Fiddler on The Rock… UP and Coming from the Redrocks of Sedona! (Cover Story – June & July 2025)
A Journey of Music, Healing, and Joy
By Jim Schwartz
Photography by our Director of Photography: Greg Bernstein
In the heart of Sedona, Arizona, where red rock formations glow under the desert sun, Tyler Carson, known as the Fiddler on the Rock, captivates audiences with his violin. His music—a fusion of classical precision, folk fire, and global influences—resonates like the landscape itself: vast, vibrant, and deeply spiritual. From performing for massive audiences at age 11 to reclaiming his voice after a devastating loss, Carson’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and an unshakable connection to joy. For readers of Discover The Phoenix Region Magazine—dreamers and pioneers—this is the tale of a musician who turned challenges into symphonies and found his true voice in the Southwest.
Early Notes in a Musical Family
Born in Calgary, Canada, and later raised in Victoria, Tyler Carson grew up in a household where music was as essential as air. His mother, a guiding force, believed music offered her children a unique advantage. At age 5, Carson picked up the violin, an instrument perfectly scaled for a child’s hands. “It was pragmatic,” he recalls, but his mother’s strict discipline instilled habits that connected effort to joy. Under the Suzuki method with teacher Danuta Ciring, Carson’s early relationship with music took root, blending structure with emotional expression.
By age 8, his talent was undeniable, though one teacher
famously called him “very talented but very lazy.” The feedback was a wake-up call, pushing young Tyler to refine his practice and embrace the violin as more than a task—it became his voice. Alongside his sister Kendel, he formed “The Carson Kids,” a duo that performed globally, from intimate venues to massive stages. At 11, Carson played for 60,000 at the Commonwealth Games, an experience that seared itself into his memory. The roar of the crowd and the thrill of the moment cemented his confidence as a performer, proving he could hold his own under pressure.
Tyler Carson (Fiddler on the Rock) cliffside in Sedona’s Redrocks. Photo by Greg Bernstein
Blending Worlds, Breaking Barriers
Carson’s formative years were a masterclass in versatility. Trained in classical and folk music simultaneously, he developed a dual identity: the disciplined symphony soloist and the free-spirited fiddler. At 13, he and Kendel performed a Vivaldi duet with the Victoria Symphony, then donned cowboy hats for a fiddle set. “It was the coolest thing ever,” Carson says, likening the orchestra’s
power to a surfer catching a wave. The audience’s enthusiastic response showed him music could transcend genres, uniting listeners in shared joy.
His horizons expanded further with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada and a tour with a Riverdance troupe in New Zealand. Collaborations with legends like The Chieftains, Ashley MacIsaac, and The Irish Rovers introduced him to the raw energy of Celtic traditions. Opening for country giants Brooks & Dunn was a surreal leap—Carson marveled at their helicopter arrivals and luxurious trailers, glimpses of the “big leagues” that boosted his confidence. Each experience broadened his musical palette, teaching him to adapt and innovate.
A Voice Lost, A Voice Found
At 20, Carson faced a life-altering crisis: spasmodic dysphonia stole his speaking voice. The sudden loss was a profound emotional blow, threatening his identity as a performer. Rather than opting for Botox injections, Carson turned to energy healing, discovering the programs of Dr. Joaquin Farias and Jim Bostock. The healing process was gradual but transformative, unlocking not just his voice but a deeper understanding of his connection to audiences. “The first time I performed from my heart was an 8-bar fiddle solo at age 8,” he reflects. “Everyone started dancing. It was my white light experience.” This “magical connection” became his lifeline, a way to express what words could not.
Losing his voice forced Carson to channel his emotions through the violin, which became his “true voice.” The instrument took on new dimensions, carrying his joy and pain to create a future he couldn’t have imagined. His music evolved into a vessel for healing, not just for himself but for those who heard it.
Global Inspirations and Artistic Awakening
In 2013, Carson’s solo concert at Pitanga Hall in Auroville, India, marked a turning point. Working with mentors from the Barbara Brennan School of Healing, he became attuned to his energy and the meditative power of heart-centered music. Performing with eyes closed for the first three songs, he embraced fearless creativity, free from self-judgment. When he opened his eyes, he found the audience’s rapt attention, a silent affirmation of his newfound voice. The experience taught him to live in the present, letting music flow without constraints.
