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Here is the 2011
staff lineup.
JUNE WEEKEND
Fiddlers:
Greg
Boardman,
Paul D'Alessio,
Éric Favreau,
Frank Ferrel,
George Fowler,
Ellen Gawler,
Jessie Gagne-Hall,
Ed Howe,
Dudley and Jackie Laufman,
Elaine Malkin,
Steve Muise,
Carter and Kaity Newell,
Julia Plumb,
John Pranio,
Louisa Pugh,
Lissa Schneckenberger,
Hank Washburn,
Pam Weeks,
PLUS
Rachel Aucoin , piano,
Sandy Davis, pennywhistle,
John Gawler, banjo,
Daniel Hawkins , cello,
Glen Loper, mandolin,
Owen Marshall, guitar
Jeff Mckeen, guitar,
Bob McQuillen, piano,
Bill Olson - guitar, bass
Doug Protsik, piano, fiddle, accordion
Sharon
Pyne,
whistle,
Fred White, guitar
plus surprise guests.
JUNE WEEK
Fiddlers:
Greg
Boardman,
Éric Favreau,
Ellen
Gawler
Nat Hewitt
Ed Howe
Elaine Malkin
Alden Robinson
Julia Plumb
Pam Weeks
PLUS
Rachel Aucoin , piano,
Liza Constable, guitar
Daniel Hawkins , cello,
Jim Joseph
David Stimson
Doug Protsik, piano, fiddle, accordion
Jeff Lewis, Mandolin
Glen Loper, mandolin
Bill Olson, guitar, bass
Owen Marshall, guitar
Junior (part time), button accordion
plus surprise guests
AUGUST CAMP - BOTH
WEEKS
(see below for staff who will be at one week only):
Frank
Ferrel,
Ellen Gawler,
Ed Howe,
Dudley and Jacqueline Laufman,
Elaine Malkin,
Steve Muise,
Kaity Newell,
Julia Plumb,
Louisa Pugh,
Lissa Schneckenberger,
Pam Weeks
PLUS
John Cote, guitar
Sandy Davis, pennywhistle
Corey Dimario, bass,
Ariel Friedman, cello,
Glen Loper, mandolin
Owen Marshall, guitar
Eric McDonald, mandolin
Jeff Mckeen, guitar
Neil Pearlman, piano
Bill Olson - guitar, bass ,
Doug Protsik, piano,
Sharon Pyne, whistle & flute,
and others, including surprise guests
STAFF for AUGUST CAMP - 1st week only
(see above for both weeks staff):
Fiddlers:
George Fowler,
Jennifer Armstrong,
Jessie Gagne Hall,
PLUS
Greg Boardman, cello & fiddle
Sylvia Miskoe, accordion
Chris Prickett, banjo
Fred White, guitar
STAFF for AUGUST CAMP
- 2nd week only
(see above for both weeks staff)
Fiddlers:
Jennifer Armstrong,
Éric Favreau,
Ed Pearlman,
PLUS
David Surette, mandolin,
Susie
Burke, vocals & guitar,
Carter Logan, banjo,
Bob McQuillen, piano
Jeremiah McLane, accordion,
piano
Steve Weiss, harmonica
and more!
 
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STAFF INFO
Rachel
Aucoin
 After
a frankly classical training including two Masters degrees (performance,
UofM 2001 and piano pedagogy, UL, 2003), two first prizes at the
prestigious Canadian Music Competition (1997 and 1998) and a solo
performance of Beethoven's second with the Orchestre Symphonique
de la Montérégie (1997), Rachel Aucoin specialises today in folk
music accompaniment, since her first appearance at the Carrefour
Mondial de l'Accordéon in 1999.
She never imagined this apparently innocent performance would
change her musical destiny. A window on the world had just opened
and showed her the way to her heart's music where she would meet
with her Acadian ancestors' spirits, bringing out a family tradition
rich with singing, dancing and fiddling; kitchen style. She even
discovered recently her great-grandfather was certainly one of
the first accordion players in Cape Breton Island!
She first appeared at numerous festivals in Canada, the U.S.A
and abroad as the pianist in Domino, giving her a solid experience
as a dance back-up musician. In addition, Rachel has recorded
with many artists such as American fiddler Laura Risk, Vermont-based
signer-songwriter Michèle Choinière, as well as many other Québécois
masters (Claude Méthé Francine Desjardins, Réjean Simard, Jean
Duval, Frank Sears). Last year, she recorded on Great Meadows
label Raz-de-marée/Tidal Wave's debut recording, showing her percussive,
rich and sensible improvised accompaniment. More recently, Rachel
formed a duet with accordionist Christian Laurence, with whom
she performed again at the world-renowned Carrefour Mondial de
l'Accordeon, in 2005. The duet, from now on called Duo Christel,
play, through original compositions, a beautiful symbiosis of
meditative flow, folk-inspired, celtic colors and European accents,
which naturally lead to the recording of their first production
entitled sur un air d'aller.
