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Visiting players are invited to sit in with local musicians. Singers, dancers and listeners welcome. Family friendly. Free admission. Free will donations toward KitchenRackets future programs are greatly appreciated. (St. Peter's is a convenient place to be in the afternoon if you are attending nearby concerts on Isle Madame, Lower River or St. Peter's on these evenings.)
We’re thrilled to offer two full days of hands-on music workshops in St. Peter’s, Cape Breton. Join us on Wednesday and Thursday, October 15 & 16, for a rich program of small-group sessions led by some of the island’s finest traditional musicians.
Each day features four one-hour workshops. Each morning and afternoon offers two workshops designed as progressive sessions – you may want to take either one, or both.
RESOURCES NOW AVAILABLE! Click here to access the resources for the upcoming workshops provided by the instructors.Who Should Come
These workshops are geared for intermediate to advanced players, but less experienced musicians are also welcome and will gain valuable insight into Cape Breton’s unique playing styles and repertoire. As a guideline: if you know at least 10 tunes and can play about five of them at tempo, you’ll benefit from these skill-building sessions.
Instruction is hands-on, with individualized feedback. Tunes are taught primarily using the call-and-repeat method. Sheet music and reference materials will be shared in advance. Whether you read music or prefer learning by ear, you’ll be right at home.
Cost
All workshops are $25 per person. Class sizes are limited to 10 people for single instructor sessions, and 15 people for double instructor sessions.
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! You must register in advance for all workshops, as space is limited. Click the button below to book via Eventbrite.
Instructor: Roger Stone
9:30 AM
An introduction to the mandolin and tenor banjo in Cape Breton music. Roger will demonstrate picking techniques, tune memorization, and performance tips for both instruments, tuned to standard fiddle tuning. Great for mandolinists wanting to dig into Celtic repertoire—and an invitation to try your hand with the 4-string tenor banjo.
Instructor: Roger Stone
11:00 AM
Learn to play tunes and chord backup in standard guitar tuning. This workshop explores picking patterns, chording, and rhythmic phrasing specific to the Cape Breton guitar tradition. A must for intermediate and advanced players, and a great peek ahead for keen beginners.
Instructor: Scott Macmillan (Guitar) & Donna Marie DeWolfe (Fiddle)
1:30 PM
Explore the foundations of guitar accompaniment for fiddle: chord progressions, key changes, rhythm patterns for jigs, strathspeys, reels, and waltzes. Play in time, add dynamics, and most of all—have fun making music together.
Instructor: Scott Macmillan (Guitar) & Donna Marie DeWolfe (Fiddle)
3:00 PM
Take your accompaniment skills further with Drop D and DADGAD tunings, capo use, and creative phrasing. Learn to follow tonal centres, support melodic phrasing, and develop variations for second passes through tunes. We’ll also touch on theory and how to elevate the soloist’s sound.
Instructor: Boyd MacNeil
9:30 AM
Work through a set of tunes—Father John Angus Rankin’s March, Cutting Ferns, Brenda Stubbert’s Reel, and Put Me in the Big Chest—with a focus on tone, intonation, and bowing. A solid session for players ready to dig into the nuances of Cape Breton style.
Instructor: Boyd MacNeil
11:00 AM
Continue with the same tunes from the intermediate session, now emphasizing grace notes, ornaments, and tempo strategies. Learn how to keep up the pace while maintaining clarity and transitioning smoothly between tunes in a set.
Instructor: Richard Wood (Fiddle) & Kevin LeVesconte (Piano)
1:30 PM
Join master multi-instrumentalists Richard Wood and Kevin LeVesconte for a rare and exciting workshop experience that highlights the dynamic interplay of fiddle and piano in Cape Breton music.
In the first one-hour session, Richard will lead on fiddle with Kevin accompanying on keyboard, guiding students through core techniques, stylistic ornamentation, and a full tune taught by ear in the classic Cape Breton style - on both instruments.
In the second session, the roles will reverse, with Kevin on fiddle and Richard on keyboard, offering a different artistic perspective on the same tradition.
This unique format allows students to see how stylistic interpretation, rhythm, and accompaniment can vary between players while still remaining true to the Cape Breton sound. Each session stands alone, but together they offer a fuller, richer understanding of the music and the creative possibilities within it. Whether you’re a fiddler, pianist, or simply a lover of traditional music, these workshops promise inspiration, insight, and some toe-tapping tunes.
Instructor: Kevin LeVesconte (Fiddle) & Richard Wood (Piano)
3:00 PM
Join master multi-instrumentalists Richard Wood and Kevin LeVesconte for a rare and exciting workshop experience that highlights the dynamic interplay of fiddle and piano in Cape Breton music.
In the first one-hour session, Richard will lead on fiddle with Kevin accompanying on keyboard, guiding students through core techniques, stylistic ornamentation, and a full tune taught by ear in the classic Cape Breton style - on both instruments.
In the second session, the roles will reverse, with Kevin on fiddle and Richard on keyboard, offering a different artistic perspective on the same tradition.
