StringFever is an eclectic string band with its roots in the music of Django Reinhardt and influences from Jazz, Folk, Celtic, Newgrass, Classical and World music. The trio features Stefan Thordarson (violin), Doug Thordarson (guitar, viola, violin), and Ron Thompson (guitar). Ron and Doug are the seasoned musicians of the group, both having been active in the Vancouver music scene for many years. The new kid on the block is 12-year-old fiddling dynamo Stefan. Together, their broad range of musical interests converge in StringFever's repertoire of original compositions, jazz standards, energetic fiddle tunes, and rip-roaring-knock-your-socks-off gypsy-jazz! Ron Thompson Ron began his musical journey in 1966, at the age of eleven, when he began taking guitar lessons at the Mediterranean Guitar Shop in Vancouver. His further education included Douglas College in New Westminster, The Banff School of Fine Arts, and The Guitar Institute of Technology and Dick Grove Music Workshops in Hollywood, California. Ron has studied with guitar legends such as Joe Pass, Howard Roberts, Herb Ellis, Pat Martino and Tommy Tedesco. He was a member of The Romaniacs and was the founding member of Hugh Fraser's V.E.J.I. Ron has played with jazz notables such as Rosemary Clooney, Frank Foster, Joe Henderson, Fraser MacPherson, Della Reese and Don Thompson. In recent years, his activities have expanded to include gypsy-jazz with his group, Gypsalero, and now with StringFever; klezmir with Olam; African world-beat with The World Jive Big Band; and tango with the pianist, Linda Lee Thomas. Ron can be heard on recent recordings by Michael Bublé, Raffi, Ray Condo and His Ricochets, Zubot and Dawson, Ellen Kennedy, and The Vancouver Men's Chorus. Doug Thordarson Doug has been an active member of the Vancouver music scene for the past twenty-five years. He has played with Ron Thompson for seventeen of those years in the duo, The Casablanca Cowboys, and joins him also in Gypsalero. Doug began his musical career in Langruth, Manitoba, playing country dances with his father and brothers. He studied the violin in the small town of Gladstone, Manitoba before moving on for more formal training at the Victoria Conservatory and the University of Victoria. He studied jazz also at Capilano College in North Vancouver. Doug has enjoyed a variety of musical endeavours. In 1987, he placed first in the CBC Old Time Fiddling Contest. He has played with Juno award winner, Patricia Conroy; performed as The Fiddler for the NHL's Vancouver Canucks during the 1995-1996 season; and is currently a member of the eclectic bluegrass band, Great Northern. Recently, he has toured with Margo Kane in the theatrical production, Confessions of an Indian Cowboy. Doug can be heard on recent recordings by The Be Good Tanyas, Liquorice Sea and Great Northern. He is thrilled to be making music with his son, Stefan. Stefan Thordarson Stefan began studying the violin at the age of four at the Vancouver Academy of Music. He is studying currently with Mark Ferris, concertmaster for the Vancouver Opera Orchestra. Stefan enjoys many types of music. His main focus is the violin but he has fun playing any instrument that he can get his hands on! This is evident in Stefan's varied musical projects. He is a member of the Vancouver Youth Symphony, playing first violin; a drummer for the West Point Grey Community Band; guitarist, drummer, vocalist and violinist in a garage band, The Click; and the violinist extraordinaire in StringFever. Music has taken him across the world as well to perform with Doug at the annual International Street Performers Festival in Pennabilli, Italy. Stefan has won awards in both the Kiwanis Music Festival and the Central Canada Fiddle Festival. He and fellow The Click member Cary were part of the recent show Unleashed and Unashamed at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre. He enjoys working in StringFever with his dad, Doug, and Ron as it provides a good opportunity to continue to hone his craft. Other artists who inspire Stefan include Stephane Grappelli, Didier Lockwood, Mark O'Connor and The Beatles. Stefan has a genuine love of music and a passion for performing!