Virginia Schwartz
virginia@thetownpants.com
Born: August 24th.
Instruments: Fiddle.
Distinguishing marks: Tattoo of a fiddle, somewhere...(?)
Career Goals: Sniper.
Interesting fact: Used to work with monkeys

Shortly after the release of the Piston Baroque CD, the group had been looking for a fiddle player who could join the group full-time. The answering came in the mighty Miss Virginia Schwartz. Born in the small town of Quyon, Quebec. Virginia is of German ancestry on both sides of the family.
However when one ventures deeper into the family tree there can be found a smattering of Scottish as well as French ancestry. Making her the group's ideal candidate to send to the United Nations, should they ask...

The most recent member to join the group, Virginia was asked to run away with the circus somewhat by the rest of band shortly before The Town Pants tour of Europe in the fall of 2000, and has been with the group ever since, making a great addition to the group. Music was always very important in the Schwartz family , her grandparents & parents hosted many kitchen parties as she was growing up and her younger brother Shawn--also a fine fiddler - would sit in and play along long after others had well gone to bed. As a youngster, Virginia took some time to decide on a career in showbiz.

Starting at the tender age of 5 beginning with stepdancing that led to several competitions in and around the Ottawa Valley. Later, picking up the fiddle at the relatively mature age of 6 - studying with several fine teachers including three-time Canadian Grand Master Louis Shryer.While her peers were listening to Madonna and the New Kids on the Block, she was off with the fiddle (although high school film is rumored to exists of a Grade nine Virginia Dancing to "Papa Don't Preach") Viriginia learned traditional Canadian fiddling, Quebecois tunes, and number by old time fiddle players like Ward Allen and the infamous Don Messer, later learing many of the Irish/Scottish jigs and reels and enjoys mixing the styles a bit.