Shonti Elder

I'm an Alaskan dance fiddler and songwriter playing my music to lift your spirits; sweet and thoughtful songs ranging from silly to sad, Celtic to swing, expressing our shared experience. A voice that smiles.
I come from a musical family who loved many styles of music. Beginning classical violin at twelve, some told me that I’d never really play be able to play well because I started so late. I proved them wrong. In college, a very critical violin teacher made me feel like quitting, but since I loved playing the violin, I just quit lessons instead. My musical community has been with friends who were drawn to folk music. Over the years I evolved from being a bluegrass fiddler to playing more Celtic music, and other styles.
Early on, I started going to jam sessions to learn more music. I hovered in the background, and played quietly until I was confident enough to join in. With some of those jam session friends, I came to Alaska for a vacation, and never moved back!
Since 1978, I've produced a radio program, for Anchorage public radio KSKA, featuring an eclectic range of music that I love to hear and to play. You can hear Traveling Music on www.AlaskaPublic.org on Saturday nights at 8:00.

I love to play music that inspires people, or makes them dance. I’ve recorded three albums, and play on a number of other Alaskan recordings. Music has led me to adventures touring the state, and beyond, rafting the Grand Canyon with fellow musicians, playing at a fiddle camp on the Isle of Skye, Scotland, and helping inmates to write lullabies for their children. I love teaching children of all ages at several music camps year after year, including Alaska City Folk Arts camp.