Going New Places

Seeing New Faces

About The Fiddlers

In December 2014, Ari heard Carol of the Bells, and that Christmas, we took him to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The following year, Ari turned six and asked for a violin for his birthday. He told us, in his own words, that he wanted a violin because of how expressive the instrument was—and he never imagined it could be blended with both classical and rock music. Ari began taking violin lessons at age 10.

He quickly surpassed others in his age group, and his teacher was so impressed with his progress that two years later, she enrolled him in the Western Open Fiddle Championships in Redding, California. To compete, Ari had to learn two sets of three songs. He spent the next six months memorizing and practicing those sets.

Five days before the competition, 10-year-old Aven voiced his frustration that only Ari was enrolled. “I can play too,” he said, picking up Ari’s violin. Prior to that moment, Aven had never played the violin. Knowing how difficult the instrument is, we tried not to laugh—but true to Aven’s determined nature, he began playing all six songs from both sets, purely from memory. He had learned them just by listening to his brother practice over the previous weeks.

We were stunned. Dad immediately called Ari’s teacher and asked her to listen over the phone. Thinking it was Ari playing, she was thrilled with “his” progress—until we told her it was Aven. You can imagine her shock.
On the day of the competition, we surprised Aven with a violin of his own, registered him for the competition as well, and both boys competed in their respective age group.

Ari placed 5th. Aven—who had never even held a violin before, placed 7th, only because he didn’t yet know how to properly hold the bow or violin. That performance earned them invitations to local fairs and festivals like the Colusa County Fair, Colusa Holiday Craft Faire, Marysville Peach Festival, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Tachi Palace & Resort, the historic Whisky a Go Go, and more.

Aven has a learning disability and often wrestles with feelings of being “stupid” or “slow.” But the violin quickly became more than just an instrument—it became a form of therapy, a source of encouragement, and a way for him to discover confidence in something he was truly good at. Music gave him a sense of identity and strength that words and classrooms couldn’t.

Through this journey, we began to understand that music is far more than just entertainment—it’s a way to heal, connect, and empower. Recognizing this, Mom saw an opportunity to help other children who might also struggle with self-confidence. She began bringing maracas, shakers, and tambourines to shows—simple tools that allowed kids to join in and feel the joy of making music. We asked fair managers if it would be alright to invite kids on stage, and from that moment on, the boys added an interactive element to their shows—one that’s become a defining part of the Fiddlin’ Brothers experience.

At one of those fairs, the boys were signed by a booking agent. Now a favorite among fair managers, the Fiddlin’ Brothers travel nationwide performing their high-energy, interactive show—reminding audiences everywhere that music has the power to connect, heal, and inspire.
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