Lissa Schneckenburger
Lissa Schneckenburger is an American singer, songwriter, and traditional New England fiddler. She was raised in Maine and graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Contemporary Improvisation from New England Conservatory of Music in 2001. Schneckenburger currently resides in Vermont and has taught and performed across the United States and worldwide. She "performs traditional and contemporary folk repertoire from Downeast New England to Scottish, French Canadian, and contemporary folk music."
Early life
Schneckenburger began playing fiddle at age 6 with the help of Carol Thomas Downing. She found her first fiddle mentor Greg Boardman at age 8 who she studied with until college. During her high school years Lissa not only collaborated on playing gigs with David Kaynor but also participated in fiddle workshops and camps with Alastair Fraser. Both David and Alastair played roles as mentors, influencing Schneckenburger’s musical journey and playing an integral role in shaping her musical career.Musical career
Lissa's playing earned her a scholarship to attend New England Conservatory of Music, where she performed on PBS with the NEC Klezmer Ensemble in A Taste of Chanukah and A taste of Passover, with host Theodore Bikel. She was also featured on the TV Special with Childsplay called "Childsplay: the story of Fiddles, Fiddlers, and a Fiddlemaker.Lissa has played all over the world as a fiddler and vocalist, including appearances in Russia, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Canada, and the United States. She has toured in bands: Lissa Schneckenburger, Low Lily, Childsplay, Phantom Power, and Halali. She has additionally performed with bands: Gaelic Storm, Solas, Le Vent Du Nord, Genticorum, The Fretless, Cherish The Ladies, and appeared on the Christmas Celtic Sojourn.
Lissa released her debut album Mad Hatter at age 18 in 1997, marking the beginning of a life-long career in music. She followed this with albums Different Game, Halali, and Phantom Power, all showcasing a blend of traditional tunes and original compositions.
In 2008, Lissa released her album "Song," followed by "Dance" in 2010, both of which fill a notable gap in the recorded repertoire of New England ballads and dance tunes.
"Thunder in my Arms," released in 2019, marks a departure as Lissa's first album as it features exclusively original compositions. Inspired by her experiences as a foster and adoptive parent, the album delves into themes of attachment, parenting, and resilience, resonating with listeners from different viewpoints on a deeply emotional level.
Lissa released her latest full-length album, "Falling Forward" in 2023, a collection of original fiddle tunes and traditional songs written at home during the early days of the pandemic.
Lissa has been interviewed and included in several publications including Beyond Talent: So You Want to Create a Career in Music, So You Want To Sing Folk Music by Valerie Mindel, and has been mentioned in North American Fiddle Music: A Research and Information Guide.