Clarion Folk College is proud to present a staff of high level professional musicians who offer a wide spectrum of folk genres.

 

Voices of Africa Voices of Africa presents a rich blend of percussion and song that spans the African Diaspora. Traditional African music evokes a sense of communion on many levels in a rich tapestry that includes spiritual aspiration, religious experience, evocation of deity, psychic and physical empowerment, enactment of myth and history, teaching, healing, courtship, cultural assimilation and solidarization, mutual criticism, celebration, entertainment and exercise. In Africa, music touches everything. At Folk College, let the experience of Voices of Africa touch you.

Ken Kolodner As a member of the trios Helicon and Greenfire and in solo appearances, Ken has toured extensively throughout North America and Europe. Known for his expressive and improvisational style on the hammered dulcimer, he has taught at festivals and music camps and has been featured in broadcast concerts on NPR, German National Radio, the CBC, and on the Voice of America. His appearance as soloist with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra was broadcast in an Emmy-nominated CBS-TV Christmas special. Among Ken’s eight recordings is a solo recording that hit the top of the World Music charts and a recording with Helicon that won an "Indie" for Best Seasonal Recording.

Northwest Territory "This band is in the major leagues," says Bluegrass Unlimited. Besides bluegrass, Northwest Territory is known for their gospel, country, fiddle tunes, breakdowns and original compositions. Based in Cleveland, the group features Mike Gorrell on guitar and vocals, Michele Birkby-Vance on fiddle, Radford Vance on banjo, and Darla Evans on bass.

The Groovemongers As the most-requested band from last years' evaluations, we are proud to present The Groovemongers, a versatile band where world beat meets contra. Members are Rebecca McCallum on fiddle, C.W. Abbott on mandolin and guitar, and Jane Knoeck on keyboard and accordion. Best known as one of the most sought-after contradance bands on the East Coast, the Groovemongers' repertoire also includes New England, Southern, French Canadian, Celtic, Klezmer, and ragtime plus original tunes. The band blends their sound using spontaneous harmonies, improvisation, and lots of rhythm for a vibrant, creative sound.

Kim and Reggie Harris Their stunning voices and intelligent harmonies prompted one reviewer to describe them as "vocal acoustic joy!" These recording artists tour extensively, performing for audiences of all ages at theatres, folk clubs, festivals, colleges and schools across the U.S. and Canada. Their music is an eclectic blend of well-crafted originals, spirituals, freedom songs and unique covers. Their writing covers a wide range of styles and topics - love and human relationships, global issues, humorous moments, history and heritage. "The Harris' jazzy melodies and intricate vocal harmonies cause them to stand out in a sea of singer songwriters." Dirty Linen Magazine.

Kitchen Chair Kitchen Chair has attended every Folk College since the beginning, and now we welcome them back as staff! Based in Ithaca NY, the duo of Jennifer Dotson on fiddle and Gail Blake on guitar plays for contradances all over the eastern U.S. Their speciality is rhythmic, neo-pan-Celtic fiddle tunes that make you want to dance.

Sara Milonovich & Greg Anderson This exciting new duo features award-winning fiddler and singer Sara Milonovich, formerly of the Irish-Bluegrass band The McKrells, and multi-instrumentalist Greg Anderson, founder of the Celtic-fusion group Whirligig and member of The Cathie Ryan Band. Performing a vibrant mix of traditional and contemporary material from across the musical spectrum, their sound is rooted largely in the Celtic and American traditions, incorporating eclectic international tunes, as well as soulful compositions of their own. Both Sara and Greg have become respected in a variety of musical circles as players adept at crossing the boundaries that separate many different styles, combining a firm grounding in a wide range of folk forms with a rich palette of modern and world music influences.

Laurie Hart Laurie Hart is a versatile fiddler and experienced teacher from Ithaca NY. Author of Danse ce soir! Fiddle and Accordion music of Québec (a Mel Bay tunebook and CD), she spent 10 years researching and collecting Québécois tunes. Her recent passion is the dance music of Scandinavia, especially that of two folk instruments with resonant understrings, Norwegian Hardanger fiddle and Swedish nyckelharpa (keyed fiddle). She received a Fulbright grant to study in Norway and Sweden in 2002, and has been writing about Scandinavian music for Fiddler Magazine.

Curtis Rockwell Curtis Rockwell is a luthier from Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. As a college student, he received his first guitar from his aunt who realized that he couldn’t easily store a piano in his dorm room. That gift became his life long passion, which ultimately led him to the Roberto-Venn School of Luthierie in Phoenix, AZ. Following completion of his training, Curtis returned to Huntingdon to set up his instrument building and repair shop in the chicken coupe his grandfather built during the forties. His instruments are heard in the hands of artists such as Skip Jones and Erica Smith. Curtis is also a fine guitar player and songwriter.