Nevertheless, Rachel meets her greatest interest and passion through
teaching. Approached by the University of Montreal's preparatory
school in 2005 to create an innovative program for piano students,
she is now busy building a bridge between the spontaneity and
immersive musicianship of her folk experience and the aesthetic
beauty and refinement in the artistry within her classical music
education.
Check out more
about Rachel and Raz-de-marée/Tidal Wave at www.tidalwavemusic.com,
.
Paul Anastasio
An opportunity to perform and study with the legendary
jazz violinist Joe Venuti between 1976 and 1978 helped shape Paul’s
swing jazz style. At about the same time, Paul’s friendship
with electric mandolinist Tiny Moore resulted in a successful
audition with country music legend Merle Haggard. Jumping at the
chance to join Merle's band, The Strangers, Paul was able to tour
the U.S. and Europe for six months. In 1980 he joined Asleep at
the Wheel, and enjoyed playing their eclectic mix of music on
the road for almost four years. In 1984 he joined Larry Gatlin
and the Gatlin Brothers Band, working with Larry and his brothers
for three years. Paul then joined Loretta Lynn’s band, the
Coal Miners. After two years with Loretta, he free-lanced for
a bit in Nashville, then returned to his native Pacific Northwest
in 1992.
This is just a taste of Paul's experience, and at Fiddlecamp
he is hoping to be able to teach the Mexican style of playing
that he has learned more recently. Paul says, "That style
is the violin-driven style from the Hot Lands of Guerrero and
Michoacán in southwestern Mexico. It's called Calentano
music, and it's a great mixture of traditional tunes and composed
pieces by known authors. As opposed to swing music, where the
bare-bones melody is just a jumping-off point for improvisation,
this Mexican music is played as written. Students can learn it
by ear, from manuscript, or both. My introduction to this music
came when I first heard violinist Juan Reynoso at the Festival
of American Fiddle Tunes. His music absolutely floored me! When
studying with him, I learned that he was one of just a handful
of old players who were still playing the style, and that it was
dying out. For me, this was like hearing that old-time fiddling
or Cajun fiddling was dying out. "That can't be!" I
remember thinking, and I resolved to do everything I could to
keep the style alive."
Check out more
about Paul and his amazing fiddling at www.swingcatenterprises.com,
or Google him.
Jennifer Armstrong
 Visit
Jennifer's
website.
233 Poors Mill Road Belfast ME 04915 207-338-6616
Greg Boardman
 Greg
is the founder of Maine Fiddle Camp and has been a major inspiration
for many fiddlers over the last three and a half decades throughout
all of Maine. He has steered a career in folk music by playing
for concerts and dances, especially by learning the regional "DownEast"
fiddling style from the likes of Otto Soper and Simon St. Pierre,
and by teaching music and fiddling in the Auburn area.
65 Summit St. Auburn ME 04543 207-376-5394.
Visit Greg's website www.bowandstring.com
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Susie Burke
Vocals and Guitar
www.burkesurette.com
Liza Constable
Guitar
John Cote
Guitar
John plays with
Wake the Neighbors and
various duos.
8 Ledgemere Ln Lewiston ME O4240 207-232-8656
Sandy Davis
 Sandy
has been playing for contra dances for over 40 years. In the 70's,
he was a founding member of the Roaring Jelly dance band and the
Common Ground quintet. Back then, he played occasionally with
Dudley Laufman and the Canterbury Country Dance Orchestra. He
spent over 20 years as the hired music director of two long-standing
community dance bands (the Berlin Country Dance Orchestra and
Oh, CONTRAire!), and has recorded with a number of traditional
musicians, including Tony Saletan, Jay Unger, Jerry Robichaud,
and Trapezoid. He has played for many well-known dance callers,
including Dudley Laufman, Ted Sanella, Larry Jenkins, Tony Parkes,
and Lisa Greenleaf. He was a co-founder of The Music School at
the Emporium, then in Cambridge, MA, and was the Director of the
school for the first four years. As the lead old-time banjo instructor,
he taught over 400 musicians how to frail a banjo. He has been
on staff several times at Pinewoods, and has led instructional
workshops at many festivals including: Fox Hollow, the National
Folk Festival at Wolftrap, NEFFA, the Five College Folk Festival,
and the DEFFA Festival.
