“Ms. Scanlin is an extraordinary fiddler - inventive, fluid, tone a mile deep, and that is just the beginning. ”
Biography
Born in Boone NC, Maura Shawn Scanlin currently makes her home in Somerville, MA. In 2019, she completed her Masters Degree in Violin Performance at the Yale School of Music, where she studied with Ani Kavafian. Previously, Maura earned her Bachelors Degree at the New England Conservatory, and attended High School at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Maura’s classical music collaborations with various ensembles have led her to the Osaka International Quartet Competition, Fischoff International Chamber Music Competition, the Yellow Springs Chamber Music Competition, and the Banff Chamber Music Residency. Maura has studied with renowned chamber musicians such as the Borromeo String Quartet, the Brentano String Quartet, Kim Kashkashian, Roger Tapping. She is currently a member of the Rasa String Quartet.
Maura enjoys performing and collaborating with musicians in a variety of celtic styles: she performs and tours regularly with duo project Rakish, with guitarist Conor Hearn. She has toured and shared the stage with Seamus Egan, Maeve Gilchrist, Hanneke Cassel, and Karan Casey, among others. Maura is a two-time U.S. National Scottish Fiddling Champion, and a winner of the Glenfiddich Fiddle Championship in Perthshire, Scotland.
Maura has performed across North America and the United Kingdom, appearing at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Izumi Hall, Jordan Hall, Blair Castle, Shalin-Liu Performance Center, and the Sinclair, among others. She has performed at festivals including Merlefest, KVMR Celtic Festival, Boston Celtic Music Festival, Bellingham Irish Festival, New Hampshire Highland Games, Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, Rockport Celtic Festival, and Folk Alliance International. She has been featured on PBS Great Performances’ “Now Hear This” representing the Boston Traditional Music community.
Maura can be found on faculty at various music camps including Sierra Fiddle Camp, Folk College, Boston States Fiddle Camp, Hanneke Cassel’s Pure Dead Fiddle Weekend, Jink & Diddle School of Scottish Fiddling, the Heartbeat Music Project, and Up With Music’s Summer Strings. Through her collaborations and performances, Maura hopes to cultivate appreciation for both traditional and innovative live acoustic music.
Maura plays an 1872 violin by Asa White, and a Francois Lotte bow.
