Fiddle
Colleen Freeman is a fiddler, singer, and songwriter/composer based in Bellingham, WA. Music has been a part of her life for as long as she can remember. Though she picked up the violin around age 6 and discovered Irish tunes when she was about 9, it wasn’t until recently that she came to know and appreciate the legacy of her Irish relatives. Her great grand aunt and uncle, Julia Clifford and Denis Murphy, were quite well-known fiddlers in their time and are honored and celebrated in Ireland and England to this day. The Murphy clan self-described themselves as “stone mad for music” and Colleen is proud to carry on the madness!
In addition to Irish music, Colleen has explored many other fiddle genres, nurtured by her curiosity and extensive travels. She spent 4 years living and working in Spain and has logged over 10k miles touring by bicycle through Spain, France, Switzerland, Italy, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Greece, and Mexico – all with her fiddle in tow.
Colleen currently plays with two local Bellingham bands, The Wandering Seas and Marie, The Band, and occasionally sits in with singer/songwriter Louis Ledford. She also teaches full-time at her self-run studio, Bellingham Fiddle Lessons. This is her first year teaching at PSGW and she is thrilled to be part of such a diverse, talented, and welcoming group of musicians.