Sandy currently plays occasionally for the Orion Longsword team,
and is a member of two Maine-based contra dance bands: Flowing
Tide and Rock the Boat. At Fiddle Camp, Sandy will again be teaching
pennywhistle and wooden flute. He will also be happy to work with
any horn players who come to camp. (Bring your horn!)
17 Juniper Lane, Bristol ME 04539-3006 | 207-563-7263
Corey Dimario
Bass
446 St John Place, Apt.1c Brooklyn NY 11238 617-290-1195
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Éric Favreau
 Éric
Favreau comes from a family of traditional musicians and has spent
a great deal of time playing with other fiddlers, learning their
repertoire and studying their varied styles. Éric has explored
and exploited various sources including archives and personally
made field recordings and has accumulated a rich and fascinating
repertoire. Over the years, he has garnered a profound understanding
and vast knowledge of Québécois traditional music.
As an individual, and
in various groups including Entourloupe, Éric has vast
experience in the Canadian, United State and European music scenes.
Éric has recorded two solo albums, two with his current
group Entourloupe, and has appeared on at least a dozen others.
He is a consumate entertainer/educator in Introduction to traditional
music workshop in the public school system in program under the
auspices of the Minister of Education. He also teaches traditional
fiddle, and the history of traditional music at the Cégèp(Junior
college music) in Joliette, Québec.
Éric's playing
is marked by delicacy, nuance and liveliness that will leave no
foot untapped!
Frank
Ferrel
 Maine
coast musician, Frank Ferrel is considered one of the seminal
traditional New England and Maritime fiddlers. In fact, Boston
Globe music critic, Scott Alarik called him, "One of the finest
living masters of the genre." his CD recording, Yankee Dreams,
was selected by the Library of Congress to be included in their,
"Select list of 25 examples of American folk music on record."
His original compositions have enjoyed great popularity in the
Canadian Maritimes, and have been recorded by such notable Canadian
fiddlers as Buddy MacMaster, Ashley MacIsaac, Brenda Stubbert,
Tracy Dares, Maybelle Chisholm, Andrea Beaton, Joe Cormier, Shane
Cook, Tara Lynn Touesnard and Douglas Cameron and J.J. Chaisson.
He is a regular fixture at local traditional dances and concerts,
and has preformed and toured throughout North America, Ireland
and the British Isles, including numerous appearances with the
legendary Celtic group, The Boys of the Lough. He has also been
a regular featured guest on the National Public Radio series,
A Prairie Home Companion, and is included on their CD recording,
PHC Tourists. He was also music director of the popular NPR game
show, Says You, for the first ten years of its run on public radio.
Frank has recorded his music for national labels including Rounder
records, Flying Fish, Voyager and Great Meadow Music. He has written
two books of traditional music for the national music publishing
company, MelBay, and has contributed numerous articles to folk
and music magazines and journals.
When not fiddling, Frank is a radio and television producer and
program host for the Maine Public Broadcasting Network, where
he has won an Emmy and two Telly awards for his documentary programming.
Frank Ferrel 114 Old Brunswick Road, Bath, Maine 04530, USA, (207)
449-1614 (home), (978) 395-1733 (cell)
www.frankferrel.com
fferrel@aol.com
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Ariel Friedman
 Ariel,
a classically trained cellist from the Boston area, is one of
few musicians to be challenging the boundaries of cello-playing.
She graduated from Northwestern University in 2008 where she studied
cello performance with Hans Jorgen Jensen, and is currently studying
with renowned jazz musician Hankus Netsky at New England Conservatory
where she will receive a masters degree in 2011. A winner of ASTA's
2009 Alternative Styles Award, her heart currently lies in exploring
the American roots tradition, 1920’s and 30’s jazz,
and in composing songs and tunes influenced by her diverse musical
tastes. As part of an accompanied duo with her sister, Ari &
Mia are opening hearts and dance floors throughout the States
with music that explores the realm where their own compositions
cross paths with older traditions. Ariel also performs, tours,
and records with Scottish National Fiddle champion Hanneke Cassel,
is a member of the Boston-based trad band, Long Time Courting,
and plays with New England's highly acclaimed fiddle band Childsplay.
She teaches at various fiddle camps during the summer and has
her own private studio.
www.ariandmiafriedman.com
for more info.
