Allegheny Echoes - Music Workshops

Banjo 1 - Beginning
David O’Dell began playing banjo at the age of 14, and has since become one of West Virginia’s best-known old time musicians. Much of his early musical experience was gained playing at square dances, where he developed his rhythmic style. He was first recorded at age 16 on “The Cedar Point String Band” with Frank George and the late Bob Roark. A multiple winner of first-place prizes for both banjo and dulcimer at the Vandalia Gathering, he appears throughout West Virginia at fairs and festivals. He currently plays with the band “Kanawha Tradition”, and promotes old time music by producing recordings of West Virginia musicians. The beginning class will focus on well-known tunes in the drop thumb style.

Banjo 2 - Intermediate
Bob Shank, from Morgantown, was influenced on banjo by Sloan Staggs. As a member of Hickory Wind, Curmudgeon, The Percolators and the Big Otter Orchestra, Bob has played in over 30 states, toured Europe, played The Kennedy Center and has shared the stage with Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs, Ralph Stanley, Jimmy Martin, John Hartford and the Dirt Band. Bob has made several recordings with his bands. He has taught privately for years and has been an instructor at Augusta. The intermediate class will focus on expanding student’s knowledge of tunes and styles.

Banjo 3 – Advanced
Tim Bing, originally from Barboursville WV, is widely recognized at one of the best old time banjo players anywhere. A nominee for the first class of inductees into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame, Tim learned his craft first-hand from such legendary West Virginia greats as Sherman Hammons and Frank George. His driving yet intricate drop-thumb style has led to many banjo contest blue ribbons. He is a member of the Bing Brothers Band, and has performed across the U.S., Canada, Ireland and Scotland. He can be heard on “Banjo Legacy” and “Just For The Sake Of It”. Tim’s class will concentrate on developing expertise on traditional tunes.

Fiddle 1 - Raw Beginning
Pam Lund lives in the Williams River area of Pocahontas County, WV, where she is well known for her patient and caring teaching manner, as well as her outstanding musicianship. An instructor at the Augusta Heritage Workshops, she has won numerous contests in the Appalachian region for her traditional clawhammer banjo playing. Pam can be heard at many venues throughout the state and in the Pocahontas County area with local musicians.

Fiddle 1 - Beginning
Danny Arthur is a resident of the Barboursville area of Cabell County, West Virginia. Already well known as an established backup and lead guitar player and singer for the “Bing Brothers Band”, Danny has come into his own as an outstanding old time fiddler. He has taught and performed at Appalshop, Augusta Heritage Workshops, the Vandalia Gathering, the Wheatland Music Festival, and in Ireland and Scotland.

Fiddle 2 -Youth Intermediate
Zack Fanok, from Morgantown, WV, began playing fiddle at age 9, studying traditional WV fiddle tunes with Chris Haddox. He also worked on other traditional styles including Irish, and bluegrass. Zack studied with the late Glen Smith for a few years, learning his tunes, and technique. More recently he has studied with Tater Tate, who played with Bill Monroe in the 60’s-70’s. Zack also plays mandolin and guitar. This class will be for youth only, 18 years and younger.

Fiddle 2 - Intermediate / Advanced
John Morris is from a long line of Clay County fiddlers, learning from WV legends Doc White, French Carpenter, Ira Mullens, Lee Triplett, Wilson Douglas, Jenes Cottrell, John Hill, Franklin George, and others. John and brother David played together as the Morris Brothers for years at the West Virginia State folk Festival, University of Chicago Folk Festival, The Vandalia Gathering, Stonewall Jackson Jubilee and many others around the country. John’s class will be assisted by longtime Allegheny Echoes instructor and friend Ruth Ann Randall.

Fiddle 3 – Advanced
Bobby Taylor, a fourth-generation West Virginia fiddler, has played fiddle for more than 30 years, learning from his Kanawha County neighbors Clark Kessinger and Mike Humphries. He also was influenced by Doc Roberts, The Skillet Lickers, and Sam Jarvis. He has performed with the Morris Brothers Band, The Kanawha Tradition, and many other groups, and can be heard on his solo tape, “Bobby Taylor: Kanawha Tradition”. He is the contest coordinator for the Vandalia Gathering and the Appalachian String Band Festival, and has served as a judge for the Galax Old-Time Fiddler’s Convention. Bobby toured Ireland and Austrailia in 2007, and will be appearing at the National Folk Festival in Austrailia in March of 2008.

