About the Teachers
Kimberley Fraser
has been performing on fiddle, piano and step dance since early childhood and now, though still in her 20’s she has extensive performing and teaching credentials. With two recordings to her credit, including her award-winning recording, Falling on New Ground, she has played with many of Cape Breton’s finest musicians and has toured with Cherish the Ladies. Kimberley is currently studying at the Berklee College of Music. She has been a long-time instructor at Cape Breton’s renowned Gaelic College and other music camps.
Wendy MacIsaac
began her career as a stepdancer at age 4, went on to take fiddle lesson and piano lesson and by 1990 she was well established as one of the top new, young fiddler/ pianists in Cape Breton and was in great demand for dances and festivals. She has performed with the Rankin Family, the Barra MacNeils, Capercaillie, the Cheiftains, Ashley MacIsaac and currently tours with Beolach and Mary Jane Lamond. She has several solo recordings and is a popular teacher at music camps for her fine playing and teaching and her brilliant sense of humor.
Pat Gillis
grew up with a family full of fiddlers and his great appreciation and love of the music led him to take up the guitar where he brings great energy and sensitivity to his accompaniment and his solos. Being left handed and only having right handed guitars around, Patrick learned to play up-side down and backwards, because "no one ever told me the difference" he says... Some call it "donkey style". Patrick has toured the States with Cullin, played in Howie Mac Donald's Celtic Brew, played with Ashley MacIssac, Natalie Mac Master, and Glenn Graham, and has played in different festivals throughout the U.S, Canada and Europe.
Ken Kolodner
is known for his expressive and improvisational style and for his creative backup playing on the hammered dulcimer. He has toured extensively solo and with the bands Helicon and Greenfire, and is a popular teacher at many festivals and workshops. He has numerous well-received recordings with both ensembles to his credit as well as a new solo recording, “Journey to the Heartland.”
Robin Bullock
is a prolific composer, highly respected instructor and a virtuoso performer on 6 and 12 string guitars, mandolin, cittern and piano. A member of both Helicon and Greenfire with fellow staff member Ken Kolodner with whom he has made several award-winning recordings, he also has eight critically-acclaimed solo CD’s and several collaborative projects. Although he tours extensively in the US, he currently lives in Tripleval, France.
Elke Baker
1995 U.S. National Scottish fiddle champion, combines lyrical melodies with driving dance rhythms in her energetic playing. Elke plays Scottish, Celtic, and American music for concerts, festivals, and dances across America and abroad. She teaches Scottish music, music history and dance at numerous festivals and workshops, at the Washington Conservatory of Music and the Potomac Scottish Fiddle Club. She has four fine recordings, including her recent release, “Caledonian Muse” with her Scottish trio, Terpsichore.
Upper Potomac Music Weekends