Lauren Rioux

After 20 years of performing classical violin and viola, Lauren Rioux was inspired cross over to vernacular string styles. She quickly became a rising star in the national fiddle scene, and currently performs with Scott Nygaard & Crow Molly, Darol Anger's Republic of Strings, and the String Nation Orkestra. Lauren is sought after as an educator, teaching clinics at national and state conventions for the American String Teachers Association (ASTA) and instructing at Mark O'Connor's Strings Conference. Lauren lives in Maine, where she was born and raised, and completed her education at the University of Southern Maine on full scholarship as a violin performance and music education major. She plays an active role in strings education throughout the state, having served four years as the president of the Maine chapter of ASTA. Most importantly, Lauren maintains a very rambunctious private studio of over 30 violinists, violists, and fiddlers ranging from age 5 to 65.