We'd like to thank everyone who made this moment possible...
In 1997 we moved to Tulsa, finding a very lively violin/fiddling scene that continues to gain momentum. Many superb musicians have befriended, inspired, encouraged, instructed, and accompanied us; invited us on stage, and shared the microphone and spotlight with us. We are indebted to you. In somewhat chronological order, we'd like to acknowledge and thank these fine folks:
In 1997 we moved to Tulsa, finding a very lively violin/fiddling scene that continues to gain momentum. Many superb musicians have befriended, inspired, encouraged, instructed, and accompanied us; invited us on stage, and shared the microphone and spotlight with us. We are indebted to you. In somewhat chronological order, we'd like to acknowledge and thank these fine folks:
Karen Naifeh-Harmon was the girls' classical violin teacher 1997 - 2012! Karen arranged our first public performances at malls,
retirement homes, basketball halftimes, and Mayfest. Our first TV performance was with Karen's Suzuki students outside the movie theatre at Promenade Mall when Emma Jane was four and Marina was three.
Jody Naifeh, Karen's mom, worked with us at innumerable group lessons, performances at the Cherry Street Farmer's Market, Blue Jello camps,
and in the Tulsa Honors Orchestra.
Jana Jae, the "First Lady of Country Fiddle", encouraged us to give fiddling a try at the American Heritage Music Festival in Grove, OK in 2001.
Jana gained fame as the first female member of Buck Owens' "Buckaroos" band, and was a regular performer on the "Hee Haw" TV show. She has appeared with such country music
greats as Chet Atkins, Roy Clark, Ray Stevens, The Oakridge Boys, Mel Tillis, Tammy Wynette, Ricky Skaggs and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. We had a wonderful time at the
Festival, and have returned every year since! We have also enjoyed every one of Jana's Labor Day Weekend fiddle camps since then. Jana continues to be a generous friend,
mentor, and role model.
Jack Boydstun, the guitarist in Jana's band Hotwire, has backed us up many times and given us valuable lessons and advice.
Bob Fjeldsted invited the girls to "sit in" with his band at the legendary Nelson's Grill, Western Country Diner, Cowboy Sharkey's,
Cain's Ballroom, and other venues. Currently, Bob heads the Northeast Oklahoma Fiddlers Association that hosts a monthly fiddle jam and the Oklahoma State Fiddle
Championships at the Tulsa State Fair.
Joe Digges and the South Forty Band (including world champion fiddler JC Broughton and sons Carl and Larry Broughton)
brought us onstage to perform at their gigs in Sapulpa, Bixby, and Nowata.
Rick Morton and Shelby Eicher taught us fiddle and mandolin tunes and techniques.
Deborah Bradshaw is active in theater around Tulsa. She "discovered" us in line at a homeschool event, and asked us to audition for the
Spotlight Theatre's Olio troupe. We have performed at the Spotlight almost every month since!
We love working with the cast and crew at the Spotlight, including Sheila Alley, who succeeded Deborah as director of the Olio.
Three-time world champion fiddler Byron Berline, one of the most prominent bluegrass fiddlers of the last three decades, awarded us very
generous scholarships to pursue our fiddle and mandolin lessons. He also put us on stage at the Oklahoma International Bluegrass Festival and had
us perform in Fiddle Fest at the Double Stop Fiddle Shop in Guthrie, Oklahoma.
Jim Garling taught us "Texas-style" guitar backup.