Born in Boone NC, Maura Shawn Scanlin currently lives in Asheville NC. Maura holds a Masters Degree in Violin Performance from the Yale School of Music, and a Bachelors Degree from the New England Conservatory, studying with primary instructors Ani Kavafian and Lucy Chapman.

Maura’s classical collaborations with various ensembles have led her to the Fischoff International Chamber Music Competition, the Osaka Chamber Music Competition, and the Banff Chamber Music Residency. Maura has studied with renowned chamber musicians such as the Borromeo String Quartet, the Brentano String Quartet, Kim Kashkashian, and Roger Tapping.

In addition to classical music, Maura is active in the folk music world as well. She has had the opportunity to compete in and has won the world’s premiere traditional Scottish fiddling competitions. She is a two-time U.S. National Scottish Fiddling Champion, and a winner of the Glenfiddich Fiddle Championship in Perthshire, Scotland. Maura tours actively with her duo Rakish.

Maura has performed across North America at renowned music venues and festivals. She has been on faculty at Alasdair Fraser’s Sierra Fiddle Camp, Hanneke Cassel’s Pure Dead Brilliant Fiddle Weekend, Katie McNally’s Boston States Fiddle Camp, Folk College, among others. Through her music, Maura hopes to cultivate appreciation for live acoustic music of all styles. Maura plays a violin by Asa White made in 1872 in Boston.