Lakefield Herald Special Report

Musical career coming together for Melissa Payne

by Anita Locke

Melissa Payne, age 22, lives in Ennismore and is quickly establishing herself on the local music scene.

She has become particularly well-known for her prowess and talent at fundraisers and her willingness to help support community causes. She plays fiddle and guitar, sings and writes music as well.

The daughter of Vera and Steve Payne, and niece of Ennismore’s Kathy Young, Melissa can be heard playing with Tami J. Wilde and her band on Friday nights at Chemong Lodge.

She opened for the Webber Brothers at an event at Peterborough’s Market Hall earlier this year, and has played at the Phoenix and other venues.

Her mother is a member of the well-known Young family of Ennismore. Her grandfather built Youngstown (which is situated between the James Gifford Causeway and Ennismore).

She was one of the performers at the Musical Medley evening held in April at the Lakefield Legion to support the Lakefield Primary Health Care Centre campaign. The event raised over $3,000.

She also is a regular feature at the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations at St. Martin’s Church (Ennismore), St. Martin’s Children’s Choir, and has performed at the Evinrude Centre.

Most recently, she performed at a fundraising event (June 28) for Norm (retired SEL CAO) and Judy Kyle, whose house burned down a few months ago.

Melissa has been playing fiddle since she was four years old. She says, “I absolutely loved watching Elmo playing the fiddle and that got me hooked!”

She started playing guitar right out of high school. Her aunt gave her a guitar, and as her skills and talents progressed, Melissa purchased a new guitar.

She began singing and writing about four years ago. Her style is a mix of country, old rock, folk and others.

Some of her musical inspiration comes from Leahy, a well-known internationally acclaimed group of musicians that live just outside of Lakefield.

Melissa loves celtic music and was taught by one of the members of the famous family.

They continue to be an important part of her life. Melissa added, “Leahy is so inspiring; I could never get tired of listening to them and watching them perform.”

She spent time ‘on the road’ with the musical clan as a babysitter for the children of Donnell Leahy and his wife Natalie MacMaster.

Indeed, music – and the gift it provides – is something that is important to her. She says, “I love music; I love how it brings people closer together.”

She completed her college education at Sir Sandford Fleming College, Peterborough, in Early Childhood Education.

Nowadays, she provides music lessons to young children, and also spends time at the daycare. She says, “The kids just love it when I take my fiddle out of the case; they are so amazed at the way the instrument looks, feels and sounds.”

She adds, “The fiddle is a thing of history; it is nice to be able to pass on the old fiddle tunes to today’s listeners.”

She performs with local musicians such as Tim Gillibrand, Sara Loucks, her aunt Kathy Young, Mike Towns and others. She recently recorded her first CD at Barry Haggarty Sound Studio.

Melissa says, “For now, I’m enjoying my life, playing music and teaching,” although one of her lifelong dreams would be to make a career of performing, or a combination of working with children and music.

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