from Canadian National Railways in 1996 with 32 years as a Carman, he now has more time to devote to his music. Alyre is married to Thérèse Bordage. They have three daughters and four grandchildren, and when he composed his tune, "Jeremy’s Reel," he named it after his grandson Jeremy. Alyre hopes to continue playing fiddle with the Sussex Avenue Fiddlers for years to come. He says, "this group is very friendly and talented, thanks to Ivan and Vivian Hicks." Alyre manages the Sussex Avenue Fiddlers 20th Anniversary tapes sales, and co-ordinates the Christmas Aid food drive from the December Fiddle Doo. You might find him at Tim Horton’s!
Emile was interested in violin at an early age. His father's brother played fiddle at weddings. While his father played fiddle occasionally, he was more comfortable with the mouth organ. At that time, Emile couldn't afford to buy a violin so he tried to make one - at age fifteen! In 1980 he tried again, with much better results. He was very satisfied with his work when Guy-Paul Laroque won top prizes playing one of his fiddles at the Maritime Fiddle Contest in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. He has been a member of the Sussex Avenue Fiddlers for quite a few years, finds it very challenging, and he feels thankful for these great people in the group. He composed, "Emilus Jig" for our book. Emile is a retired auto mechanic.
Fraser Hale... hails from Riverview, NB. He credits the wide acceptance of his tunes to encouragement from Ivan and Vivian Hicks, Ernest Desprès and his fellow Maritime fiddlers. A former member of his church choir and a local ukulele band, Fraser can choose his accordion, piano, fiddle, or ukulele to make the wonderful music enjoys. He continues to compose new tunes, "Fraser’s Jig," and "Lois Waltz," (for his wife Lois), are just two of his compositions. Fraser is an ardent supporter of fiddle music, and has been presented with a certificate of appreciation by the Maritime Fiddlers Association in recognition of that fact. He brings reports from many fiddle groups, that he attends, while visiting his daughters in Ontario, as well as throughout the Maritimes. He also plays with Ernest Despres Greater Moncton Fiddlers. He and Lois spend their winters in Florida, where he supports and contributes to the music programs there.
Jim Hardy was born at Bear River, NS, a small village in the beautiful Annapolis Valley. His parents, Earl and Mary Hardy, also brothers Earle, Donald, and David, are all musically talented. Jim plays several instruments but the fiddle is his favorite. He and his wife Myrna Hardy who plays piano, reside in Riverview N.B., and are avid supporters of Olde Tyme Music. Jim has two compositions in our Sussex Avenue Fiddler book of Original Compositions, "In Memory of Tara Lynne," and "Willett’s Jig." He has judged at competitions, including the Dartmouth Maritime Fiddle Championships, was a tireless right hand man at Fiddles Of The World, and leads some in Ivan’s absents.
Ivan Hicks, a native of Sackville, NB, now makes his home in Riverview, NB, and more specifically on Sussex Avenue, which is where the group Sussex Avenue Fiddler’s derived its name. He began fiddling at a very early age and is well known for his contribution to the preservation and promotion of old-time fiddling throughout North America. He has recorded many albums and presented hundreds of concerts. Ivan is the director of the Sussex Avenue Fiddlers and enjoys the music and fellowship. Ivan’s accomplishments would fill a book, indeed there is a book written on his 50 years in Music. Check out his website to find out more about this book, his recordings, and performances. We appreciate his dedicated leadership!
Vivian Hicks, Ivan's wife, plays piano for the Sussex Avenue Fiddlers, and has been an active participant in Ivan's music career. Vivian also plays an important role in the promotion of the group as well as being the chief organizer for the many trips the group has taken. Another book could be written on Vivan’s accomplishments, and maybe someday someone will do that. Needless to say, we appreciate the dedication she brings to our group.
For many years now, Debbie has been involved in musical activities in New Brunswick, and across Canada. She is a member of the "Sussex Avenue Fiddlers" based in Riverview, New Brunswick. Debbie, and one of her four groups, "Debbie McMillan and Friends," "Elmer Shay Square Dance Band," "Sussex Corner Fiddlers" (Students), and of course the "Sussex Ave Fiddlers," are available to entertain for your special occasion, such as weddings, anniversaries or parties! Debbie has taught violin for over twenty years in Nova Scotia, Manitoba, and New Brunswick. She is formerly a founding member of the North Bay Symphony Orchestra, and of the University of Manitoba Orchestra. She is also one of the first members of the Maritime Fiddle Association, which now numbers over six-hundred members. She traveled to Nashville with our group, and took in part of Ivan’s Canadian Tour 2000.
Lorne was born in the Musquodoboit Valley of Nova Scotia and lived in Dartmouth from the time he was eight years old until he retired from M T & T. In 1994 he and his wife Hazel, (after raising three sons), moved to Tidnish Crossroads, Nova Scotia, and opened Seven Gables Bed and Breakfast in 1995. Lorne enjoyed the fiddle long before he even knew what one looked like. He would listen to Don Messer on the radio and would have to ask his brother what was making that sound. Approximately thirty five years ago his father-in-law gave him his fiddle, and Lorne was playing a couple of tunes within a very short time. After playing around camp fires and similiar outings, the fiddle was put away for about twenty five years. Last spring, (2002), he was invited to attend a Sussex Avenue Fiddlers practice, which he did, and the fire was re-ignited. He considers it an honour and a privilege to be with the Sussex Avenue Fiddlers and Ivan Hicks, who has been his favourite fiddler for a good many years. He looks forward to the music, the fellowship, and to improving his fiddling skills in the years to come.
Ted has lived in Moncton all his life where he married his wife Lillian. They have two children and three grandchildren. Ted has always had a great love for music, over the years teaching himself to play the guitar and mandolin. He bought his first guitar from Eaton’s where he worked many years ago. He switched to Canada Post, and after retiring from there, he decided to take up fiddling as a hobby. He bought a fiddle from Jack Bulmer, took lessons from Jocelyn Bourque for two years, and in 1997 considered himself fortunate to be able to join The Sussex Avenue Fiddlers.
Memories for John Selwyn Mills are of his Nova Scotian, Pictou County home...it’s first battery operated radio...radio station CJFX, Antigonish, Cape Breton fiddle tunes...CFCY Charlottetown, Don Messer... or it he put your his ear up to the speaker on a Saturday night he might hear WWVA, Wheeling, West Virginia, fade in and out. He liked music, but after trying the pump organ, ukulele, and guitar he never thought he would ever play an instrument. He also found it necessary to reserve his vocals to the barnyard while milking the cows. When his daughter started taking piano lessons, he would learn with her. Once he could read the notes he could enjoy making the music that he loved. It wasn’t long until he graduated to the fiddle, and has been enjoying himself ever since. Now, he has even written a tune, "Sally’s Waltz," but he now wishes he had named it Sally’s Aire. A retired Carman, his spare time now is taken up with antique cars, Dobson Hiking Trail, and Genealogy. You can blame him if some of these biographies are not to your liking, or for the fiddle that is out of tune and off time.
