OUR 2016 FACULTY — A LINEUP OF FANTASTIC ARTISTS!
Artists on the faculty of Folk College lead workshops, coach the student bands, perform in the concerts and lead evening jam sessions. Some artists lead 3-hour intensive workshops on Friday: check out Master Classes.
This year's staff features Rory Block, Kevin Burke, The Appleseed Collective, Simple Gifts and more.
Here is our full list of artists for 2016.
Rory Block
Heralded as a “living landmark” and a “national treasure,” Guitarist Rory Block is one of the greatest living acoustic blues artists. She’s committed her life and career to preserving the Delta blues tradition, and in addition to performing, can often be found leading workshops in slide guitar, country blues guitar.
Kevin Burke
Kevin Burke has been called Ireland’s most lyrical fiddler. He’s known for his highly individual style: vibrant, expressive, relaxed, and at times humorous. Burke has received the NEA’s National Heritage Fellowship, the highest honor in the traditional arts. In addition to leading numerous workshops on his travels, Burke teaches Irish fiddle on www.fiddlevideo.com.
Laura Cortese & the Dance Cards
Post-folk that seriously rocks. “Laura Cortese’s open-armed approach to her art reveals a determination to spread the word about folk music and dance without watering down their distinctiveness.” John Wenzel, the Denver Post. Cortese is back at Folk College by request, this time with the entire band, including Cortese (fiddle/vox) Valerie Thompson (cello/vox), Jenna Moynihan (fiddle/vox), Natalie Bohrn (bass).
The Appleseed Collective
www.theappleseedcollective.com
The Appleseed Collective represents Americana music rooted in traditions from all over the world and from every decade, creating a live experience that welcomes every soul and is impossible to replicate. Band members’ musical backgrounds and interests span a complementary and contrasting range of American music, from Motown old-time fiddle, to pre-World-War jazz harmony singing and even Indian classical music. Expect some interesting workshops!
Small Potatoes
The Chicago-based folk duo of Jacquie Manning and Rich Prezioso describe their repertoire as “Celtic to Cowboy.” Superb musicianship and showmanship, award-winning songwriting, and a strong sense of tradition has made them, as Dirty Linen Magazine once said, “one of the most polished, inventive, and entertaining shows on the circuit.” Playing guitars and an array of other instruments, and even yodeling, they are listed as a “favorite act” by coffeehouses, clubs and house concerts across the U.S.
Lois Hornbostel
The Dulcimer Players News cited Lois Hornbostel as one of the most influential mountain dulcimer performer-teachers in the country. She became part of the traditional music “chain” learning direct from old-time musicians in the Southeast, Irish musicians in New York City, and Cajun musicians in Louisiana. Lois has authored six dulcimer collections for Mel Bay Publications. Her “Vive le Dulcimer” recording was a finalist for an “Indie” award in the World Music category. On the homefront, Lois’s playing has won dulcimer championships at many of the favorite Southern Appalachian fiddle conventions. She’s a veteran teacher and performer at acoustic and dulcimer festivals, and since the ‘80s has organized university-level dulcimer camps at ASU, Swannanoa, WCU and her own Dulcimerville. Over the years in school arts programs Lois has had the honor of teaching over 19,000 children to play and build mountain dulcimers.
Ehukai Teves
Ehukai (pron. A-hoo-kai) comes from a family of traditional Hawaiian musicians. Among the instruments he plays are electric bass, ukulele, guitar, mountain dulcimer, Chapman Stick, and he is known for his powerful vocals. In Hawaii, Ehukai earned a B.A. in Music Theory and Voice at the University of Hawaii, and performed with the likes of Keola and Kapono Beamer and Moses Kahumoku. Ehukai founded the popular “To the Max” band and has written over 300 songs, among them a HOKU award winner. He discovered the mountain dulcimer a few years ago, using it to accompany old-time, Hawaiian and Celtic music in his “Jolley Rogues” band. He met and was coached by Jean Ritchie and performs many of her songs. Touring with mountain dulcimer player Lois Hornbostel, Ehukai won 1st place in the dulcimer competitions at Union Grove (three times), Fiddlers Grove, and this year at the Sparta and Ashe County, NC fiddle conventions.
Steven Greenman
Steven Greenman is recognized internationally as one of the finest practitioners, composers and teachers of traditional East European Jewish klezmer violin music in the world today. He has self-produced two landmark recordings documenting his original Jewish and klezmer compositions.
