Roberta Rast is originally from Idaho, now living in Austin. A member of the Texas Old Time Fiddler's Association (TOTFA), she enjoys teaching fiddle lessons and traveling to fiddle competitions around the U.S. Here are just a few highlights of her accomplishments:
2005 Grand Master Fiddle Champion - Nashville, TN
2004 1st PLACE- World Fiddle Championship in Crocket, TX
- Six-time National Old Time Fiddler's Contest Champion
- Performed on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee
- 2003 First Runner-Up Texas State Fiddlers Frolics Contest in Hallettsville,TX
- 2002 3rd Place - World Fiddle Championship in Crocket, TX
- 2000 BA in Music Business, Boise State University
- 1998 2nd Runner Up MTNA National Collegiate Chamber Competition - Nashville TN
- 2002 Winner of Grand Masters Fiddling Championships in Nashville, TN
Other Accomplishments:
HOMETOWN:
Nampa, Hagerman and Boise, Idaho
FIRST GIG AS A MEMBER OF THE KILLDARES?
State Fair of Texas 2002 - referred to as the "Dropped in Grease" tour with 5 shows a day, 24 days straight.
MAIN INSTRUMENT:
Fiddle, Violin - depending on whether I'm playing with the Killdares or a string quartet.
HOW DID YOU EVER BEGIN TO PLAY MUSIC? WHAT/WHO INSPIRED YOU?
I started at age 5, after watching my older sisters having so much fun fiddling around. It became more infectious as my parents drove my 3 sisters and me around the US to enter fiddle competitions. It became a social event as we met up with friends and family at competitions. For years our family reunions have been at the National Fiddling Competition in Weiser Idaho! I was inspired mostly by the thought of screwing up at the upcoming contest or not getting to go at all because I hadn't practiced enough.
WHO TAUGHT YOU HOW TO PLAY MUSIC?
Roberta Pearce - Nampa, ID (Fiddle)
John Cochrane - Nampa, ID (Orchestra conductor and sporadic private lessons for 5 years)
Craig Purdy - Boise State University (Taught me way more than I can list here)
My Sis's
I HAVE LEARNED AND BEEN INFLUENCED BY MANY GREAT TEXAS-STYLE FIDDLERS
Matt Hartz, Carl Hopkins, JD Bates, Ricky Turpin, Wes Westmoreland
And I will always be collecting jam tapes and other recordings from:
All of the above, Johnny Gimble, Randy Elmore, Daniel Carwile, Buddy Spicher, Larry Franklin and the late Texas Legends Normon Solomon, Terry Morris, Benny Thomason, and Major Franklin.
MOST INFLUENTIAL BANDS
I think my biggest influence would have to be Asleep at the Wheel, Dixie Chicks and Alison Krauss- watching their live shows I always left with one thought. . .I wanted to have that much fun performing.
DO YOU RECALL THE FIRST CONCERT YOU EVER SAW?
George Strait is the first I can remember because fought through the crowd to touch his leg.
IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO PLAY WITH ANY OTHER MUSICIAN OR GROUP, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
hmmm... still thinking on that one
WHAT WAS THE MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT YOU HAD ON STAGE?
Well, I was concert-mistress for the Idaho All-State Orchestra and we were playing for a high school assembly. As I stood up to tune the orchestra it wasn't but a few moments before I was getting all sorts of reactions... puzzlement, laughing, hand-over-mouth snickering... I couldn't figure out what the deal was as I looked at everyone around me. When we got back to the dressing room I looked down to see that my fly was completely gaping revealing a glowing white from under my black skirt.
Lesson learned: Always match your underwear to your clothes!
HOW DO YOU PASS THE TIME ON THE ROAD?
I usually kick off the trip with a nap, wake up only to take another nap, every 3 naps I ask where we are and think about eating sushi instead of fast food. This pretty much cycles until we reach our destination.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO WHEN YOU AREN'T PLAYING MUSIC?
Learn guitar.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE ALBUMS OF ALL TIME?
Alison Krauss: Now That I've Found You/Forget About It
Nickel Creek: This Side
Coldplay: Rush of Blood to the Head
Dixie Chicks: Home
Nora Jones: Come Away With Me
WHAT'S IN YOUR CD PLAYER RIGHT NOW?
Jayhawks
Kelly Willis
Collective Soul
Peter Salett
Crowded House
Asleep at the Wheel
Lucinda Williams
DO YOU HAVE ANY FAVORITE MOVIES?
Grease
As Good As It Gets
Office Space
The Red Violin
And other various chick flicks... love 'em.
DO YOU HAVE ANY FAVORITE BOOKS?
As of recent: "Kiss and Makeup" by Gene Simmons
"Dance as though no one is watching you,
Love as though you have never been hurt before,
Sing as though no one can hear you,
Live as though heaven is on earth."
-Souza