Aaron Dorfman
Aaron is a full-time freelance musician in Chicago, proud to make music education the … Read More
Teaching in Illinois
Aaron Farris
Aaron was raised in the “Folk Music Capital of the World” where jams and bluegrass … Read More
Teaching in Arkansas
Al LaMonaca
Al is folk and bluegrass musician, educator, and bandleader known for his driving rhythm, tasteful picking, and …. Read More
Teaching in Canada
Alan Epstein
has played mandolin and sung in bluegrass bands in CO, PA, MI, and NY since the 1970s. He excels … Read More
Teaching in New York
Alex Deane
Alex started playing fiddle, loving bluegrass music, and writing songs as a child in Nashville, TN… Read More
Teaches in New York
Allie Burbrink
Allie is a musician, teacher, and mom. As a founding member of the Indiana-based band The Whipstitch Sallies … Read More
Teaching in Indiana
Andy Lentz
Andy started on fiddle with the Suzuki technique, and has been jamming and performing bluegrass … Read More
Teaching in California
Angel Chantel
Angel is an East Tennessee bluegrass musician and educator. Bass is her main instrument but she also plays guitar and …. Read More
Teaching in Tennessee
Austin Scelzo
Austin was introduced to various fiddle traditions at Mark O’Connor’s early Berklee String Camps and … Read More
Teaching in CT, MA, ME, NC, NJ, NY
Barry Mitterhoff
Barry has played bluegrass mandolin professionally for over 40 years, appearing in 49 states and 18 countries … Read More
Teaching in NJ, NY
Bianca Bentz
Bianca cut her teeth on bluegrass music playing and hosting jams for years along the Colorado … Read More
Teaching in Maryland
Bill Parker
Bill has played guitar since age 16 and later added mandolin, bass, banjo, fiddle, and dobro. He caught … Read More
Teaching in Pennsylvania
Bob Barrett
Bob began playing guitar in high school more than 50 years ago. Over the years he has performed … Read More
Teaching in Florida
Bob Perlstein
Bob started playing guitar and banjo while in college and law school, and later picked up fiddle and … Read More
Teaching in Illinois
Brian Bauer
Brian was introduced to music at an early age and became interested in singing, songwriting, and bluegrass music while pursuing a degree … Read More
Teaching in Missouri
Bruce Thompson
Bruce started playing music in elementary school, first on violin and later on guitar and dobro. Influenced by acoustic folk and bluegrass … Read More
Teaching in New York
Cade Thacker & Joe Sewards
Cade loves playing mandolin, guitar, bass and fiddle, while Joe plays guitar and bass. Together they … Read More
Teaching in Georgia
Carlos Valdes-Dapena
Carlos played saxophone and sang in choirs and musicals as a youth, but his passions were bluegrass … Read More
Teaching in New Jersey
Charlie Stevens
Charlie is a guitarist, singer, band leader and music instructor who has been playing live performances since 2010 with many bands… Read More
Teaches in Colorado
Chris Brashear
Chris plays fiddle, mandolin and guitar and sings lead and harmony parts. With over 25 years of … Read More
Teaching in Florida
Chris Roszell
Chris has played bluegrass banjo professionally for over 15 years with many bands including Colorado’s Blue … Read More
Teaching in Colorado
Chris Talley
Chris plays over 25 instruments, specializing in banjo, fiddle and guitar, and releasing six albums with … Read More
Teaching in Illinois
Chris Tamburrini
Originally from Scotland, Chris discovered bluegrass in 2008 and transitioned to acoustic guitar flatpicking …. Read More
Teaching in New York
Chris Witulski
Chris Witulski has played violin and viola since childhood and bass, banjo, and guitar for years as well. With a doctorate in music… Read More
Teaching in Ohio
Christian Apuzzo
Christian is a Brooklyn-based vocalist, guitarist, and music educator originally from Long Island… Read More
Teaches in New York
Chuck Thompson
A Nashville native, at age 6 Chuck would go with his mother to hear Chet Atkins. At 16 he got a guitar … Read More
Teaching in Tennessee
Dan Whitener
Dan is from Washington, DC, and has hit the Billboard Bluegrass charts with Gangstagrass and Philadelphia’s … Read More
Teaching in New Jersey
Daniel Santiesteban
Daniel is a multi-instrumentalist and teacher, active in the music scene for over a decade… Read More
Teaching in Mexico
