Relative Harmony

Relative Harmony is a family band that originally formed to play for barn, square and contra dances. All four members of the band have an extensive background in vocal harmony through their involvement with community-based choirs, and it wasn't long before they developed a concert repertoire to complement their dance music. They are a frequently requested band on the contra and English dance circuits. Katie's impending move to Whitehorse prompted them to go into the studio. Their new CD - Rolling Home is the result.

Rick and Judy met in 1978, and after two years of performing together they married. Since teaming up they have performed more than two thousand concert venues, including numerous appearances at major festivals and concert halls in Canada and the United States. They have performed live three times on Stuart MacLean's popular CBC radio show, the Vinyl Caf and are featured on the Vinyl Caf's Christmas CD .

In 2002, Rick and Judy evolved into Relative Harmony , officially welcoming their son Jonathan to the musical team. Daughter Katie joined the team in 2005. Relative Harmony has appeared individually and together at many southern Ontario venues, as well as many dance halls throughout the American mid-west. They have also entertained at numerous weddings and social gatherings. Their instrumental music is a blend of traditional Anglo-American and Celtic dance tunes for two violins, piano/guitar and percussion. Vocally they perform traditional and contemporary folk songs in two, three and four-part harmony, with a special emphasis on audience participation.

Rick Avery

Rick was born in England. He immigrated to Canada in 1970. Rick discovered folk music along with the rest of the baby boomers during the folk revival of the 1960's. Rick was a founding member of the now legendary Fiddler's Green coffeehouse in Toronto. An economic downturn in 1973 led to his adopting music as a career and he soon discovered the joy and satisfaction of performing for young audiences. Rick served two terms as president of Mariposa In The Schools and has been a member almost since its inception. A skilled accompanist on guitar, 5-string banjo and keyboards, Rick also plays spoons, dulcimer, bowed psaltery and his cheeks!
Judy Greenhill

Judy grew up in Toronto. Music has been an integral part of her life since she was three years old. By the time she graduated from the University of Guelph in 1973, she had passed Grade 8 piano and was singing with three different choirs. Her musical talents were put to good use in her early career as a primary school teacher, and later on as a strolling musician in a number of restaurants in the Guelph area. A long-time passion for contra-dancing has segued into a second career, and she is a regular caller at dances across the northeastern US and Canada. She plays guitar, Appalachian dulcimer and spoons and feet.

Jonathan Avery

Jonathan has been studying, performing and teaching music for most of his 29 years. He studied classical violin with the Suzuki String School of Guelph and was a member of the internationally acclaimed Guelph Youth Singers for six years. He has been a professional musician since 1998, when he started teaching at a local music studio in Guelph, and also began performing regularly as a member of Relative Harmony . For most of that time Jonathan has also been the full-time drummer for " Uncle Heavy's Pork Chop Revue ", a Guelph-based experimental jazz ensemble, that performs regularly and frequently in the Guelph-Kitchener area.

Katie Avery

Katie Avery, like her brother Jonathan, comes by her musical training via Suzuki and the Guelph Youth Singers, taking voice lessons for 6 years. She has been a member of Relative Harmony since the summer of 2005. She is also a member of Beneath the Ice - an exciting trio of young women. Following a year free-lancing in Toronto in several performing disciplines including theatre, dance, and musical directorships, she has moved to Whitehorse in the Yukon territories, where she is the resident Suzuki violin teacher.