Bob holding his fiddle.

Bob Saddler began playing violin at the age of seven.  His music studies eventually  led him to fiddling and since that time, he  has been a frequent performer and judge at many national, state, and regional fiddle contests.  He was proclaimed the State Fiddle Champion in Florida (four times), Illinois, Southeast U.S. region, and  won the  National Fiddle Championship in Weiser, ID.

Bob has performed in traditional string bands from Michigan to Florida to California, at dances including the  main stage at the Kodiak Bear Festival in Alaska, Hiawatha, Blissfest, and Wheatland, and numerous music and art festivals in Michigan.

He is a frequent guest clinician at fiddle workshops and is one of the most popular teachers at TCM’s Summer Fiddle Camp.  He has performed with and been inspired by fiddlers Benny Thomasson,
Mark O’Connor, Tracy Schwartz, Alisdair Fraser, Brenda Stubbert,
David Greenberg, and Kenny Hall.

Now retired from the National Park Service, Bob is teaching private lessons at Traverse Community Music on a twice-monthly basis.