Denise Radtke & Bruce Thompson
Denise Radtke (Saratoga Springs, NY) plays guitar, mandolin, clawhammer banjo and sings. She started in music with Renaissance recorder and performing with early music ensembles. In 2013, after taking a Wernick class she began participating in bluegrass jams and events at every opportunity. She helped found the Schroon River String Band, Red Spruce, Pinewood Hollow and most recently, Willoughby Station, performing throughout the Capital District and the Adirondacks. Denise leads bluegrass jams in the Saratoga Springs/Glens Falls area and also teaches bluegrass guitar. She is a retired geologist and maintains a New York State Professional Geologist License.
Bruce Thompson (Middle Grove, NY) started playing music in elementary school, first on violin and later on guitar and dobro. Influenced by acoustic folk and bluegrass and a love for improvisation, he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Composition at the Berklee College of Music and played various music styles in the Boston area for ten years. After moving to Saratoga County, NY he raised a family and made music at community, family, and school events. In 2020 Bruce returned to his love of acoustic music, teaching at Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs where he is a fixture in the local bluegrass community.
“Bruce and Denise are warm and inviting people who clearly love both playing and teaching. They were the best.”
“Bruce and Denise were a great pair, providing complementary takes on the material.”
“Bruce and Denise are great teachers who present info in an understandable way.