Daniel Lapp grew up in Prince George, BC in a house with deep prairie roots that included his musical mother, an old-time piano player/teacher and a grandpa and 5 uncles who were all committed to the oldtime dancing fiddle tradition. He received his BMus from UVic studying trumpet and over the past 30 years has toured across Europe, Australia, China, Israel, the USA and Canada playing a plethora of musical styles from jazz to electronic music.
He has performed on a variety of instruments with many recognizable names such as Spirit of the West, Rickie Lee Jones, 54-40, Gord Downie, Barney Bentall, Jim Byrnes, Jim Cuddy, Elvis Costello, Lou Reed, Stephen Fearing, Hugh Fraser, Ed Robertson, Danny Michel, Broken Social Scene, Lennie Gallant, Jerry Holland and Roy Forbes. He started the youth “BC Fiddle Orchestra” Program in 1994 that currently includes 50 kids in 3 ensembles and boasts alumni who currently represent some of Canada’s rising fiddle stars including Kendel Carson (Alan Doyle), Tania Elizabeth (Avett Brothers), Ivonne Hernandez (Fretless), Celidh Briscoe (Riverdance), Adrian Dolan (The Bills, Chieftains), Kalissa Hernandez (the Paperboys) to name a few.
Daniel founded the Victoria Fiddle Society (2001) that holds monthly jams with up to 100 participants of all ages and abilities and Daniel Lapp’s House of Music Society (2007) that enriches the community with various outreach programs. He has lead the Joy of Life Choir with 100 non-auditioned adult members for 20 years and also leads a 40 member adult folk ensemble called Folkestra which has inspired other teachers in other communities to do the same. Twice a year Daniel produces sell-out concerts at Alix Goolden Hall that feature an array of special guests alongside his 200 students. In 2010 Daniel was a featured fiddler in the Opening Ceremonies of the Vancouver Olympics and has recorded numerous albums of folk, jazz and electronic music as well as playing on over 100 others. In 2012 Daniel received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee “Service” Award and in 2013 was the recipient of the Canadian Folk Music Association “Innovator” Award for his contribution to Canada’s fiddle culture. Besides teaching, this includes a 25 year commitment to collecting indigenous BC fiddle tunes which includes over 1000 compositions by over 100 BC composers.