Fiddle 4 - Advanced
Jake Krack, from Nicut, West Virginia, started playing the fiddle at the age of six. Now at twenty three he has spent fifteen years studying and apprenticing with West Virginia master old-time fiddlers Melvin Wine, Lester McCumbers, and Bobby Taylor. He has performed and taught workshops at venues such as the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Chicago Folk Festival, Merlefest, and the Detroit Festival of the Arts. Jake has won fiddle contests at Vandalia, Appalachian String Band Festival, Galax Old-time Fiddlers Convention, Mt. Airy Fiddlers Convention, Ed Haley fiddle contest, and the Henry Reed Fiddlers Gathering. He currently has over thirty fiddle students of all ages and levels. His advanced fiddle class will concentrate on the bowing and rhythms of the master fiddlers with whom he has apprenticed.

Guitar 1 - Beginning
Judy Hudnall, from Morgantown, has been involved in traditional music for many years as a guitar and lap dulcimer player/teacher. She is found behind the guitar at most WV festivals and local jam sessions. She is currently playing with Wee Bluets, a Celtic band, Drumdelgie, a Scottish country dance band and Worley Dervish, a traditional Appalachian band. Her class will concentrate on getting acquainted with the instrument and the music, tuning the guitar, fingering of basic chords, changing chords, chord families, timing, and alternating bass strum used to accompany traditional fiddle tunes. This class will happily progress very slowly.

Guitar 2 - Backup
Paul Gartner, a native of Ohio’s Mahoning Valley, moved to Lincoln County, West Virginia in 1977. He plays banjo and guitar in the old time duo, Born Old. An experienced teacher, Paul’s expressive clawhammer banjo playing is influenced by West Virginia fiddlers, past and present. His driving guitar runs evoke the classic string bands of the 1920s. Paul is a regular at music festivals and banjo contests in the state. In 2000 he appeared in New York City with the late Melvin Wine and other musicians. He has appeared in concert at Shepherd College, Marshall University, and at the Vandalia Gathering. With Born Old, he was part of the “Emerging Legends” concert series in 2002.

Guitar 3 - Simple Leads
Doug Hepler grew up in Richmond, Va. and has been playing guitar since age 13. He started writing songs and tunes of his own about age 18 and played in “soul music” bands in high school and later in several country music bands. In 1998, Doug took Robin Kessinger’s class and from that point on learned to play guitar all over again. He also learned from Chris Nickel and Robert Shafer and has tried to incorporate that knowledge into his own playing. Doug has entered the Virginia Folk Music Association Competition and took first in flatpicking in 2002, 2nd in 2004 and 3rd in 2005. At present he plays in two bands, Full Circle, which had the privilege of playing the Opera House in Marlinton last year, and a new band which is yet to be named.

Guitar 3 - Intermediate Flatpick
Brandon Bentley is a resident of Lincoln County, WV. He is always in demand at festivals and contests as back-up guitarist for different instruments. Brandon’s stellar picking is the result of studying and playing with Robin Kessinger and Robert Shafer. His awards include First Place at the Vandalia Gathering, the Wayne Henderson Guitar Festival, MerleFest, RenoFest, and Rockygrass. He has played on several recordings and has performed on WV Public Radio.

Guitar 4 – Advanced Flatpick
Robin Kessinger is one of the country’s leading flatpick guitarists. Since first gaining national attention by winning the 1985 National Flatpicking Championship in Winfield Kansas, Robin has become internationally known through his performances, recordings, and teaching workshops. He has toured the United States, Ireland, Canada, and Japan. His awards include the 1985 National Flatpick Championship at Winfield, Kansas; the 1989 and 1990 Galax, Va., best performer championship, and first in West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky and Georgia. At the National Flatpick competition, he holds the record - nine times in the top five. He has appeared on PBS and BBC television specials and NPR radio shows. Robin lists his influences as “everything I listen to,” his father, Bob, and his great uncle, fiddler Clark Kessinger.

