By Tina Haertal

“Busking is my income!”

Who knew that Collingwood is home to one of the many talented street musicians who spreads music across the city of Vancouver. Easily earning $100 a night for her outstanding musical talent, Maren Lester, one of our very own students, has a hidden talent for the violin with a “celtic fusion twist.”

Her music has been showcased in many music festivals in both solo form and ensemble. Her latest performance was with the North Shore Celtic Ensemble, which took place in Scotland. Along with the ensemble, Maren left to play for two weeks in Aberdeen, Scotland at the Aberdeen Youth Festival where 2500 youth musicians from across the globe gathered to share their music with each other. For Maren, the fiddle is a means of relaxation and with a busy school and ensemble schedule, her free period is just what she needs to zone out of her busy life and immerse herself into music, even if only for an hour between Chemistry and Math.

When asked what fuels her passion to play, Maren states that “music is really important to help me show different things that I can’t say in words.” The words of a true musician.

So what is in store for Maren in the future? Will she join a professional ensemble? Produce a CD? Sadly such prospective plans have yet to appear on the horizon. With university coming first, Maren says that her fiddle will stay as a recreational activity for now. That is not to say, however, that Maren’s knack for the violin should go unnoticed. So next time you have some spare time or don’t feel like going to D block, pop your head into the lecture theatre and you may just catch this young talent fiddling away.