Dave Howard
Dave has enjoyed years of singing and playing mandolin The 23 String Band – winners of the Louisville Music … Read More
Teaching in Kentucky
David Abramson
David has played bluegrass music most of his life, leading and participating at many jams over the years. He’s taught music…. Read More
Teaching in California
David Patton
David started banjo lessons on his 35th birthday. At a banjo camp soon after, Pete Wernick… Read More
Teaching in KY, OH
Debbie Wagner
Debbie was introduced to guitar in grade school and developed a love for the instrument. She has led jams … Read More
Teaching in Wisconsin
Denise Radtke
Denise plays guitar, mandolin, clawhammer banjo and sings. She helped found the Schroon River String Band … Read More
Teaching in New York
Denise Radtke & Bruce Thompson
Denise plays guitar, mandolin, and Bruce plays guitar and dobro. Together they … Read More
Teaching in New York
Dennis Nowack
Dennis played electric guitar and piano in a surf band at 16, but at 21 saw Doc Watson….Read More
Teaching in Alabama
Derek Giles
Derek (Columbia, IL) got his start in music early when his parents got him a guitar and scheduled … Read More
Teaching in Illinois
Duck Adkins
Duck has performed throughout the US and around the world, including Lincoln Center, the San Francisco … Read More
Teaching in Georgia
Elena DeLisle
Elena has played and taught music professionally since the 1990s. Her career started with bluegrass guitar … Read More
Teaches in Washington
Ellen Carlson
Ellen knows what it means to be accountable for students learning what she teaches. She started fiddle … Read More
Teaching in New Hampshire
Ellen Carlson & Melissa Bragdon Caron
Melissa is a versatile fiddler and music teacher, classically trained and having studied music education … Read More
Teaching in New Hampshire
Eric Wilson
Eric is a classically-trained guitarist who also plays bluegrass and other styles of music on guitar, mandolin, banjo, and fiddle… Read More
Teaching in Missouri
Erik Yates
Erik has been singing and playing the banjo for the past twenty years as a means of self-expression, a way … Read More
Teaching in California
Ernie Martinez
Ernie, 40-year Swallow Hill faculty member, plays just about every stringed instrument, and more. In high school … Read More
Teaching in Colorado
Esteban Arroyo
Esteban discovered bluegrass over 10 years ago and now plays and teaches guitar, bass, banjo and singing … Read More
Teaching in Mexico
Fred Staunton & George Welling
Fred was first taken by bluegrass in 1980 while attending the Skyline Bluegrass Festival in WV, … Read More
Teaching in Ohio
Gilbert & Leigh Nelson
Gilbert is a seasoned hand in the jamming community. Self-taught as both a player and teacher, he has … Read More
Teaching in NC, SC, VA
Gilbert Nelson
Gilbert Nelson (Boiling Springs, SC) has been a regular on the jam scene for 30 years, with a passion for jamming, performing and teaching….Read More
Teaches in NC, SC, VA
Gilles Rézard
Gilles discovered bluegrass music at 16. He started learning guitar, then fell in love with the banjo. … Read More
Teaching in France
Glenn Reynolds
Glenn plays and teaches upright bass, electric bass, guitar and mandolin. He loves introducing people to the bluegrass family…Read More
Teaching in Colorado
Graham Sones
Graham is a more than forty-year veteran of the banjo, a Scruggs-style picker who enjoys his craft … Read More
Teaching in Minnesota
Harry Gambrill
Harry was bit by the bluegrass bug early and began playing the banjo at age twelve. He plays banjo … Read More
Teaching in NY, PA
Heidi Olsen
Heidi has long been involved in the bluegrass scene in the Central New Jersey area, playing banjo … Read More
Teaching in DE, NJ
Ira Gitlin
Ira Gitlin is widely known and respected in Washington-Baltimore music circles as a versatile … Read More
Teaching in DC, MD, PA
J.D. Williams
J.D. Williams is a mandolinist, fiddler, and singer who was raised in the bluegrass community….Read More
Teaching in New York
Janeen Bogue
Janeen has been a fixture at bluegrass jams along the Colorado Front Range since the early 2010’s when … Read More
Teaching in Colorado
Jay Anderson & Amanda Mullen
Amanda & Jay are experienced musicians and enthusiastic community jam leaders … Read More
Teaching in NE, WY, UT, CO, VA