Mandolin - All Levels
Alan Dutchess lives in Marlinton, WV, where he travels the county teaching music. He was drawn into traditional music through recordings of Lee Triplett, but also credits the Hammons, French Carpenter, and several local musicians as important influences and sources for tunes. A multiinstrumentalist, he has shared the stage with many local stringbands, and his mandolin style echoes their diversity, drive, and momentum.

Bass – All Levels
Jim Martin, from St. Albans, WV is known as one of the state’s best bass players. Jim has played for Jazz greats Ann Baker, and Bob Thompson, as well as the Morris Brothers. JIm is constantly in demand as one of the State’s finest musicians, backing up practically every group that plays for the musical perfromances at the annual Stonewall Jackson Jubilee. He currently plays with Gandydancer and several other groups. His class will concentrate on playing traditional bluegrass tunes with some old time thrown in.

Mt. Dulcimer - All Levels
Heidi Muller has played and taught mountain dulcimer for almost twenty years. From Charleston, WV, she has taught at Augusta Heritage, Kentucky Music Week, Ohio Valley Gathering and many other dulcimer events nationwide. She plays both traditional and contemporary styles on 3-course or 4- equidistant-string dulcimers, and she enjoys learning and teaching music by ear. One of her original waltzes, Leaving the Methow, appears on the Masters of the Mountain Dulcimer, Volume Two CD. An award-winning singer-songwriter and guitarist, she has released six CDs and published several dulcimer songbooks, including two volumes of Bill Staines’ songs and a book of original dulcimer pieces. Her latest CD, called Seeing Things, was recorded with Charleston multiinstrumentalist Bob Webb.

Vocal Instruction - All Levels
Kay Justice and Evelyn Hamilton began singing together in the mid 1970’s. Influenced by such singers as Hazel and Alice, the Carter Family, the Stanley Brothers and WV’s own David Morris, they performed mostly in Southwest Virginia, Tennessee and in West Virginia. Although they performed together for many years, each of them maintained their respective professions, singing mostly for the love of music and the love of the many friends they made in the traditional music arena. Their course will include a survey of their repertoire, focusing on the singing styles and harmonies commonly found in Appalachia. Each day will introduce a different group of songs. Students who wish to learn harmony singing will be especially welcome. The class is open to all levels. Words to songs will be provided.

Bluegrass Banjo
Richard Hefner lives in Renick, WV, but was born and raised in Mill Point, Pocahontas County, WV. His traditional bluegrass group, the Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys, has played across WV and the East Coast since 1968. The band’s high finish in Nashville’s SPBGMA contest solidified Richard’s standing as one of the best traditional bluegrass banjo players in the field. A three-time winner at Vandalia Gathering, he has won the WV and Maryland state championships. His class will focus on tunes from Flatt & Scruggs, Don Reno, The Stanley Brothers, and Del McCoury

Bluegrass Guitar
Robert Shafer, from Sissonville, WV, will be teaching Bluegrass guitar with some flatpicking added. A 2 time National Flatpicking champ and contest winner in many states, Robert has appeared on the Grand Ole Opry, TNN, CNN, BBC, the Today Show and IBMA as guitarist for Johnny Staats and the Delivery Boys as well as being a regular on Mountain Stage. He has been backup guitarist for Mark O’Connor, Vassar Clements, Frank Wakefield, Hazel Dickens, Mike Snyder, Robert Earl Keen, Kenny Baker, Josh Graves and many others. He’s recorded 6 CD’s with the likes of Randy Howard, Robin Kessinger, Steve Kaufmann and Johnny Staats, as well as many others as backup guitarist.

Bluegrass Mandolin
Joe Hinkebein is a multi-instrumentalist whose primary instrument is the mandolin. He plays in a variety of styles including bluegrass, old-time, and traditional Irish. His bluegrass mandolin style is best characterized as being rooted in Monroe-style playing and with a thorough grounding in the vast fiddle tune repertoire. He has been playing mandolin for over 30 years. He has played with numerous bluegrass and old-time music luminaries through out his career. In recent years he has been the mandolinist for the “Missouri Bluegrass All-Stars featuring Bob Black” (former Bill Monroe banjo-great), the popular Midwest combo “The Rank Sinatras”, and “Nanny Goat Vibrato” which won 4th place in the 2006 Clifftop Traditional Band Contest.