Carson’s travels to India, Scotland, and England infused his sound with global textures. “Experiencing the history of these places made the music come alive,” he says. From Chinese meridian to Indian Vedic and North American Indigenous healing traditions, these studies enriched his compositions, blending his spirituality with sound. His experiments with loop pedals allowed him to craft a “one-man symphony,” layering violin tracks to create immersive performances. Comparisons to “Ed Sheeran meets Lindsey Stirling” or “Jean-Luc Ponty meets Jimi Hendrix” feel humbling yet apt, reflecting his pioneering spirit. Influences like Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, and Neil Young, alongside his first fiddle teacher’s cool factor, shaped his eclectic style.
Sedona: The Heart of Fiddler on The Rock
Sedona, Arizona, became Carson’s “idyllic home” after years of global wandering. Family trips from Calgary to Phoenix introduced him to the region, but Sedona’s “living, breathing” energy captivated him. Invited by a life coach and collaborating with Grammy-nominated guitarist Ralf Illenberger, Carson found a spiritual and creative haven. The Fiddler on the Rock concept was born at the Sedona Airport overlook, where he performed against the backdrop of red rocks. The landscape amplified his music, its vastness mirroring the depth of his sound.
In 2019, Carson’s debut season at Posse Grounds Pavilion solidified his vision. The venue’s intimate setting and enthusiastic audiences shaped his concert series, blending original works like “Giant’s Two Step” from his 2018 album with covers of Led Zeppelin, Hendrix, and Taylor Swift. His use of a Stroh violin, with its distinctive, piercing tone, added a unique edge to his performances. The 2024 CBS Mornings feature with Natalie Morales brought national attention, a surreal milestone that amplified his reach and reaffirmed his mission.
Tyler Carson (Fiddler on the Rock) cliffside in Sedona’s Redrocks. Photo by Greg Bernstein
A Shared Journey of Joy
Carson’s creative process is as dynamic as his performances. Composing albums like “Time and Tide” involves tapping into emotions and landscapes, while live improvisations, like his 2023 Sedona Dance Project set with “Pirates of the Caribbean,” invite audiences into the “heartspace.” “It feels like everyone just became a kid,” he says of getting crowds to sing along. His multi-award-winning documentary, Living Music, chronicles this journey, weaving his story into his shows to deepen the audience’s connection.
The Southwest’s frontier spirit resonates deeply with Carson, who sees his work as part of its legacy of innovation. From Calgary’s rugged roots to Phoenix’s tough explorers, he feels at home among dreamers. His music speaks to their resilience, offering “exactly what their heart and soul was longing for,” as fans have told him. Whether performing for 250,000 as a child or intimate Sedona crowds, Carson’s relationship with audiences has evolved into a unifying, visceral experience.
Looking Ahead: Legacy of Inspiration
At 36 years as a performer, Carson, who started at age 6, remains driven by the “spirit of joy” that fills him onstage. His Patreon platform offers exclusive content, fostering closer fan connections, while three albums inspired by his airport gigs are in progress, themed around Living Music and reaching audiences on multiple levels. His vision for Fiddler on the Rock includes Bonefire, a project celebrating “Like a Phoenix reborn [from the ashes at the core of inspiration], it’s music you feel in your bones.” Plans to bring his show to Phoenix’s Valley are in the works, promising vibrant performances tailored to the region’s adventurous spirit.
Carson’s proudest moment is his ongoing connection to audiences, letting them “conduct” the music to create intimacy. His biggest challenge—overcoming voice loss—has become his greatest triumph, proving music’s healing power. He hopes to inspire the next generation, especially in Phoenix, to see themselves as authors of their own music, feeling it in their bodies and imaginations.
For his legacy, Carson dreams of a world where music unifies and heals. “I want people to discover how important they are to music,” he says. If he could play one song to represent his journey, it would be a melody that captures his “white light experience”—a moment of pure, shared joy.
Join the Journey
Experience the magic of Tyler Carson’s Fiddler on the Rock at his weekly sunset concerts in Sedona, Arizona. Join him every Thursday at Sedona Hub, At Sedona Hub a climate controlled venue with floor to ceiling windows over- looking the heart of Sedona’s red rocks (Posse Grounds Park, 525b Posse Ground Road, Sedona, AZ 86336) for a captivating performance of Fiddler on the Rock, or immerse yourself in Celtic Dreams every Saturday at Sedona Dance Headquarters (2160 Shelby Dr #203, Sedona, AZ 86336), featuring a stunning visual show in an intimate commercial loft. Both shows offer general admission tickets for $55 and VIP access for $85, with doors opening at 6:00 PM for VIP and 6:30 PM for general admission. At the bottom of his web site home page you can sign up for announcements to stay informed on where Tyler will be performing.
Secure your tickets now at
Look out for exciting 2025 collaborations and performances in the Phoenix region, Tyler’s fame continues to grow. For Carson, every note is an invitation to connect, heal, and rediscover the childlike joy within us all.
