>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

The EOU Fiddle Ensemble will give their only performance of the school year at 7:30 p.m. Friday in McKenzie Theatre on the campus of Eastern Oregon University.

The ensemble — a for-credit class and performance group in its fourth year— has performed at concerts and festivals in Oregon, Washington and Idaho.

It was originally conceived to allow EOU students who play the fiddle an opportunity to study and perform in an ensemble similar to those available for students studying more traditional musical styles, said Duane Boyer, instructor and guitar player for the group. The ensemble is open to all students. Half of the present group are in study areas other than music.

As the ensemble has grown in numbers, and has added more musical styles to its repertoire, it has allowed the inclusion of other related traditional instruments, such as banjo, accordion, mandolin, as well as guitar. They will also be featured in Friday night's performance.

The ensemble also features several vocal soloists and groups, performing songs from traditional to bluegrass to jazz.

Performers include Elizabeth Bonn (fiddle, vocals), Emily Callender (fiddle, vocals), Isaac Callender (fiddle, guitar), Jesse Jones (mandolin, fiddle, guitar), Aaron Kerns (guitar, vocals, banjo), Luke McKern (bass), Marie Rivard (guitar, vocals), Bern Youngblood (fiddle), Duane Boyer (guitar) and Lisa Robertson (fiddle, director).

The group will perform highlights from traditional Scottish and American folk music as well as standard swing tunes like "Summertime" and "Honeysuckle Rose."

Admission is $5, $3 for students.