Alyssa Delbaere-Sawchuk

Born in Winnipeg, Alyssa has completed a doctorate in classical and fiddle music traditions on the viola at the Université de Montréal. Upon learning about her Red River Métis roots, she discovered the old native and Métis style of fiddling traditions. Alyssa’s mentorship with Ojibwe fiddler Elder Lawrence “Teddy Boy” Houle led her to collaborate with his brother, James Flett, in creating Oméigwessi, Reel Métis: A Tribute to Walter Flett, which won Best Fiddle and Best Instrumental Album at the 2008 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards. She is also a member of the Métis Fiddler Quartet. Their release, North West Voyage, received the Best Traditional Album award at the 2012 Canadian Folk Music Awards.

Alyssa’s passion for access to arts education has led her to develop innovative Indigenous-inspired methodologies that integrate teachings of Métis history, music and culture with movement and dance. She has led workshops at the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Royal Ontario Museum. Most recently, Alyssa was selected as the Indigenous representative and artistic producer of Kuné: Canada’s Global Orchestra, a project incubated by the Royal Conservatory of Music in 2017.