ABOUT BOSTON STATES FIDDLE CAMP

The Boston States Fiddle Camp is (usually!) a long-weekend residential program in Groton, MA founded in 2020 by Katie McNally, Dorene Higgons, and Katharine MacPhail, with help from Rachel Reeds.

At Boston States, we offer a unique musical immersion by taking a deep dive into Scottish and Cape Breton traditional music. Our priority is to provide the world’s best instruction in Scottish music all while building our local community and fostering creativity and FUN across ability levels, age, and backgrounds. We offer classes in fiddle, piano, guitar, and more.

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From the influx of Cape Breton immigrants who brought their music and dance to places like the Canadian-American Club, to the Boston Scottish Fiddle Club, the thriving RSCDS branch, and the Boston Harbor Scottish Fiddle School, Boston has long been a hotbed for Scottish music and culture in America. At Boston States Fiddle Camp, we strive to maintain and grow that important legacy.

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What does our name mean?

“The Boston States” is the nickname Cape Bretoners have for the greater Boston area, where many came to live and work starting in the 1940’s. Like their Scottish ancestors who settled in Nova Scotia over a century before, they brought their music, language, and dance with them and preserved that cultural heritage here in Massachusetts. Our logo embodies this union of Scotland, with a thistle, and Cape Breton & Massachusetts with their state/provincial flower, the Mayflower.

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Our Facility

Boston States is excited to be held at the beautiful Grotonwood Camp in Groton, MA.