Simple Gifts Three women plus twelve instruments equals one good time with Simple Gifts. This award-winning trio plays everything from lively Irish jigs and down-home American reels to hard-driving Klezmer frailachs and haunting Gypsy melodies, spicing the mix with the distinctive rhythms of Balkan dance music, the lush sounds of Scandinavian twin fiddling, and original compositions written in a traditional style. The group is comprised of Rachel Hall (concertina and piano), Linda Littleton (fiddle, hammered dulcimer, recorders, bowed psaltery), and Karen Hirshon (fiddle, guitar, mandolin, and more). Band member Linda Littleton is also the founder and Artistic Director of Clarion Folk College.

Out of the Blue Dori and Tom Domany perform and teach as the hammered dulcimer and guitar duo Out of the Blue. Based in Akron, Ohio, Dori and Tom play a variety of styles ranging from hauntingly beautiful melodies to syncopated, toe-tapping tunes. They bring a fun style and energy to their music that make them a welcome pair to come "out of the blue" to entertain and teach. Both are seasoned teachers with private students and festival experience. Dori is Program Director for Clarion Folk College and the Cook Forest Folk Gathering.

Clark Parry & Lucinda Durkee The husband and wife team of Clark Parry and Lucinda Durkee perform and teach as the Allegheny Mountain Dulcimer Players. Hailing from upstate New York, these are a pair of naturals at getting beginners started and keeping them going.

Rustical Quality String Band Returning by popular demand, the Rustical Quality String Band has played together for over 25 years and specializes in good time, old-time music. A minister, dean, editor, bookseller and professor come together to teach and play the best of American traditional music.They're always up for good time, with a lot of zaniness and a little philosophy thrown in. Band members (from left to right) are Celia Millington-Wyckoff (bass and recorder), Mike Rovine (fiddle), Mick Smyer (washboard), Tim Craven (lead vocals and guitar), and Karen Hirshon (fiddle).

Stephen Buckalew Pennsylvania native Stephen Buckalew is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist with an eclectic background that ranges from Celtic and old-time to bluegrass and rock and roll. Stephen plays fiddle, mandolin, and guitar both as a solo artist and in a number of Pennsylvania-based groups, including Ironworks (bluegrass), The Andy Tolins Bluegrass Revue, The Woodchoppers (old-time), Crooked Stovepipe (contradance), and Slightly Skewed (rock & roll).

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Who's Who

C. W. Abbott - mandolin with the Groovemongers
Nana Akosua Baakan Agyiriwah - Voices of Africa director and member
Greg Anderson - bouzouki and guitar with Sara Milonovich
Michele Birkby-Vance - fiddle with Northwest Territory
Gail Blake - guitar with Kitchen Chair
Steve Buckalew - guitar, fiddle, mandolin
Tim Craven - lead vocals, guitar with Rustical Quality
Dori Domany - hammered dulcimer with Out of the Blue
Tom Domany - guitar with Out of the Blue
Jennifer Dotson - fiddle with Kitchen Chair
Cindy Durkee - mountain dulcimer with Clark Parry
Darla Evans - bass and vocals with Northwest Territory
Mike Gorrell - guitar and vocals with Northwest Territory
Rachel Hall - concertina and piano with Simple Gifts
Kim Harris - vocals and songwriting with Reggie Harris
Reggie Harris - vocals, guitar, and songwriting with Kim Harris
Laurie Hart - fiddle, hardanger fiddle, nyckelharpa
Karen Hirshon - fiddle, mandolin, guitar with Simple Gifts and Rustical Quality
Jane Knoeck - piano and accordion with the Groovemongers
Ken Kolodner - hammered dulcimer, fiddle
Linda Littleton - fiddle, hammered dulcimer, recorders with Simple Gifts
Rebecca McCallum - fiddle with the Groovemongers
Celia Millington-Wyckoff - bass with Rustical Quality; also plays recorder and whistle
Sara Milonovich - fiddle, whistles, vocals with Greg Anderson
Clark Parry - guitar and mountain dulcimer with Cindy Durkee
Zakiyyah Rashed - vocals and percussion with Voices of Africa
Curtis Rockwell - luthier
Mike Rovine - fiddle with Rustical Quality
Adua Tacheampong - vocals and percussion with Voices of Africa
Radford Vance - banjo with Northwest Territory



Additional Staff

Executive Director - Stan Green
Artistic Director - Linda Littleton
Program Director - Dori Domany
Administrative Director - Kris Stiglitz
Tech Crew - Mel DeYoung, Tom Domany
Stage Manager - Catherine Grigor
Jam leaders and house musicians - Howard & Jodi Blumenthal
Grant Writers - Curtis Rockwell, Sally Driscoll
Website - Karen Hirshon
Brochures - Mimi Ridenour
Folk Band Coordinators - Gail Blake, Jennifer Dotson
CD Sales - Mary Ann Fricko, Carolyn Schiffhouer
Contradance Caller - Nancy Spero