Bluegrass Fiddle
Charlie Walden began playing fiddle at age 11 when inspired by players in a fiddler’s contest at the Boone County Fair in his native Missouri. Since then he has won dozens of local fiddle contests as well as major championships in Missouri, Illinois and West Virginia. He has taught fiddling privately to dozens of players and has served as an instructor at the Festival of Fiddle Tunes in Port Townsend, Washington. A dedicated collector of fiddle tunes, Charlie has recorded numerous fiddlers in Missouri in an attempt to preserve the traditional playing and repertoire of the Show-Me State. In addition, he is an avid performer of traditional Bluegrass and “Hot” fiddle styles. Charlie’s class will encompass all traditional bluegrass styles and tunes.

Allegheny Echoes Masters
Frank George is an internationally known musician and heritage arts advocate. He has participated in every venue West Virginia has to offer, and will share his knowledge on fiddle, banjo, hammered dulcimer, and highland pipes.

Kate Long, a native of Fayette County, West Virginia makes her living with words and music. Rambles Magazine described Kate Long’s voice as “a deep, rich force.” Her awards include International Bluegrass Music Association Song of the Year (“Who’ll Watch the Homeplace”). Kate has won national awards for fiction, songwriting, radio features and video editing. In 2001, she was a Hearst Fellow at the College of Communication at the University of Texas in Austin. She has performed at the International Storytelling Center, is the writing coach at the Charleston Gazette, and has taught writing at camps and workshops all over the country.

Mike Bing and John Blisard. Mike resides near Minnehaha Springs in Pocahontas County, West Virginia. He credits the Hammons Family, Frank George, and Red Rector as his strongest influences. A member of the Bing Brothers Band, he has performed at the Vandalia Gathering, the Chicago Folk Festival, Appalshop, and the Wheatland Music Festival. His clean, driving style can be heard on his CD “Just For Spite”. Mike has toured Ireland and Scotland several times with the Bing Brothers and Allegheny Echoes. John Blisard is from Elkview, WV, and is well known on the old time music scene for his versatility and strong clawhammer style. A Vandalia Gathering and WV Folk Festival champion, he has performed with the Bing Brothers Band and The Morris Brothers, among others. He is equally adept on guitar, Celtic harp, bagpipes, and fiddle. “Protect the Innocent” is a recording of his music. John has performed at the Kennedy Center, across the U.S., Germany, Scotland, and Ireland.

Lester McCumbers and Kim Johnson. Lester was born in 1921 in Calhoun County, WV and has been playing music for most of his life. As a young man he played guitar with French Carpenter, Emory Bailey, Ward Jarvis and other fiddlers for dances and various community gatherings. Lester is a regular performer at the WV Folk Festival at Glenville, the Vandalia Gathering, and the Appalachian Stringband Festival at Clifftop. He has won the blue ribbon at the WV Folk Festival for the past several years, and in 2004 he won the fiddle contest at Clifftop, which included 98 fiddlers. Kim Johnson is from Kanawha County, WV, and has played banjo for more than 25 years. She performed and recorded with Wilson Douglas, one of West Virginia‘s foremost old-time fiddlers. In 1998 Kim was included in Appalachian Banjo Women, a documentary exhibit produced by Marshall University.

Charlie Loudermilk and Junior Spencer, from the Frankford area of Greenbrier County, WV, will contribute their repertoire and experience gained from 50 years of picking together. Charlie is an award winning banjo player in both regular and senior divisions, and is an accomplished guitar player as well. Junior has placed in the Senior Fiddle at the Appalachian String Band Festival and many other prestigious competitions, and their band Mud Hole Control is well known throughout the State.