This unique format allows students to see how stylistic interpretation, rhythm, and accompaniment can vary between players while still remaining true to the Cape Breton sound. Each session stands alone, but together they offer a fuller, richer understanding of the music and the creative possibilities within it. Whether you’re a fiddler, pianist, or simply a lover of traditional music, these workshops promise inspiration, insight, and some toe-tapping tunes.
In order of workshop schedule:
Roger Stone is a seasoned multi-instrumentalist, singer, and storyteller whose deep musical roots trace back to Richmond County, Cape Breton. Known for his skilled guitar and banjo work, voice, and song-writing, Roger brings decades of experience to the stage and classroom, blending technical know-how with a generous spirit of mentorship.
He has performed locally and internationally, with a career that began in bluegrass and folk and evolved through well-loved bands such as Brakin’ Tradition, Breton, Miller’s Jug, and the long-running McGinty. Whether performing solo or collaborating with others, Roger’s original songs and compelling interpretations resonate with heart and authenticity.
Now based in Prince Edward Island, Roger continues to teach and perform. In 2025, he joins fiddler Richard Wood, the Small Halls Festival, Pirates of Halifax, and Celtic Colours—continuing his lifelong journey in music and storytelling.
Scott Macmillan is an award-winning composer, conductor, and guitarist based in Nova Scotia. For over 40 years, he has explored genres from Celtic and classical to rock, jazz, and choral, earning acclaim for works like Celtic Mass for the Sea and the film score for Dawn, Her Dad and the Tractor. His innovative compositions, including 12 & Change and Woodland Revival, blend diverse musical traditions and highlight his deep connection to nature and community.
Scott has played a key role in the success of artists like Rita MacNeil and the Rankin Family, and has led orchestras and collaborated across Canada and beyond. A passionate mentor, he teaches at Dalhousie University's Fountain School of Performing Arts. Scott brings energy, heart, and a lifetime of experience to every performance and workshop.
Donna Marie DeWolfe, of River Tillard, Cape Breton has been playing Cape Breton fiddle music since she was 10 years old and comes from a line of musicians on both sides of her family. Her great-grandfather on her father’s side was a fiddler, while her maternal grandfather was both a fiddler and a fiddle-maker. As a child, Donna Marie heard plenty of fiddle music in her home. Her father is a Cape Breton traditional music lover and he always had fiddle music playing in the house. Donna Marie is very active in the Cape Breton music scene, playing for ceilidhs and dances around the island and on the mainland. Donna Marie lists Shelly Campbell as a big influence on her playing as well as Donald Angus Beaton and Arthur Muise, having listened to many tapes of their vibrant playing.
Boyd MacNeil always knew that music would be a big part of his life. The youngest sibling in a musical family, Boyd received his first violin lesson at the age of four, and a few years later made his performing debut at a local Remembrance Day ceremony. In his mid-teens, Boyd and his brother Ryan were special guests in the odd concert with already established quartet, The Barra MacNeils, and officially joined the group in 2005, after ten years performing and recording with their own band, Slàinte Mhath. Music took on a greater meaning for him when he started traveling and performing with the Barra MacNeils regularly and witnessed time and again how the group’s music could move, affect and transform an audience. Boyd MacNeil has toured Japan with Celtic music legends The Chieftains, and continues to explore many musical ideas within and in addition to his work with The Barra MacNeils.
Kevin is a Cape Breton fiddler and pianist, hailing from St. Peters, NS. He has been immersed in Cape Breton’s rich traditional music and culture his whole life. From kitchen parties to dance hall performances, his dedication and abundant musicality has quickly captured the hearts and ears of listeners from near and far. He began playing the piano and fiddle at a young age, and holds the philosophy that music is the ultimate journey- there is always something new to learn.
Over time, his style and dynamics have morphed into a unique and driving interpretation of traditional piano accompaniment and fiddle performance. With powerful grace and intuitive flexibility, Kevin is highly accomplished in a variety of genres.
His memorable style leaves its mark – perfectly blending emotional influence and technical skill in a way that touches your heart and moves your feet.
For over three decades, 5x ECMA, 6x Music PEI Award-winning Richard WOOD has blown away sold-out audiences around the globe with his traditional-borne, fiery-brand of Celtic music.
Career highlights include performances at the Kennedy Center, DisneyWorld, the Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and on televised programs: Good Morning America, The David Letterman Show, Up Home Tonight, and Rita & Friends.
From winning countless step-dancing and fiddling championships to being named in MacLean’s Magazine’s Top100 Canadians to watch in the 21st Century, Richard has shared stages and tour buses with A-Listers like The Chieftains, Rita MacNeil, the Barra MacNeils, Ron Hynes, the Rankin Family, and Shania Twain.
Richard has played for King Charles III, Princess Diana, Queen Elizabeth II, William and Kate (Prince & Princess of Wales), Prime Ministers, Senators, Governor-Generals, and the Emperor of Japan, but he is most proud to have entertained Canada’s Armed Forces in the North Pole, Bosnia, & twice in Afghanistan.