About

There is really no beginning to Danielle's love for the fiddle and the music that she plays.  She was born surrounded by excellent musicians.  Her grandfather (the late Paul Bishop of Fairview, NC) played guitar, mandolin, and banjo and loved to sing the traditional mountain songs.  Her father, Danny Bishop, is an accomplished musician and luthier.  He is the proprieter of Bishop Violins Shop in Fairview, NC.  Ralph and Angie Toomey, Buddy Melton, Matt Pruett, and Marc Pruett were her earliest influences (Rock Springs Reunion). 

Danielle began lessons at age five with Ashley Brown (currently with Randy Kohrs http://www.randykohrs.net/), followed by Elizabeth Hamilton (formerly of the Steep Canyon Rangers http://www.steepcanyon.com).  Danielle is currently taking lessons from Arvil Freeman, a legendary fiddler and traditional music mentor.  An occassional lesson from Aubrey Haynie has also influenced her playing. 

At the age of fifteen, Danielle has a list of fiddle contest titles and performance venues that one might expect from a fiddler that has been playing for decades.  She has won over-all and age divisions at Fiddlers Grove, the Galax Old Time Fidders Convention, the Georgia Mountain State Fair, the North Carolina Mountain State Fair, and in 2006 was, at that time, the youngest fiddler to win Fiddler of the Festival at Fiddlers Grove.  Danielle is a 2008 Western Carolina Heritage Scholarship recipient.

Danielle has played on stage at Merle Fest with the Kruger Brothers, Roland White, and Chris Thile.  She has performed with the Kruger Brothers at their annual festival, Carolina in the Fall, since its conception (http://www.carolinainthefall.com/index.php)

Strictly Clean and Decent (http://www.strictlycleananddecent.com) has welcomed Danielle and her music for many years.