The Allegheny Echoes Masters Programs are sponsored in part by:

Music Workshops
The 12th Annual Summer Workshops June 22- 28, 2008 - Marlinton, West Virginia
		The 2008 Allegheny Echoes Music Workshops Banjo \| Fiddle \| Guitar \| Bass \| Mandolin \| Mt. Dulcimer \| Vocal Bluegrass Banjo \| Bluegrass Guitar \| Bluegrass Mandolin \| Bluegrass Fiddle \| Masters
Banjo 1 - Beginning David O’Dell began playing banjo at the age of 14, and has since become one of West Virginia’s best-known old time musicians. Much of his early musical experience was gained playing at square dances, where he developed his rhythmic style. He was first recorded at age 16 on “The Cedar Point String Band” with Frank George and the late Bob Roark. A multiple winner of first-place prizes for both banjo and dulcimer at the Vandalia Gathering, he appears throughout West Virginia at fairs and festivals. He currently plays with the band “Kanawha Tradition”, and promotes old time music by producing recordings of West Virginia musicians. The beginning class will focus on well-known tunes in the drop thumb style. Banjo 2 - Intermediate Bob Shank, from Morgantown, was influenced on banjo by Sloan Staggs. As a member of Hickory Wind, Curmudgeon, The Percolators and the Big Otter Orchestra, Bob has played in over 30 states, toured Europe, played The Kennedy Center and has shared the stage with Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs, Ralph Stanley, Jimmy Martin, John Hartford and the Dirt Band. Bob has made several recordings with his bands. He has taught privately for years and has been an instructor at Augusta. The intermediate class will focus on expanding student’s knowledge of tunes and styles. Banjo 3 – Advanced Tim Bing, originally from Barboursville WV, is widely recognized at one of the best old time banjo players anywhere. A nominee for the first class of inductees into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame, Tim learned his craft first-hand from such legendary West Virginia greats as Sherman Hammons and Frank George. His driving yet intricate drop-thumb style has led to many banjo contest blue ribbons. He is a member of the Bing Brothers Band, and has performed across the U.S., Canada, Ireland and Scotland. He can be heard on “Banjo Legacy” and “Just For The Sake Of It”. Tim’s class will concentrate on developing expertise on traditional tunes. Fiddle 1 - Raw Beginning Pam Lund lives in the Williams River area of Pocahontas County, WV, where she is well known for her patient and caring teaching manner, as well as her outstanding musicianship. An instructor at the Augusta Heritage Workshops, she has won numerous contests in the Appalachian region for her traditional clawhammer banjo playing. Pam can be heard at many venues throughout the state and in the Pocahontas County area with local musicians. Fiddle 1 - Beginning Danny Arthur is a resident of the Barboursville area of Cabell County, West Virginia. Already well known as an established backup and lead guitar player and singer for the “Bing Brothers Band”, Danny has come into his own as an outstanding old time fiddler. He has taught and performed at Appalshop, Augusta Heritage Workshops, the Vandalia Gathering, the Wheatland Music Festival, and in Ireland and Scotland. Fiddle 2 -Youth Intermediate Zack Fanok, from Morgantown, WV, began playing fiddle at age 9, studying traditional WV fiddle tunes with Chris Haddox. He also worked on other traditional styles including Irish, and bluegrass. Zack studied with the late Glen Smith for a few years, learning his tunes, and technique. More recently he has studied with Tater Tate, who played with Bill Monroe in the 60’s-70’s. Zack also plays mandolin and guitar. This class will be for youth only, 18 years and younger. Fiddle 2 - Intermediate / Advanced John Morris is from a long line of Clay County fiddlers, learning from WV legends Doc White, French Carpenter, Ira Mullens, Lee Triplett, Wilson Douglas, Jenes Cottrell, John Hill, Franklin George, and others. John and brother David played together as the Morris Brothers for years at the West Virginia State folk Festival, University of Chicago Folk Festival, The Vandalia Gathering, Stonewall Jackson Jubilee and many others around the country. John’s class will be assisted by longtime Allegheny Echoes instructor and friend Ruth Ann Randall. Fiddle 3 – Advanced Bobby Taylor, a fourth-generation West Virginia fiddler, has played fiddle for more than 30 years, learning from his Kanawha County neighbors Clark Kessinger and Mike Humphries. He