Bringing their own styles to the stage, professional violinists Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy have been playing together in Masters of the Fiddle for five years.

MacMaster and Leahy also happen to be a couple, married since 2002. Before Masters of the Fiddle, MacMaster and Leahy played together at a party or community events every once and a while.

It was then that they realized they could do more as a duo than just play at a few parties here and there.

“The more we played the more we realized we have much more potential than we’re utilizing now,” said MacMaster.

Their agent created the name Masters of the Fiddle. MacMaster said she plays her violin in a Cape Breton style, while her husband Leahy plays a more Canadian style.

“If you listen when he and Natalie play exactly the same tune you’ll hear two totally different things. It’s very very interesting,” said Curt Snook, speaker at the Celebrity Café for Masters of the Fiddle.

“There’s so many things you can do to a note to ornament it. But it’s how you put these ornaments together and how often you put these ornaments together and in what ways,” said Snook when further explaining the stylistic differences when playing the violin.

When MacMaster and Leahy are not touring as Masters of the Fiddle they tour with their own bands. MacMaster tours with her solo career and released her last album “Cape Breton Girl” in 2011.

Leahy plays with his family in an 11-member band called “Leahy”.

Masters of the Fiddle do not have long tours. With five children and another on the way, MacMaster said it’s no easy feat juggling kids, school and tours. This tour only lasts two and a half weeks.

“We never tour for longer than a month,” said MacMaster,

Masters of the Fiddle play at Stephens auditorium Sunday, November 3.