Hayley Ryerson is a fiddler-composer whose melodies are crafted from deeply personal and expressive moments of improvisation. Nature, stillness, and the resonances of her violin often serve as her artistic muse, as demonstrated in her latest body of work Natural Elements. Developed while living by the ocean in a village with the highest tides in the world, Natural Elements reflects both the spacious peacefulness and dynamic intricacies of the landscape. Natural Elements marks an aesthetic shift from Hayley’s previous work, highlighting her sensibilities as a violinist, improviser, and composer.
Hayley's early musical roots are in traditional Celtic fiddling, though her musicality has evolved into jazz, folk, theatre, classical and improvisational realms.
Hayley Ryerson has performed with Sam Wilson (3X MNS Jazz Album of the Year recipient), Shreem X Celtic Remiing (CMFA Pushing the Boundaries recipient), DRUM! (Diamond Productions), Breton Thunder (Blackburn International), and composed for immersive dance-theatre project Creature (Frog in Hand). Hayley has opened for Nova Soctia's Old Man Luedecke, international Celtic band The Outside Track, and maritime trio Hauler.
Selected Performance Highlights:
- TD Halifax Jazz Festival 2025
- Antigonight Art After Dark 2025
- Stanfest
- King's Theatre
- Musique Royale
- Halifax Exhibition Center
- Toronto International Film Festival
- Living Arts Center