George Fowler
 George
trained classically as a youngster, but started his fiddling voyage
in the late 1970s by learning tunes from lobsterman & folk
fiddler Albert Collins of South Blue Hill. He is a founding member
of Oakum Bay String Band (est. 1981), the host band for the monthly
Blue Hill dance, which started in 1976 and is now the longest-running
contradance in Maine. George has a strong interest in Irish traditional
music and in 1988 started "New Potatoes", the weekly
Celtic show on WERU-FM, where he can still be heard on Sundays
from 4-6pm. He is also a member of The Montville Project www.montvilleproject.com,
a repertory dance band conceived in 2007 at Maine Fiddle Camp.
Visit George on MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/gwfowler)
612 Reach Rd., Brooklin, ME 04616; 207-359-2070; www.georgefowlerfiddle.com
Ellen Gawler
Ellen Gawler began her study of traditional fiddling in Scotland,
where she learned from the old masters. She teaches Suzuki violin
and performs with her family band . Also a seasoned singer, Ellen’s
early inspiration came from her own parents and their Vermont
neighbors, the renowned Macarthur family. Her Maine-based trio,
Trillium, has released two CDs of lovely singing and fiddling.
Ellen Gawler 457 West Rd. Belgrade ME 04917 495-2928
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John Gawler
John plays 5-string banjo, guitar, and piano and is the best bottom
feeder in the business! When he isn’t smiling and putting on a
roof, he is smiling and singing a Woody Guthrie song, accompanied
by his wife, Ellen Gawler, or one of his daughters in the Gawler
Family Band. Besides doing workshops, John helps host the
camper concerts.
282 Guptill Rd. Belgrade ME O4917 207-495-2267
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Jessie Gagne Hall
 Jessie
fiddles for contra and family dances across New England, and she
sometimes sneaks the cello into dance sets. Jessie teaches fiddle
to all ages at Maine Fiddle Camp, Sandy Island Suzuki Camp, at
workshops, and in her private studio. Dancing her first contra
dance to the band Swallowtail (around 1991) in New Hampshire,
Jessie later moved to Maine, where she dove into the local fiddle
scene. She currently teaches Third Grade in Keene, New Hampshire,
making sure she regularly plays live music for her students. Visit
Jessie's
My Space Page.
Daniel Hawkins
 The
music of Boston-based cellist and composer Daniel Hawkins springs
first of all from the dense forests, rolling hills, and crumbling
cities of his childhood Pennsylvania. After leaving the Keystone
State, Daniel earned undergraduate degrees in composition (studying
with Paul Lansky, Steve Mackey, and Dan Trueman) and cello performance
(Sophie Shao, Susannah Chapman) from Princeton University as well
as a master's degree in contemporary improvisation from the New
England Conservatory (Natasha Brofsky, John Mallia, Anthony Coleman,
Tanya Kalmanovitch). He is the recipient of both the Helen and
Isidore Sacks Memorial Prize for Excellence in Classical Music
and Princeton's Martin A. Dale '56 Fellowship. His current projects
involve the Driftwood Duet with violinist Rachel Massey, Ocelot
with guitarist Lautaro Mantilla, and The Secret History, an album-length
collection of electroacoustic solo and chamber music incorporating
live acoustic performance, electronic parts controlled in real-time,
and video.
You can visit his website at danielhhawkins.com.
Ed Howe
Ed plays sizzling fiddle in various bands and duos for dancing
and performance, among them the Dave
Rowe Trio. Lately Ed has been exploring the electric fiddle.
Ed has been the sound tech for Maine Fiddlecamp, and one year
even had us running on solar power!
Visit Ed's
MySpace page
Dudley and Jackie
Laufman
 Since
1986, Jacqueline and Dudley Laufman have been playing for dances
as Two Fiddles. Prior to that, Dudley, who has been playing
and calling dances for over fifty years, has been the leader of
the Canterbury Country Dance Orchestra. In 1971 the Orchestra
became the first dance band to make an LP recording, which was
re-released in the summer of 2001. Dudley received a National
Heritage Fellowship in 2009, from the National Endowment for the
Arts.
PO Box 61 Canterbury NH. O3224 603-654-6347
For more info, visit their website at www.laufman.org
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Jeff Lewis
 Jeff
Lewis is a native to Waldo County and has spent the greater portion
of his life immersed in music, specializing on mandolin in a diverse
range of styles. He attended MFC as a student for the first time
in 2005. After a stint studying mandolin at Berklee College of
Music in fall 2010, Jeff relocated to Portland, Maine to pursue
music professionally in performance and composing, in addition
to continued intense focus on the mandolin. You can hear Jeff
playing with Bennett Konesni and Mia Friedman as Fireside, and
with Konesni and David Lewis as Free Seedlings. Jeff can be reached
at 46 Turner St. Portland, Maine, 207-930-0009 or visit him on
line at jeffersonlewis.bandcamp.com
or myspace.com/dingomandolin.