also was influenced by Doc Roberts, The Skillet Lickers, and Sam Jarvis. He has performed with the Morris Brothers Band, The Kanawha Tradition, and many other groups, and can be heard on his solo tape, “Bobby Taylor: Kanawha Tradition”. He is the contest coordinator for the Vandalia Gathering and the Appalachian String Band Festival, and has served as a judge for the Galax Old-Time Fiddler’s Convention. Bobby toured Ireland and Austrailia in 2007, and will be appearing at the National Folk Festival in Austrailia in March of 2008. Fiddle 4 - Advanced Jake Krack, from Nicut, West Virginia, started playing the fiddle at the age of six. Now at twenty three he has spent fifteen years studying and apprenticing with West Virginia master old-time fiddlers Melvin Wine, Lester McCumbers, and Bobby Taylor. He has performed and taught workshops at venues such as the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Chicago Folk Festival, Merlefest, and the Detroit Festival of the Arts. Jake has won fiddle contests at Vandalia, Appalachian String Band Festival, Galax Old-time Fiddlers Convention, Mt. Airy Fiddlers Convention, Ed Haley fiddle contest, and the Henry Reed Fiddlers Gathering. He currently has over thirty fiddle students of all ages and levels. His advanced fiddle class will concentrate on the bowing and rhythms of the master fiddlers with whom he has apprenticed. Guitar 1 - Beginning Judy Hudnall, from Morgantown, has been involved in traditional music for many years as a guitar and lap dulcimer player/teacher. She is found behind the guitar at most WV festivals and local jam sessions. She is currently playing with Wee Bluets, a Celtic band, Drumdelgie, a Scottish country dance band and Worley Dervish, a traditional Appalachian band. Her class will concentrate on getting acquainted with the instrument and the music, tuning the guitar, fingering of basic chords, changing chords, chord families, timing, and alternating bass strum used to accompany traditional fiddle tunes. This class will happily progress very slowly. Guitar 2 - Backup Paul Gartner, a native of Ohio’s Mahoning Valley, moved to Lincoln County, West Virginia in 1977. He plays banjo and guitar in the old time duo, Born Old. An experienced teacher, Paul’s expressive clawhammer banjo playing is influenced by West Virginia fiddlers, past and present. His driving guitar runs evoke the classic string bands of the 1920s. Paul is a regular at music festivals and banjo contests in the state. In 2000 he appeared in New York City with the late Melvin Wine and other musicians. He has appeared in concert at Shepherd College, Marshall University, and at the Vandalia Gathering. With Born Old, he was part of the “Emerging Legends” concert series in 2002. Guitar 3 - Simple Leads Doug Hepler grew up in Richmond, Va. and has been playing guitar since age 13. He started writing songs and tunes of his own about age 18 and played in “soul music” bands in high school and later in several country music bands. In 1998, Doug took Robin Kessinger’s class and from that point on learned to play guitar all over again. He also learned from Chris Nickel and Robert Shafer and has tried to incorporate that knowledge into his own playing. Doug has entered the Virginia Folk Music Association Competition and took first in flatpicking in 2002, 2nd in 2004 and 3rd in 2005. At present he plays in two bands, Full Circle, which had the privilege of playing the Opera House in Marlinton last year, and a new band which is yet to be named. Guitar 3 - Intermediate Flatpick Brandon Bentley is a resident of Lincoln County, WV. He is always in demand at festivals and contests as back-up guitarist for different instruments. Brandon’s stellar picking is the result of studying and playing with Robin Kessinger and Robert Shafer. His awards include First Place at the Vandalia Gathering, the Wayne Henderson Guitar Festival, MerleFest, RenoFest, and Rockygrass. He has played on several recordings and has performed on WV Public Radio. Guitar 4 – Advanced Flatpick Robin Kessinger is one of the country’s leading flatpick guitarists. Since first gaining national attention by winning the 1985 National Flatpicking Championship in Winfield Kansas, Robin has become internationally known through his performances, recordings, and teaching workshops. He has toured the United States, Ireland, Canada, and Japan. His awards include the 1985 National Flatpick Championship at Winfield, Kansas; the 1989 and 1990 Galax, Va., best performer championship, and first in