“So many working mothers end up abandoning their passions. I am thankful for the chance to hold on to that little piece of me from before.”

Fiddler and vocalist for Toronto-based Celtic band Old Man Flanagan’s Ghost, Rebecca “Bexy” Ashworth has a full plate as a mother, wife, administrator, musician, and mentor. As all-consuming as that may appear, however, expanding her horizons hasn’t meant stretching herself too thin.

“At 19 I moved to Toronto to attend York University,” she shares via email. “I stayed in Toronto for another 10 years after completing a BA in Fine Arts, then moved back to London, Ontario in the spring of 2018 with my husband and our then 6-month-old twins in tow.”

The Celtic fiddler has made her passion a priority from the start. Raised in her old/new hometown of London – and with roots in Quebec, the Maritimes, England, and Scotland – she was first inspired by a virtuoso violinist at the tender age of 3.

“One of my favourite shows when little was Sesame Street,” she recounts. “I saw the great Itzhak Perlman perform on one episode, and I was immediately obsessed. I begged my parents for lessons, and they enrolled me in Suzuki violin classes when I was about 4 and a half years old.

“Playing violin became my thing. It was my shield, my passion, my solace, my heart – and as I suffered from crippling shyness in my childhood, it became my voice. I began my professional fiddling career around the age of 9 as a member of a local fiddle group, The Suzuki Underground Fiddlers. The Suzuki Method teaches students to play by ear, just like how traditional fiddle has been taught for generations. This allowed me to easily pick up on diverse musical styles, and I continue to be inspired by many different fiddlers from across Canada to this day.”

Beginning with the CFPL TV Junior Talent Competition as a youngster, and followed by numerous performances throughout southwestern Ontario, Ashworth then settled into a teaching career in Toronto. When she was invited to join Old Man Flanagan’s Ghost as an emergency substitute, she jumped at the opportunity to revisit her fiddling roots.

Drawing upon her early training and performances, she earned a permanent place with Old Man Flanagan’s Ghost.

As the mother of young twins, however, and having returned to her hometown for financial reasons, she was faced with honoring her calling versus potentially failing her family. Somehow, she made it all work.

“I had been teaching Suzuki violin in the Greater Toronto Area for over 10 years. Leaving my students was heartbreaking, but the prospect of not playing with the band was too much. I embarked on a new and more conventional administrative career, giving us the security we needed as a family, and allowing me to pursue music on the side. I am extraordinarily grateful for my husband – he is often left solo with the kids while mommy is off ‘being a rock star.”

More than a mere rock star, Ashworth is the consummate Celtic fiddler, all the while remaining committed to her family, her craft, and the instrument itself.

“I play the same fiddle I got when I was around 12 or 13, a Klotz family violin from Germany, built around the end of the 1700s.”

“The Celtic music scene here in Toronto is close-knit community with many talented artists – some of whom are featured as guest on our new album, Simple Little Boat. Collaborating with the likes of Spencer Murray, Alana Jennish, Emily Yarascavitch, Kyle Sullivan, Gary Grant, and Michael O’Grady, has been inspiring – their unique sounds really lent a special quality to the recording.”

With Old Man Flanagan’s Ghost’s upcoming album release scheduled for November 30th at the Rivoli in Toronto, Ashworth and her musical peers – Stephen Lamb (guitar, vocals), Matti Palonen (double bass, tin whistle, vocals), and Scott Allen (percussion, vocals) – show no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

“There are a lot of sweat and tears that go into creating an album,” she admits. “I rise to new levels when surrounded by talented musicians, and I can dig deeper and explore new levels of playing.”

Ashworth’s ability to mine the magic of her music may serve as inspiration for others juggling parental duties and personal dreams.

“That little spark that keeps me inspired to create and perform actually helps me to be more present with my family and gives me the energy to be a better version of myself, as a wife, mother, and artist.”

www.oldmanflanagansghost.com
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KGIq8o5ZCs