Carter Logan
 Carter
plays banjo with his band "Jerks of Grass" and also
plays for dances. He has a unique repertoire and we are pleased
to have him on staff at camp
www.jerksofgrass.com
Glen Loper
 Glen
plays mandolin and tenor banjo for contradances throughout the
Northeast, and at festivals across the country. He's part of a
a number of different groups including Frigate, Calliope, Riptide,
and Rumblestrip. When he's not playing for dances, he can be found
teaching mandolin in Portland, ME and giving workshops in other
locations in New England. Visit Glen at www.glenloper.com.
49 Brackett St, Portland ME, 04102 Phone: 207-837-8249
LINKS: "Frigate"
"Rumblestrip"
Elaine Malkin
 Elaine
Malkin has played the violin since the age of five and prefers
a clean, crisp, yet ripping, New England fiddle style. She was
a part of the resurgence of contra dances in the early seventies
in Maine, having learned from Otto Soper and Dudley Laufman.
In her spare time she plays with horses, photography, and trains
dogs for agility competitions.
See the web site www.northstarsisters.com.
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Sylvia Miskoe
 A
new Hampshire native, Sylvia has been playing her accordion since
college where she began playing for square and contra dancing.
Today she plays for contra dancing but also Scottish and English
Country Dance. Sylvia was one of the founders of the Strathspey
& Reel Society of New Hampshire, a group devoted to learning
about and playing Scottish music, open to all ages and abilities
and was their music director for 7 years. She says the one thing
better than sitting on stage and playing for dancing is helping
others learn how to play for dancing.
Owen Marshall
 Guitarist
Owen Marshall is a highly sought-after accompanist in many genres,
including Irish, French Canadian, Swedish, and New-England dance
music. A multi-instrumentalist, he is also proficient on the bouzouki,
banjo, and other stringed instruments. Owen appears regularly
in folk venues and dance-halls throughout New England in addition
to touring internationally. In demand as a respected teacher,
Owen is active teaching workshops and private lessons throughout
the Northeast. Visit Owen's
MySpace Page or The
Press Gang website
Jeremiah McLane
 The
music of composer, accordionist, and pianist Jeremiah McLane is
a unique blend of Franco-American, Celtic, jazz, and roots influenced
music. In 1980
Jeremiah started studying Celtic music and began playing the accordion,
influenced largely by the Bothy Band and Dedanann. He studied
with Chicago accordionist Jimmy Keane and Cape Breton pianist
Doug McPhee. In the early 1990s he helped start two bands with
strong traditional New England roots: The Clayfoot Strutters and
Nightingale, both of which are active today. In 2003 he formed
Le Bon Vent, a sextet specializing in Breton and French music.
He has recorded nine CDs with these and other musicians.
www.jeremiahmclane.com
Eric McDonald
 Eric
McDonald has been instructing and performing on the mandolin for
a number of years. In addition to his experience in the world
of traditional music, Eric spent two and a half years studying
at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he learned from some
of the best including mandolinist John McGann and cellist Eugiene
Friesen. Exposure to jazz and other styles come through in his
playing. Eric has spent the last three years touring with bands
such as The Dave Rowe Trio, Matching Orange, Jaded Mandolin and
others. You can hear him on many independent recordings by Boston
based artists, and you can catch him teaching at the Passim School
of Music in Cambridge.
Jeff Mckeen
Jeff plays button accordion, guitar, banjo, and the hammiest of
bones. Jeff has played with The Old Grey Goose for over
twenty years, doing innumerable workshops in schools all over
the state, and keeping the old-time music in Maine alive. A resident
of Montville, he gets the fire permit every year and helps host
the camper concerts, and providing the best of accompaniment for
fiddlers.
RFD 1 Box 2155 Freedom ME O4941 207-342-5253
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Bob McQuillen
Bob McQuillen is a legendary piano player from New Hampshire,
the composer of more than a thousand wonderful tunes including
Dancing Bear, Amelia's Waltz, and so many others. Bob has summed
up his love of playing piano for dancing in one simple sentence,
"It's like getting paid to eat ice cream!"
Steve Muise
 Steve
Muise has been fiddling his family's Downeast Style for many years.
