Media Press Kit

Scottish music in a New England home.

About Joanne

Fiddler and dancer Joanne Garton mixes her pervasive passion for Scottish culture with the drive and rhythms of the New England dance floor. A resident of Montpelier, Vermont for the last 17 years, Joanne plays regularly for contra, English, and Scottish dances around the U.S. and Canada. She appears on stage with her duo, The Turning Stile, alongside Aaron Marcus, or with guest artists from Vermont and Montreal. She also teaches music, music theory, and step and highland dancing to kids and adults. Find her at festivals, camps, and in her backyard pursuing all the best (and oldest) Scottish tunes with friends, playing fiddle in the session, calling a ceilidh or contra dance, and of course, stepping out on the dance floor herself to enjoy the evening.

“I took both of Joanne Garton's Cape Breton step dancing classes (after the first session I just had to come back!) and I loved it! Joanne was an excellent teacher, balancing patience while keeping us moving, progressing, and interested throughout.”

Fiddle Hell Workshop participant

“On “The Bee’s Knees,” Garton show us the tone and taste that the top tier of fiddlers have. Her fiddling is as smooth as the best single-malt scotch.”

The Times Argus & Rutland Herald (2020 Tammie Award winner).

Sound Requirements:

Fiddler, Dancer, Choreographer, & Teacher

Fiddler, dancer, choreographer, and teacher | joannegarton.com | 2001 – present 

Teaching & Education

Teaches youth and adult fiddlers from beginner to advanced levels, focusing on Scottish and contra dance repertoire, instrument technique, basic music theory, and cultural context.
Leads group classes through the Summit School of Traditional Music & Culture — Youth Trad Band, Scottish fiddle, All-Ages Trad Band, Music Theory for Trad Kids, and  Scottish step dancing.
Teaches music and dance at regional summer camps and festival weekends, bringing expertise across arts disciplines, teamwork, and adaptive instruction.
Active board member and community event organizer at the Summit School of Traditional Music & Culture.
Visiting Artist Revels North Culture bearer for the 2025 Midwinter Revels show. Taught Scottish Highland dance to Revels Kids and Cape Breton (Scottish) step dance to the Revels North adult cast.
Vermont Folklife Traditional Artist Apprenticeship Mentor to apprentice in Scottish fiddle repertoire, fiddle technique, harmony composition, and highland dance.

Performance

Sample Camps, Festivals, and teaching:

What Joanne offers

Dance Fiddling

Playing since 2004, Joanne expertly drives contra, Scottish, and English dances with precise tempo and energy.

Concert Performance

A seated concert featuring reels, strathspeys, airs, and originals — performed solo or with the Bee’s Knees ensemble.

Workshops & Residencies

Joanne offers engaging workshops for all levels, adapting her teaching to suit each group, age, and setting.