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Cindy is a dedicated fiddle and step dance teacher with over 40 years teaching experience.

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Cindy's Story

Cindy's electrifying performances have earned her a reputation as one of Canada's premiere combination fiddle player/step dancers. Cindy performs in her own style, full of spontaneity, fun and musical excellence.

Cindy's life long goal is to preserve traditional music. She has achieved this goal through her teaching, which includes over 40 years of private lessons and also as a fiddle/stepdance instructor at fiddle and folk camps and college campuses. Cindy has also appeared on national radio and television, has performed with Symphony Orchestras, released 3 recordings and has performed at major folk festivals, art exhibitions and special events throughout Canada and the U.S.

Originally from the Ottawa Valley, Cindy comes from a musical family. She started step dancing at the age of six and fiddling when she was twelve. Largely self-taught, Cindy began under the influence of her grandpa, Robert Buck. She knew from a young age fiddle and stepdance was her passion and announced out loud she wanted to be a fiddle player and stepdancer as her career choice.

Cindy wanted to be unique, so she learned how to fiddle and step dance at the same time and developed her unique performing style. In her teens, Thompson criss-crossed the country winning over judges and audience alike. Cindy won Canadian step-dancing championships and numerous fiddle awards; including those at the North American Fiddle Contests in Shelburne, Ontario.

Cindy’s favourite fiddling’ memories include:

• Early in her career, Winner of the National Talent Contest at the Canadian Country Music Awards
• Performing live in front of 144,000 people on Parliament Hill
• Performing on the Rita MacNeil show on CBC
• Performing on the Tommy Hunter Show
• Performing with the Symphony Nova Scotia, the Thunder Bay Symphony and the Huronia Symphony
• Performing in Boston, MA. for both MusicFest 2000 and 2001
• Teaching her students and watching them succeed with their music
• Teaching fiddle music at Haliburton School of the Arts at Fleming College
• "Fiddler in Residence" for Almonte Celtfest 2016

Wherever she goes, Cindy's fun, enthusiastic approach builds an amazing rapport with her audience. Cindy’s passion for traditional music shows every time she performs or picks up her fiddle.