Jean Ballhorn
Jean has been knee deep in bluegrass since the late 1980s, playing in bands including Charles Sawtelle & The Whippets …. Read More
Teaching in Washington
Jeanette Curry
Jeanette began teaching 5-string banjo and guitar in the 1980s and now also teaches beginning mandolin … Read More
Teaching in Arkansas
Jeff Burke
Jeff is a multi-instrumentalist (guitar, mandolin, banjo) who has performed and recorded with bluegrass bands since 2000 … Read More
Teaching in IL, TN
Jeff Harding
Jeff (Washington, DC) sings and plays the guitar and dobro and has been playing and teaching bluegrass all over the world … Read More
Teaching in DC, NY
Jeff Schaeffer
Jeff grew up in Lincoln, NE learning to play guitar in the 5th grade and later to jam with his father and… Read More
Teaches in Tennessee
Jeff Wasbes
Jeff took up the guitar at age 12. He discovered bluegrass at a local jam and is now a festival regular. …Read More
Teaching in NY and MA
Jenny & Matt Richardson
Jenny & Matt are co-owners and head instructors at Blue Raven Music studios in Lincoln, a musical … Read More
Teaching in Nebraska
Jenny Peters
Jenny is a sought-after clinician, multi-instrument performer, and composer for string orchestras … Read More
Teaching in Illinois
Jim Penson
Jim, long-time bluegrass musician, teacher, and luthier, specializes in bluegrass banjo, having played … Read More
Teaching in Texas
Jimmy Heffernan
Jimmy is a multi-instrumentalist, specializing in resonator “dobro” guitar. In bluegrass and country music … Read More
Teaching in New Jersey
Jodi Harbin
Jodi is a career musician who teaches mandolin, guitar, banjo and bass. She was the founder of the … Read More
Teaching in NC, TN, VA
Joe Sewards
Joe has been playing guitar for most of his life, plays upright and electric bass, and has taught music for … Read More
Teaching in Georgia
Joel Bremson
Joel plays guitar, mandolin, fiddle, and bass. He came to bluegrass from other genres — singer/songwriter…. Read More
Teaching in California
Joel Bremson & Alex Levine
Joel plays guitar, mandolin, fiddle, and bass. He came to bluegrass from other genres and picked … Read More
Teaching in California
Joel Denman
Joel has a passion for bluegrass that began as a teenager growing up in Colorado. He actively gigs … Read More
Teaching in Colorado
John David
John is a master on banjo, mandolin, dobro, guitar, and harmonica. He also plays fiddle and bass. He toured … Read More
Teaching in CA, TX
John Holenko
John runs Charleston, SC’s popular folk music school Hungry Monk Music — a place to gather with … Read More
Teaching in South Carolina
John Treacy
John plays mandolin and guitar and sings lead and harmony vocals. Since the ‘90s he has performed … Read More
Teaching in Teaches in California
Jon Lundbom
Jon plays and teaches bluegrass guitar, banjo, and bass in Texas Austin, where he’s also President of the Central Texas Bluegrass Association….Read More
Teaching in Texas and London
Jonas Friddle
Jonas began playing bluegrass guitar and mandolin as a student at Berea College, and in the fifteen … Read More
Teaching in Illinois
Jordan Richmond
Jordan has been a musician and teacher on the NYC and New England bluegrass scene for over 20 … Read More
Teaching in ME, MA
Joshua Adkisson
Joshua plays 11 instruments, and discovered bluegrass after the death of his parents, finding a stash … Read More
Teaching in Oklahoma
Justin Gambrill
grew up going to festivals and hearing bluegrass played around the house. He picked up the dobro… Read More
Teaching in Arizona
Keith Murdock
Keith plays resophonic guitar, banjo and guitar, sings lead and harmony in the Orchard Creek Bluegrass … Read More
Teaching in Colorado
Kelly Bogan
Kelly was swayed into folk music in high school after hearing the likes of: The Beatles, Simon … Read More
Teaching in Washington
Kevin Greer
Kevin learned guitar as a child in Fayetteville, AR and attended countless square dances and country/bluegrass events…. Read More
Teaching in New York
Kevin Slick
Kevin has been performing, writing, recording, and teaching music for over 35 years. A multi-instrumentalist … Read More
Teaching in CO, VA
Kirk Kenney
Kirk is an multi-instrumentalist and educator with nearly 20 years of experience living, teaching, and performing in Mainland China…. Read More