(His parents are 1st and 2nd generation Nova Scotians) He founded
the Franklin County Fiddlers, a group of high school musicians
that tours around Maine and way beyond displaying, promoting and
learning about fiddle styles. Steve is a graduate of Berklee College
of Music, and is a stringed instrument teacher in the MBRSD schools
(Farmington area). Steve was honored with the "Maine Music
Educator of the Year" award in 2007 from MMEA. Steve enjoys
playing all styles, ranging from Downeast (maritime), Québécois,
Celtic, and jazz, and can be seen playing music with his dad Paul,
Boréal Tordu, Frigate, Muisette and the Franklin County
Fiddlers. Contact information: www.stevemuise.com
(where you can find links to more information on performances,
bands and facebook)
Franklin
County Fiddlers: http://www.franklincountyfiddlers.com
Boréal
Tordu: http://www.borealtordu.com
Frigate:
http://frigate.stevemuise.com
MBRSD
Orchestra Program: http://web.mbrsd.org/orchestra
Kaity Newell
Kaity teaches fiddle in Damariscotta and has played for dances
for many years with The Maine Country Dance Orchestra,
and with the band The Lady Bugs. A native of Great Britain,
Kaity has brought many a fine tune from the British Isles to our
local dances. Kaity also plays viola in the local community orchestra
and has four children, all of whom play music and come to camp
every year.
7 Creek Lane Damariscotta ME O44543 207-563-8440
Carter Newell
When Carter isn’t working on aquaculture projects he loves to
play his fiddle with The Old Grey Goose, and with his wife
Kaity and The Newell Family Band. He has collected tunes
from old Maine fiddlers like Arnold Kennedy from Aroostook County,
and has traveled extensively with his fiddle throughout the British
Isles and the Maritime Provinces.
7 Creek Lane Damariscotta ME O44543 207-563-8440
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Bill Olson
 Bill
Olson teaches both guitar and upright bass at Maine Fiddle Camp.
He playes in 3 bands: T-Acadie, Jimmyjo and the Junbol'Ayuhs,
and Scrod Pudding as well as calling contradances. He is probably
best known at home and abroad as a contradance caller and choreographer.
Bill has called for dances in 25 states and his dance compositions,
known for their high potential energy and excellent flow, and
are called by contradance callers all over the world. Bill started
playing guitar in 1958, dancing in 1976, calling in 1985, and
playing bass in 1993. He has been singing all his life. Most recently
Bill has spent most of his time playing and singing with the folk
trio T-Acadie which includes Fiddle Camp staff members, Pam Weeks
and Jim Joseph. They have just recently released an album: "T-Acadie
by the Sea". For more info check out Bill's website at www.pamweeks.com/billscorner/
Ed Pearlman
 Ed
Pearlman enjoys many styles of fiddle music but is best known
for Scottish and Cape Breton fiddling, often working with his
wife, dancer Laura Scott, and their family band, Highland Soles
(www.highlandsoles.com).
Since the mid 1990s, he has taught fiddle in Portland, and written
the music column for Scottish Life magazine. Ed has worked closely
with top artists such as Alasdair Fraser, Natalie MacMaster, Tony
Cuffe, Aly Bain, Jerry Holland and many others, especially when
he directed the Boston Scottish Fiddle Club, 1981-99. His latest
CD is On the Edge with son Neil on piano. Ed has played various
Celtic and American styles, Eastern European and classical. For
more info & some fiddling resources, see http://www.edpearlman.net
- 207-650-2030
Neil Pearlman
 Neil
Pearlman is emerging as one of the traditional music scene's most
innovative young artists. Legendary Cape Breton fiddler Jerry
Holland said that "watching Neil's hands on the piano is
like watching two spiders on crack!" His piano style is rooted
in Cape Breton traditions while drawing on latin, jazz and funk
influences. The result is a exciting new sound that remains true
to its traditional roots. An accomplished Cape Breton step dancer
and mandolinist as well, Neil grew up in the family band Highland
Soles and has performed with many of the best musicians on the
traditional music scene today, including Natalie MacMaster, Alasdair
Fraser, Seamus Connolly, Kimberley Fraser, Abby Newton, Frank
Ferrel, Maeve Gilchrist, Mike Vass, Ed Pearlman and Greg Boardman.
Visit Neil's website at www.neilpearlman.com.
Julia Plumb
 Julia
grew up in Nobleboro, Maine and first studied fiddle and violin
with MFC instructor Kaity Newell. She started attending contra
dances when in middle school and ever since has been enchanted
by the interplay between music and dance. She attended Bates College
(largely because that meant she could study fiddle with Greg Boardman)
and continued to study music there, majoring in ethnomusicology.
She has studied traditional music and dance in Ireland, Brittany,
and the southern Appalachians. Julia enjoys playing with the band
Playgroup (www.playgroupband.com).
Maine Fiddle Camp is her favorite place to be!
