Golden City Fiddlers: Richie Mann, Sheila Vockeroth, John Milosevich, and Yvonne Amundsen

RMDC volunteer Maureen Brown and the RMDC's Fiona Lane sit down to talk all things fiddling with four of the founding members of the Golden City Fiddlers - Richie Mann, John Milosevich, Sheila Vockeroth, and Yvonne Amundsen.

The group discusses their introduction to fiddling, the group's origins, practices and gigs, the various fiddle camps they have attended, and establishing a relationship with Metis groups in the Kootenays. This interview was conducted on April 15, 2025 as part of the Rossland Memories Oral History Project.

About the Golden City Fiddlers:

The Golden City Fiddlers formed by Richie Mann in 2006, so that the fiddlers from Rossland attending the Selkirk College Kootenay #9 Fiddle Camp could play together. The original members included Richie, Audrey, and Gabe Mann, Sheila Vockeroth, John Milosevich, Yvonne Amundsen, Janis Anderson, and Mike and Norma Spatari.

Richie picked up the fiddle in 2003 and started attending the Selkirk camp the following year. Wife Audrey and grandson Gabe joined him the following year, along with the other original members. The fiddle camp became a Golden City Fiddlers tradition, as did practices at the Mann farm in Rossland. Their first performance was at St Andrew’s United Church in 2007 and they were off to the races.  The group has a long list of performances that include regular performances at hospitals, retirement homes, luncheons, Golden City Days, Canada Day Celebrations, Rossland Museum & Discovery Centre Arts & Culture Festival, and the Rossland Winter Carnival. 

Throughout the years, additional members have joined the group. As of 2025, the following have been part of the Golden City Fiddlers: Richie Mann, Audrey Mann (passed), Gabe Mann, Sheila Vockeroth, John Milosevich, Janis Anderson, Yvonne Amundsen, Mike Spatari (passed), Norma Spatari (passed), Dave Rusnell (passed), Chuck Cram, Nillan Sandstrom, Barb Sinclair (passed), Jim Sinclair (passed), John Bishop, Andrew Bennet (passed), Doug Haladay (passed), Denise Ford (passed), Bob Lloyd, Brenda McLeod, Dennis Holden (passed), Mary Ann Stewart (passed), Neil Eliot, Christine Adamsen, Gladie Handley, Robin Laytham, Iris Moore, Marg Knudsgard, Maureen Brown, and Fiona Lane.