After stealing her first violin from a neighbour at age three, Roxanne was soon enrolled in Suzuki lessons and consequently began her professional touring career at age 9.

Roxanne Young is well-known in the music industry for her ability to perform and teach a wide variety of violin and fiddle styles.  She has performed on 24 professional recordings and worked with many world-class artists, groups and companies, such as Cirque du Soleil, Disney, Steve Tyler of Aerosmith, Diane Reeves, Alanis Morrisette and many more.  She has performed at Carnegie Hall with Charlie Haden, Brian Blade, Michael Brecker and Kenny Baron.  She also dedicated 5 years to the creation and evolutionary process of the international touring sensation, Barrage, incorporating many styles, from calypso and swing to Chinese jazz-fusion.  Barrage was a huge success, leading to extensive tours throughout Canada, the USA, Europe and Asia, 4 full-length recordings, 2 MTV videos, a DVD documentary and a special on Public Television.

After 14 years of touring, Roxanne took a break from the road to study with mentor Matt Glaser and graduated from Berklee College of Music on a scholarship from Jazz Performance and Arranging for Big Band & Orchestra.

“My influences include Mark O’Connor, Jean Luc Ponty, Stephane Grappelli, Didier Lockwood, Darol Anger, The Chieftains and Natalie MacMaster,” says Roxanne, “but my teachers have been the biggest influences on my playing style.  Dean Marshall, Matt Glaser, Rob Thomas and Wallace Leung have been the teachers in my life that have really made a difference.”

After resettling in Calgary, Roxanne founded the Calgary Contemporary School of Music, in hopes of promoting musical culture in Calgary and providing instruction in alternative musical styles.  “I have the opportunity to influence and encourage my students the way my teachers did for me, to provide them with performance opportunities and nurture the understanding of musicianship as a profession.”