Winner of three Australasian Golden Fiddle Awards in both teaching and playing categories, Emma Nixon is a star of the Australian fiddle scene, her powerful and passionate performances of traditional and contemporary Scottish music enchanting audiences across Australia and around the world.
Emma was awarded a scholarship to complete a Master of Music in Folk and Traditional Music at Newcastle University (UK), studying fiddle with Catriona Macdonald and writing a dissertation under Dr Vic Gammon. She is currently undertaking a PhD at Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University (Australia), researching methods of dissemination of traditional Scottish fiddling.
Emma was the joint recipient of the 2012 National Folk Fellowship, awarded by the National Library of Australia and the National Folk Festival.
She researched Scottish music in Australia in the Library’s manuscript and oral history collections. Based on this research, Emma has recorded a CD, compiled a tune book and presented papers at national and international conferences.
Emma is in demand as a Scottish dance fiddler in Australia & New Zealand, playing for Scottish Country Dance classes, socials and balls, as well as for Scottish ceilidh dances.
A registered teacher, Emma is passionate about music education. She has taught classroom music and string instrumental music in schools in Brisbane and at Open Conservatorium, Griffith University. Emma is also interested in community music making. She established and directs the Brisbane Celtic Fiddle Club, teaches Scottish fiddle classes regularly at the Maleny Celtic Winter School (Qld) and Music Under the Southern Cross (Vic), and is in demand as a fiddle teacher at summer schools and workshops in Australia and the UK.
Awards
- 2012: National Folk Fellowship awarded by National Library of Australia and National Folk Festival. Research topic: An examination of Scottish Fiddling in Australia during the 20th century using manuscript and oral history collections of the National Library of Australia.
- 2012: Australasian Golden Fiddle Award: Best CD featuring Fiddler as soloist
- 2011: Australasian Golden Fiddle Award: Best Fiddle Teacher
- 2010: Australasian Golden Fiddle Award: Best Fiddle Teacher