Brandon Vance | Violin

Internationally acclaimed Scottish fiddler and violinist, Brandon Vance, is the recipient of Scotland’s 2017 Royal National Mòd “Sutherland Cup” in Scottish Fiddle, as well as being the youngest to win the U.S. National Open Scottish Fiddling Championship in both 1999 and 2001. In 2021, Brandon won 1^st prize in the “Dan R. MacDonald Memorial Fiddle Competition,” sponsored by The Clan Donald Lands Trust, and held in Charleston, South Carolina. 

Brandon holds a B.M. and an M.M. in Violin Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied with Mr. Paul Kantor as well as the Cavani Quartet. Brandon has performed and taught internationally: as a guest lecturer at the University of Limerick’s Irish World Academy; as guest artist for the 50th Anniversary of the Armagh Piper’s Club at the William Kennedy Piping Festival; and as a featured soloist at the 2017 Scottish Royal National Mòd in Fort William.

Brandon is a founding member of Celtic ensemble Dréos, and world music group, Alchymeia. Brandon is the second violinist of the Skyros Quartet, a member of the Chamber Orchestra Northwest Sinfonietta as well as the baroque ensemble Pacific Musicworks. He maintains a vibrant career as a recording artist and composer.

Brandon cherishes the honor of performing his own composition, Gael Storm, with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra at the legendary Severence Hall.   

Brandon joined Joy Street in 2012 as a fiddle-playing gnome in Lucia Neare’s citywide traveling performance, There’s No Place Like Home. Ever since, he’s been a regular member of the ensemble.

Something that brings Brandon joy: “COOKING. Cooking gives me so much joy, and sharing it with others gives me even MORE joy.”

Favorite dessert: “That’s a hard one…Baklava or Carrot Cake!”

Something surprising about you:  “I really enjoy writing novels (and may currently be writing one!)”

What do you like about playing with Joy Street:  “I love the openness and generous spirit of everyone involved with this ensemble!”