John Pranio
John first started as a teenage fiddler playing Appalachian style
from recordings, but soon found out it was more fun to play tunes
for contra dances, and has been doing just that for 20 years.
Since moving to Maine in 1989, he is best known for his rhythmic
dance fiddling at contra dances with his current band The Usual
Suspects. John has a real musical family, with his wife Toki
accompanying him on bass and guitar.
Tel. (207) 549-3820
Louisa Pugh
 Louisa
started playing violin as and eight-year-old through her public
school's strings program. In high school, she taught private violin
lessons to younger students. Her music became more fiddley by
the day. As a sophomore at Marlboro College, she founded a contra
dance band, named "Wendy and the Lost Boys" by their admirers.
The band studied with musician Keith Murphy. Louisa then hosted
a monthly contra dance series that ran for four years. She graduated
from Marlboro with a degree in environmental education in 2009,
and has had the opportunity to work with children at many schools
and camps. Her focus at Maine Fiddle Camp is to inspire a love
of music and performing in young children. Contact Louisa at lpugh@marlboro.edu
Tel. (802) 258-7707.
Chris Prickett
 Chris
has been playing the banjo since 5th grade. He both picks and
frails (clawhammer). He lists as his influences these banjoists:
Jens Kruger, Don Stover, Bill Smith, Earl Scruggs, and yes, Dave
Guard of the Kingston Trio. Chris currently plays with one of
Maine's top eclectic acoustic bands, Evergreen (20 years, four
recordings). He's an 8th grade English teacher in Dexter, where
he also mentors three Bluegrass and American Roots Musical groups:
The Abbott Hill Ramblers (5 recording projects), the Abbott Hill
Meanderers, and the Ridge View Wanderers. For more information,
check out Evergreenmaine.com
and/or abbotthillramblers.com.
Doug Protsik
 Doug
likes to play the "old-time piano" for dances, melodramas,
honky tonk saloons, and silent movies. He learned his style from
Otto Soper, Geneva Walton, and Danny Patt among many others. He
plays with Old Grey Goose and produced all three of their
recordings, including the group’s first recording in 1978 for
Folkways, "Old Time Country Dance Tunes and Songs from Maine",
now available again on CD. Doug also plays piano, accordion, and
fiddle. He is the Camp Director again this year.
116 Pleasant Cove Dr. Woolwich ME O4579 207-443-5411
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Sharon Pyne
Sharon Pyne began playing tin whistle while living in Ireland
in 1977, where she studied with master players in County Cork,
the same county where her great grandparents immigrated from.
Returning to Boston, she became involved in Comhaltas Ceoltoiri
Eireann, a world-wide organization whose mission is to preserve
traditional Irish music and dance. Led by Seamus Connelly, this
group recorded and album of Boston Irish musicians on which Sharon
played. She came to Maine with her family, where she helped form
the Portland Ceili Band to perform for dances at the Portland
Irish- American Club and the Irish Heritage Center. She has performed
and recorded with Julia Lane of Castlebay. She teaches Music Together
near her hometown of Woolwich, Maine where she lives with her
husband Doug Protsik. www.ladiesofthelakemusic.com
116 Pleasant Cove Dr. Woolwich ME O4579 207-443-5411
Alden Robinson
Alden Robinson grew up in Bremen, Maine, and learned fiddle from Tamora Goltz and from the instructors at Maine Fiddle Camp. In college, he studied traditional Irish music at Cork University. He now lives in Portland where he plays with his new Irish band The Press Gang, as well as with The Milliners and the many wonderful musicians in the Portland area. He also loves playing contra dances around Maine with the band Playgroup.
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Don & Cindy
Roy
Don learned how to play the fiddle from his Uncle, Lucien Mathieu
when he was 15 years old, and soon after became influenced by
his fiddling friends Ben Guillemette, Joe and Gerry Robichaud,
and Graham Townsend. His personal style would show strong influence
from the Canadian provinces and Northern Ireland. Don started
and managed The Maine French Fiddlers with his wife Cindy,
an accomplished piano accompanist and stepdancer, for 11 years
during which he played such venues as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln
Center, The Barns at Wolf Trap, Prairie Home Companion. His
latest recording, "Thanks for the Lift", is a collection
of rare tunes learned from his mentors and has been nominated
for a National Heritage Award.
114 Plummer Rd. Gorham ME. O4038 892-3512
droy@maineturnpike.com
and cynthiaroy1@aol.com.
