![cover image](https://wikiwandv2-19431.kxcdn.com/_next/image?url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Verch-fls.jpg/640px-Verch-fls.jpg&w=640&q=50)
April Verch
Musical artist / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
April Verch (born April 7, 1978) is a Canadian fiddler, singer, and step dancer raised in the community of Rankin, Ontario, located approximately 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) southwest from Pembroke, Ontario. The youngest daughter of Ralph and Muriel Verch, April began step dancing at age three with her first step dance teachers, Buster and Pauline Brown,[1] and began learning fiddle at age six from Pembroke fiddler Rob Dagenais, shortly after receiving her first violin as a birthday present.[2][3][4] Throughout her childhood, April played both old time fiddle and classical violin, having competed and having won awards at fiddle contests inside and outside Ontario, as well as regularly performing with the Deep River Symphony Orchestra over that period. She also competed and won numerous awards for her step dancing in that time frame as well.[5]
![]() |
April Verch | |
---|---|
![]() Verch in 2016 | |
Background information | |
Born | (1978-04-07) April 7, 1978 (age 46) Rankin, Ontario, Canada |
Occupation(s) | Fiddler, step dancer |
Instrument | Fiddle |
Years active | 1992–present |
Website | www |
In addition, April, with her older sister Tawnya Verch (piano, vocals and step dance), and cousins Nathan and Jonathan Pilatzke (fiddles, step dance) were in a quartet named "The Duelling Dancers", regularly competing and entertaining over this period throughout Ontario.[6] Her local musical environment included listening to her father's country band rehearsing and performing, as well as hearing lively music at both church and community dances in the Pembroke area.[7]