West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky and Georgia. At the National Flatpick competition, he holds the record - nine times in the top five. He has appeared on PBS and BBC television specials and NPR radio shows. Robin lists his influences as “everything I listen to,” his father, Bob, and his great uncle, fiddler Clark Kessinger. Mandolin - All Levels Alan Dutchess lives in Marlinton, WV, where he travels the county teaching music. He was drawn into traditional music through recordings of Lee Triplett, but also credits the Hammons, French Carpenter, and several local musicians as important influences and sources for tunes. A multiinstrumentalist, he has shared the stage with many local stringbands, and his mandolin style echoes their diversity, drive, and momentum. Bass – All Levels Jim Martin, from St. Albans, WV is known as one of the state’s best bass players. Jim has played for Jazz greats Ann Baker, and Bob Thompson, as well as the Morris Brothers. JIm is constantly in demand as one of the State’s finest musicians, backing up practically every group that plays for the musical perfromances at the annual Stonewall Jackson Jubilee. He currently plays with Gandydancer and several other groups. His class will concentrate on playing traditional bluegrass tunes with some old time thrown in. Mt. Dulcimer - All Levels Heidi Muller has played and taught mountain dulcimer for almost twenty years. From Charleston, WV, she has taught at Augusta Heritage, Kentucky Music Week, Ohio Valley Gathering and many other dulcimer events nationwide. She plays both traditional and contemporary styles on 3-course or 4- equidistant-string dulcimers, and she enjoys learning and teaching music by ear. One of her original waltzes, Leaving the Methow, appears on the Masters of the Mountain Dulcimer, Volume Two CD. An award-winning singer-songwriter and guitarist, she has released six CDs and published several dulcimer songbooks, including two volumes of Bill Staines’ songs and a book of original dulcimer pieces. Her latest CD, called Seeing Things, was recorded with Charleston multiinstrumentalist Bob Webb. Vocal Instruction - All Levels Kay Justice and Evelyn Hamilton began singing together in the mid 1970’s. Influenced by such singers as Hazel and Alice, the Carter Family, the Stanley Brothers and WV’s own David Morris, they performed mostly in Southwest Virginia, Tennessee and in West Virginia. Although they performed together for many years, each of them maintained their respective professions, singing mostly for the love of music and the love of the many friends they made in the traditional music arena. Their course will include a survey of their repertoire, focusing on the singing styles and harmonies commonly found in Appalachia. Each day will introduce a different group of songs. Students who wish to learn harmony singing will be especially welcome. The class is open to all levels. Words to songs will be provided. Bluegrass Banjo Richard Hefner lives in Renick, WV, but was born and raised in Mill Point, Pocahontas County, WV. His traditional bluegrass group, the Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys, has played across WV and the East Coast since 1968. The band’s high finish in Nashville’s SPBGMA contest solidified Richard’s standing as one of the best traditional bluegrass banjo players in the field. A three-time winner at Vandalia Gathering, he has won the WV and Maryland state championships. His class will focus on tunes from Flatt & Scruggs, Don Reno, The Stanley Brothers, and Del McCoury Bluegrass Guitar Robert Shafer, from Sissonville, WV, will be teaching Bluegrass guitar with some flatpicking added. A 2 time National Flatpicking champ and contest winner in many states, Robert has appeared on the Grand Ole Opry, TNN, CNN, BBC, the Today Show and IBMA as guitarist for Johnny Staats and the Delivery Boys as well as being a regular on Mountain Stage. He has been backup guitarist for Mark O’Connor, Vassar Clements, Frank Wakefield, Hazel Dickens, Mike Snyder, Robert Earl Keen, Kenny Baker, Josh Graves and many others. He’s recorded 6 CD’s with the likes of Randy Howard, Robin Kessinger, Steve Kaufmann and Johnny Staats, as well as many others as backup guitarist. Bluegrass Mandolin Joe Hinkebein is a multi-instrumentalist whose primary instrument is the mandolin. He plays in a variety of styles including bluegrass, old-time, and traditional Irish. His bluegrass mandolin style is best characterized as being rooted in Monroe-style playing and with a thorough grounding in the vast