You can also find out a lot more about Don at his websites:
www.donroyonline.com,
www.fiddleicious.com,
and coming later this year, www.donroyviolins.com
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Lissa Schneckenburger
A new England fiddler and folk singer, Lissa grew up in Maine
as an active member of the folk music and dance community, where
she cut her teeth as a musician at a very young age. She has continued
to explore music throughout her life, leading to her graduation
from The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts
(2001). Her list of mentors includes Greg Boardman, Alasdair Fraser,
David Kaynor, and Hankus Netsky. While embracing a diverse pallet
of musical influences, she still stays true to her New England
roots.
For more info on Lissa, check out her website at www.lissafiddle.com
David Surette
 One
of New England's finest guitarists, David Surette has been quietly
generating a growing following for his work as a soloist. His
solo albums "Back Roads" and "Trip to Kemper" have helped to establish
him as a top player and arranger of Celtic fingerstyle guitar,
yet his diverse repertoire also includes original compositions,
blues and ragtime, traditional American roots music, and folk
music from a variety of traditions, all played with finesse, taste,
and virtuosity. He is equally at home on the mandolin and bouzouki,
and is well-known as a top-notch accompanist in New England's
contra dance and Celtic music circles, and is also in demand as
a studio musician and sideman.
www.burkesurette.com
Hank Washburn
Hank is well known for his fiddle playing at dances around the
midcoast and foothills areas of Maine, often with the band the
"Usual Suspects" or "The Racket Factory".
Hank plays and teaches entirely by ear, and in addition to fiddle
he plays mandolin and guitar.
38 Intervale Rd. New Sharon ME O4955 778-2268
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Pam Weeks
Pam sings and plays several instruments in the folk trio, Ti'
Acadie,
is fiddler and singer for the Maine-based Cajun dance band, Jimmyjo
&
the Jumbol'Ayuhs, plays fiddle and mountain dulcimer in the contradance
band, Scrod Pudding, and performs solo or with guitar player and
caller Bill Olson. She is an accomplished tunesmith and has composed
scores of tunes, from lively jigs and reels, to entrancing airs
and beautiful waltzes.
Pam has toured throughout
the U.S. with her bands, playing for
contradances, concerts, and teaching at festivals and workshops.
She has
three recordings of her own, one with Scrod Pudding and is featured
on
several others. Pam teaches mountain dulcimer, bowed strings,
guitar, woodwinds, piano, celtic harp, and voice in her studio
at her home in Bowdoin, Maine.
43 Starbird Corner Road, Bowdoin, ME. 04287 phone: 207-666-3709
For more info on Pam, check out her website at Pam
Weeks Homepage
Steve
Weiss
 Steven
Weiss began blowing harmonica when he was four years old. His
father and grandfather played the mouth organ as well. Growing
up in the more popular cross-harp rock/blues/boogies styles, he
began playing straight harp- tradtional, mostly old-timey, tunes
on the harmonica in 1970, hanging out with southern tow boat pilots
on the Ohio River near where he went to college, then followed
by many years living in Maine playing for contradances, folk clubs,
concerts, festivals and playing back-up for other performers.
Although he is best
known for his hot playing of fiddle tunes and traditional music
(he has actually won fiddle and traditional music contests with
his harmonica over the years), he loves pushing the instrument's
envelope in accompaniment, rhytmic blues, jazz and old swing standards,
exploring (and teaching) all four position of the harmoica (yep
- there are four!). Recently, emerging more from his "day
job" as a physician/healer/teacher, Steven has begun to play
and teach again more actively, bringing his unique joyous approach
to the harmonica. He now teaches the mouth harp privately in New
York and New Mexico, and, in addition to Maine Fiddle Camp, Steven
also teaches at the World Fellowship Center and soon a the The
New School in New York. And best of all, if you hurt yourself
on the dance floor lugging around your instrument, he can probably
do stuff to help heal you as well!
Contact Steven at mokwintsana@mac.com
or 148 Willow Street #3, Brooklyn, New York, NY 11201
Fred White
 Fred
's (guitar, percussion, vocals) musical debut occurred on the
floor of his parents' kitchen, surrounded by pots and pans, long
before he ever heard of Ginger Baker or Gene Krupa. For the most
recent 30 years he has been performing and recording oldtime,
string band, hillbilly, rockabilly, blues, bluegrass, jazz, swing,
minstrels, ragtime and Americana music. His trio, Waxlips, made
award winning waves in North Carolina in the mid-80's and he was
a founding member the popular Pennsylvania-based contradance band,
Dr. Twamley's Audio Snakes, and the Celtic band Culture Clash.
He presently works with Maine conflagrations Frigate,
Catharsis, Hay 44, Bondeaux Redux, Improvox,
and The Montville Project.
PO Box 2167, Augusta, ME; phone: 207-622-6201
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