Teaching in China
Kristin Scott & Wayne Benson
Kristin is 4-time IBMA Banjo Player of the Year and known for her taste, timing, and tone, and … Read More
Teaching in South Carolina
Larry Kernagis
Larry was raised during the folk revival era of the 60s, cutting his chops on Flatt & Scruggs and the Kingston … Read More
Teaching in AZ, CA, FL, IL, MO, NV, NC, SC, TN, WI
Leigh Nelson
Leigh came to bluegrass music in the 80s when friends were jamming and she wanted in on the fun … Read More
Teaches in NC, SC, VA
Len Lawhon
Len has been playing bluegrass and old-time music for over 30 years. He leads and plays mandolin … Read More
Teaching in Mississippi
Leslie Dare & Susan West
Leslie & Susan have found great synergy in working together to teach others the essentials of bluegrass … Read More
Teaching in NC, GA
Liam Purcell
Liam plays all the bluegrass instruments, sings lead and harmony and writes songs. Having grown up … Read More
Teaching in NC, VA
Lydia Conway
Lydia plays fiddle, guitar and mandolin. Instilled with a passion for music at an early age, she is dynamic … Read More
Teaching in Montana
Lynn Young
Lynn is a veteran musician and Wernick Method jam teacher who has played in bluegrass and old-time … Read More
Teaching in Wyoming
Maggie Moore
Maggie is a singer/songwriter with Appalachian roots, growing up in Virginia and later moving to West … Read More
Teaching in West Virginia
Martin Gilmore
Martin is a bluegrass musician, multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and music educator. He is a … Read More
Teaching in Colorado
Matt Jensen
Matt plays and teaches bluegrass mandolin, guitar, fiddle, banjo, and upright bass. He fell in love with … Read More
Teaching in Minnesota
Matt Nicholls
Matt is a singer/guitarist who has taught both individual and group lessons since 2007. He mainly works … Read More
Teaching in Whales
Melissa Bragdon Caron
Melissa is a versatile fiddler and music teacher, classically trained and studied music education … Read More
Teaching in ME, NH
Michael Jockel
Michael began playing music as a teenager. After discovering bluegrass and the 5-string banjo at age 18 … Read More
Teaching in Germany
Michael Watry
Michael re-engaged with music after his first guitar class with Charlie Hall who reminded him how fun … Read More
Teaching in Colorado
Michelle Wallace
Michelle has been active in bluegrass music for more than 20 years in eastern Kentucky. Hosting the “Bluegrass Sunday” … Read More
Teaching in KY, WV
Mike & Gail Thomas
Mike and Gail teach as a team, and both are multi-instrumentalists. They both enjoy … Read More
Teaching in California
Nic Bordwell
Nic has been a musician for most of his life, starting with sax and picking up the guitar at 10 years old… Read More
Teaching in Minnesota
Pat Carine
Pat has been teaching private lessons on banjo, guitar, mandolin and fiddle. He plays banjo in a traditional … Read More
Teaching in Ohio
Paul Dube and Erin Dube
Paul and his daughter Erin teach as a team. They are both multi-instrumentalists and regulars at … Read More
Teaching in NY, RI
Paul Fairbanks & Rick Manning
Rick plays fiddle and mandolin, performing bluegrass, swing and contradance music with Paris Texas, … Read More
Teaching in New York
Paul Smith
Paul started playing classical violin and Irish fiddle as a child. When his daughters started playing … Read More
Teaching in New Hampshire
Pete Wernick
Pete (“Dr. Banjo”) is renowned worldwide for his accomplishments and contributions to bluegrass music … Read More
Teaching in CO, NY, NC
Petr Brandejs
Petr has been voted Banjo Player of the Year three times in the Czech Republic. He now performs … Read More
Teaching in Czech Republic
Pierre Bastide
Pierre has picked the banjo and dobro for many years and plays with Franco-américain, Silkwood, … Read More
Teaching in France
Rick Sparks
Rick is equally at home playing banjo, guitar, mandolin, dobro, and singing either lead or harmony … Read More
Teaching in CA, NV
Russ Holder
Russ has played guitar and resonator guitar (“dobro”) since junior high school and taught … Read More
Teaching in Alabama
Sam Gleaves
Sam learned old-time music in his first home in VA, and studied bluegrass music in his adopted home, Berea, KY…. Read More
Teaching in Kentucky
Sam Stuckey