fiddle tune repertoire. He has been playing mandolin for over 30 years. He has played with numerous bluegrass and old-time music luminaries through out his career. In recent years he has been the mandolinist for the “Missouri Bluegrass All-Stars featuring Bob Black” (former Bill Monroe banjo-great), the popular Midwest combo “The Rank Sinatras”, and “Nanny Goat Vibrato” which won 4th place in the 2006 Clifftop Traditional Band Contest. Bluegrass Fiddle Charlie Walden began playing fiddle at age 11 when inspired by players in a fiddler’s contest at the Boone County Fair in his native Missouri. Since then he has won dozens of local fiddle contests as well as major championships in Missouri, Illinois and West Virginia. He has taught fiddling privately to dozens of players and has served as an instructor at the Festival of Fiddle Tunes in Port Townsend, Washington. A dedicated collector of fiddle tunes, Charlie has recorded numerous fiddlers in Missouri in an attempt to preserve the traditional playing and repertoire of the Show-Me State. In addition, he is an avid performer of traditional Bluegrass and “Hot” fiddle styles. Charlie’s class will encompass all traditional bluegrass styles and tunes. Allegheny Echoes Masters Frank George is an internationally known musician and heritage arts advocate. He has participated in every venue West Virginia has to offer, and will share his knowledge on fiddle, banjo, hammered dulcimer, and highland pipes. Kate Long, a native of Fayette County, West Virginia makes her living with words and music. Rambles Magazine described Kate Long’s voice as “a deep, rich force.” Her awards include International Bluegrass Music Association Song of the Year (“Who’ll Watch the Homeplace”). Kate has won national awards for fiction, songwriting, radio features and video editing. In 2001, she was a Hearst Fellow at the College of Communication at the University of Texas in Austin. She has performed at the International Storytelling Center, is the writing coach at the Charleston Gazette, and has taught writing at camps and workshops all over the country. Mike Bing and John Blisard. Mike resides near Minnehaha Springs in Pocahontas County, West Virginia. He credits the Hammons Family, Frank George, and Red Rector as his strongest influences. A member of the Bing Brothers Band, he has performed at the Vandalia Gathering, the Chicago Folk Festival, Appalshop, and the Wheatland Music Festival. His clean, driving style can be heard on his CD “Just For Spite”. Mike has toured Ireland and Scotland several times with the Bing Brothers and Allegheny Echoes. John Blisard is from Elkview, WV, and is well known on the old time music scene for his versatility and strong clawhammer style. A Vandalia Gathering and WV Folk Festival champion, he has performed with the Bing Brothers Band and The Morris Brothers, among others. He is equally adept on guitar, Celtic harp, bagpipes, and fiddle. “Protect the Innocent” is a recording of his music. John has performed at the Kennedy Center, across the U.S., Germany, Scotland, and Ireland. Lester McCumbers and Kim Johnson. Lester was born in 1921 in Calhoun County, WV and has been playing music for most of his life. As a young man he played guitar with French Carpenter, Emory Bailey, Ward Jarvis and other fiddlers for dances and various community gatherings. Lester is a regular performer at the WV Folk Festival at Glenville, the Vandalia Gathering, and the Appalachian Stringband Festival at Clifftop. He has won the blue ribbon at the WV Folk Festival for the past several years, and in 2004 he won the fiddle contest at Clifftop, which included 98 fiddlers. Kim Johnson is from Kanawha County, WV, and has played banjo for more than 25 years. She performed and recorded with Wilson Douglas, one of West Virginia‘s foremost old-time fiddlers. In 1998 Kim was included in Appalachian Banjo Women, a documentary exhibit produced by Marshall University. Charlie Loudermilk and Junior Spencer, from the Frankford area of Greenbrier County, WV, will contribute their repertoire and experience gained from 50 years of picking together. Charlie is an award winning banjo player in both regular and senior divisions, and is an accomplished guitar player as well. Junior has placed in the Senior Fiddle at the Appalachian String Band Festival and many other prestigious competitions, and their band Mud Hole Control is well known throughout the State. The Allegheny Echoes Masters Programs are sponsored in part by:
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