Bursary Boosts Heather’s Legacy

Bursary Boosts Heather’s Legacy

Memorial Fund buys youth fiddle for use by students in need

Dave Bowman Heather Soldan Memorial Bursary

Each of us wants to be remembered after we’re gone. Now, one of NE Central Alberta’s most prolific fiddle teachers is being remembered in yet another way -- a fiddle for kids who can’t afford one.

Before Heather Soldan’s life was taken in 2014 by a wandering oncoming car as she drove home to Two Hills, she had taught hundreds of youngsters (and some adults) the basics of fiddling. She also founded the Fiddlin’ Kiddlins group, where for 21 years she shepherded youngsters making music together at various events, concerts, and dances. Some of her students went on to do their own great musical things. As well, she wrote several original fiddle tunes, two of which were record- ed by Calvin Vollrath. You could say, her fiddling went viral, the old-fashioned way.

Since then, Heather’s siblings and husband - Beth Bressette, Jamie Bowman, Dave Bowman, and Allan Soldan set up the Heather Soldan Memorial Bursary.

The first recipient of the bursary was Clayden Lutzak. The funds assisted him to attend Yee Haw at He Ho Ha, the Alberta Society of Fiddlers’ (ASF) annual winter fiddle camp in February at Camp He Ho Ha. “But we felt we could do something more,” said Dave Bowman. “Heather was always happy to help those in need, so we decided funding a loaner fiddle for a needy student would also carry on her legacy.”

With a partial sponsorship from Myhre’s Music in Edmonton, the bursary fund purchased a three-quarter-size fiddle to be used free of charge for deserving youngsters who wish to take fiddle lessons but don’t have the means to buy or rent an instrument. The fiddle was recently presented by Heather’s family to Charlie Gargus, the ASF rep for Northeast Alberta (as Heather was), and who now teaches fiddle in the same area Heather covered - the Vegreville, Two Hills, Mundare area. Gargus was actually Heather’s first adult student. “We may even look at buying another fiddle if the need arises in that area,” said Bowman.

Donations to the Heather Soldan Memorial Bursary can be made by mail or by e-transfer, with more information to be found on the bursary’s Facebook page. The application form to apply for the bursary can also be downloaded from the Facebook page. A fiddle-case donation box for the bursary may also pop up at various fiddling functions around the province. The HSM Bursary will send one or two kids to Camp He Ho Ha each February and possibly to the Deer Valley Meadows Fiddle Camp each August. “Heather had a special gift for teaching and loved working with kids,” said Bowman. “She taught the beginner class at Camp He Ho Ha for many years.” “Nothing would have pleased Heather more than knowing her dream, of helping young people to get a start in fiddling, is being carried on,” said Bressette.