Sam is a multi-instrumentalist (guitar, bass, and mandolin) and singer-songwriter with over 20 years … Read More
Teaching in Tennessee
Scott Hopkins
Scott grew up hearing bluegrass recordings in his home. At 15 he took up banjo, fully immersing himself … Read More
Teaching in New York
Scott Wilkins
Scott Wilkins has been jamming since 1974, playing bass, mandolin and guitar. He loves everything about jamming …. Read More
Teaching in New Jersey
Sébastien Ferry
Sébastien started playing music at age 11, learning trumpet and guitar. He plays styles from traditional … Read More
Teaching in France
Ti’ Pierre
Ti’ Pierre started music on guitar and fiddle, and now plays and teaches all six bluegrass … Read More
Teaching in France
Tijmen Veelenturf
Tijmen is a bluegrass fiddler also widely known and respected in the Netherlands… Read More
Teaches in The Netherlands
Tom Woodley
Tom has been playing stringed instruments and been involved in bluegrass for over 50+ years… Read More
Teaching in Indiana
Trevin Nelson
Trevin is a bluegrass multi-instrumentalist and educator who, while attending Berklee College … Read More
Teaching in MA, NE
Trish Imbrogno
Trish began bass at 14, studying classical music at Duquesne U. and bluegrass with Missy Raines … Read More
Teaching in Pennsylvania
Tyler James
Tyler, the 2008 Rockygrass Banjo Champion, is well known and respected in the AZ bluegrass scene…. Read More
Teaching in Arizona
Will Williamson
Will first picked up a guitar and learned to play along at the weekly bluegrass jams … Read More
Teaches in Tennessee
In Memoriam
Derwin Hinson
1959 – 2026
Derwin (Lebanon, TN) grew up in North Carolina playing and singing in his family’s gospel band. In his early 20s he joined Charlie Louvin’s band and the next week played his first time on the Grand Ole Opry. For years he worked as a sideman in Nashville and hosted a weekly bluegrass night at the Bell Cove Club, where Bill Monroe was a frequent guest. A multi-instrumentalist, Derwin began teaching lessons in 1977. For years he toured as the “One-Man Gospel Band”, hosted a weekly bluegrass jam, and made merry as a premier Santa Claus.
Gabe Hirshfeld
1989 – 2026
Gabe (Brighton, MA) grew up in Newton, Massachusetts. At fifteen, listening to Car Talk on the radio he heard Earl Scruggs. The banjo spoke to him and changed his life. After obsessing over the banjo and attending Pete Wernick camps, Gabe started to play in bands around Boston and studied at the Berklee College of Music. While there he co-founded The Lonely Heartstring Band, made successful records and toured nationally. Pete remembers: “Gabe left us far too young but will be remembered for his extraordinary banjo playing and generosity to fellow musicians, and his great sense of humor.”
Bob Altschuler
1950 – 2021
Bob (Boca Raton, FL) performed and recorded on banjo with multiple bluegrass bands, including Cadence Hollow. His picking has been heard on National Public Radio and on radio and TV commercials. An in-demand private lesson and workshop instructor since the 70s, he was on the Banjo Camp North faculty starting in 2002. Before moving to Florida he taught many jam classes in upstate NY, helping students on all instruments expand their jamming skills.
John Karsemeyer
1943 – 2021
John (Glen Ellen, CA) actively participated in bluegrass jams all over California since the 1980s. He played and taught guitar, banjo, fiddle, and mandolin, both privately and through the Sonoma Valley Adult School. His stints with bluegrass bands in the San Francisco Bay Area included The Valley of the Moonshiners, Meadow Muffin, The Hicktones, and the Sonoma Mountain Band, which he founded. He was a member of the California Bluegrass Association, and a “Welcome Columnist” for their publication.
Maggie Bilby
1953 – 2018
Maggie Bilby (Jerome, MI) began singing and playing bluegrass music in the 1980s on banjo, guitar, reso guitar and bass. She performed with Old South, Dry County Pickers, many impromptu bands, and in the play Cotton Patch Gospel. She and her husband conducted jam workshops for the Northern Indiana Bluegrass Music Association festivals and assisted at one for the West Michigan Bluegrass Music Association. She said, “Bluegrass music has been a LARGE part of my life and continues to excite, stretch and interest me!”