Lydia Veilleux is a versatile violinist and fiddler from Maine who grew up playing classical music and traditional New England and Canadian Maritime fiddle styles. Lydia began exploring the worlds of Jazz, Bluegrass and Country and her talents earned her a scholarship to attend the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. After graduating Summa Cum Laude from Berklee with a BM in Violin Performance, Lydia earned a scholarship to study Contemporary Improvisation in the Masters program at the New England Conservatory.
She left Boston in 2005 to join the band of the Dallas-based musical "The 3 Redneck Tenors" for its first 3 national tours. Lydia has had the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall with Michael Brecker and Charlie Haden, at CMA's FanFest in Nashville, the Stagecoach Festival in Indio, with fiddle legend Darol Anger, and to perform with the Canadian fiddle group "Barrage" in Calgary.
Lydia moved to Los Angeles in 2007, where she was soon playing for theater productions, fiddling with bands and recording albums and movies. Her band, Rocky Neck Bluegrass Band won the "Best Band" contest at the Topanga Banjo, Fiddle and Folk Festival in 2009 and have been playing across Southern California ever since. They recently took first place in California Bluegrass Association's Great 48 Hour Showcase Showdown.
Lydia founded the on-line recording company, Short Order Strings with her husband, film-composer Ryan Leach in 2010, which provides string arrangements and recording services to artists and bands. Lydia is also an in-demand teacher and educator working with students of all ages and levels to expand their skills and interests on the violin.
Lydia was interviewed by Lily Hanstein for the Daily Bulldog: "Fiddler Finds Fame Out West"