Walt Mahovlich
Walt Mahovlich plays accordion and clarinet and specializes in the exotic music of Eastern Euroope. He has played extensively throughout the United States and Canada as well as in frequent concert tours of Europe including performances at Smotra Foklora in Zagreb, Croatia, the Smithsonian's Festival of American Folklife, Jimmy Carter's Inaugural, the Rededication of Ellis Island, the Bicentennial Celebration of the Constitution in Philadelphia as well as performances in Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.
Walt made his off-Broadway debut in Tony Kushner's adaptation of the S. Ansky classic, A Dybbuk, performing at New York's Public Theater and appeared in the film, The Suicide. Walt's been a faculty member at the Balkan Arts Music Camp as well as director of the Cleveland Tamburitzans. His album, Nova Domovina: Balkan Slavic Music from the Industrial Midwest won the Unesco award for ethnomusicology.
Simple Gifts
Folk College's host band, Simple Gifts, is three women (Linda Littleton, Karen Hirshon & Rachel Hall) playing twelve instruments, with styles that range from old time to Celtic to Klezmer and beyond. Karen Hirshon plays fiddle, mandolin, guitar, 6-string banjo, bowed psaltery, doumbek, and spoons. Linda Littleton plays fiddle, hammered dulcimer, recorders, and bowed psaltery, and she's starting to learn banjo. Rachel Hall is recognized as one of the leading English concertina players in the U.S., and she also performs on piano, accordion, and tabla. Based in State College and Philadelphia, PA, Simple Gifts members designed Folk College and work with the Huntingdon County Arts Council to make it a reality. They have a strong philosophy that everyone can play music, that music is best when shared, and that above all, music is about communication, not competition.
Ira Gitlin
Ira Gitlin moved to the Washington, DC area at the end of 1986 to take advantage of its vibrant bluegrass scene. In the years since, he has made a place for himself as an instrumentalist, music teacher, and writer. He has performed with many noteworthy musicians, including Peter Rowan, the Johnson Mountain Boys, Laurie Lewis, and Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen; played on dozens of recordings; and helped countless amateur musicians to express themselves on the banjo, guitar, and bass. Along the way he has racked up a National Bluegrass Banjo Championship (1992) and a shelf full of “Wammies” from the Washington Area Music Association.
Henry Koretzky
Henry Koretzky is a mandolinist, guitarist, and singer from Harrisburg, PA, who has performed in a wide variety of styles and groups, from bluegrass with Cornerstone, Sweetwater Reunion, and High Strung; klezmer with The Old World Folk Band; old-time with the duo Rootbound; as well as swing, celtic, contemporary folk, and contradance music. He has taught at Folk College in previous years as part of The Keystone Rebels and as part of a duo with singer-songwriter- guitarist Kevin Neidig, and has also been a staff regular at Greenwood Furnace Folk Gathering.
Jerry Trusty
Jerry Trusty grew up in Mississippi where he learned and played traditional music at an early age. He has a bachelor’s degree in music education and a master’s degree in music performance (French horn). Jerry was a high school band director for several years, and he is now a professor in counselor education at Penn State. His current musical passions include playing, researching and building clawhammer and old-time banjos.
Richard Sleigh
Richard has been exploring the harmonica from the inside out for over 30 years. He has performed with Taj Mahal, Maria Muldaur, Bo Diddley, Susan Werner, and many others. His studio work includes award winning films, TV, radio, and theatre soundtracks, and other projects. As a soloist, he combines his fluid and highly developed rack playing with soulful vocals, guitar, and intricate solo harp flights. Richard’s music is American roots - ranging from rural and urban blues, fiddle tunes, swing, country, gospel, to early rock and roll. He has three solo releases - “Steppin Out”, The Joliet Sessions”, and his most recent collection titled “Celtic Instrumentals”. You can also follow Richard on his blog.
Judy Minot
As a pianist, Judy is at home in many styles of music including jazz, classical and contra. She plays English Country Dance music with the band Kestrel, and Irish music with Patrick Clifford. Some years ago her experience at Folk College prompted her to take up the piano accordion. Much easier to haul around than a Steinway, that instrument has opened the door to many rich musical possibilities and ensembles. As a bandleader, Judy often can be found conducting large groups of musicians who have never rehearsed together, including at the Mt. Airy Contra Dance and the Northeast Squeeze-In, in addition to the Folk College Contra Dance Band. Her teaching is focused on helping musicians find simple, and perhaps unexpected, ways to improve and enjoy their playing. She explores ideas about achieving mastery, both as a musician and a martial artist, in her blog, Kotsu Kotsu.
Bob Nicholson
Bob Nicholson is a Folk College tradition, making our annual Saturday night contradance truly special. Bob is in demand as a contra and square dance caller who is known for his relaxed teaching style, patience, energy, and ability to make the dance fun!