About the Teachers
Elke Baker
(Scottish) 1995 U.S. National Scottish fiddle champion, 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 Terpsichore.
Tina Chancey
(Medieval, Renaissance), a former member of the Folger Consort, the Ensemble for Early Music, and the New York Renaissance Band is part of the cross-over ensemble, Hesperus. A multi-instrumentalist specializing in early bowed strings from the rebec and vielle to the kamenj, viol, and lyra, she teaches ear training and ensemble technique to musicians in her annual Soundcatcher workshops.
Joe DeZarn
(Irish, French Canadian, Ceili Band), has been a mainstay of the contra dance scene in our area for many years, adding his deft touch on the mandolin and fiddle to the Mighty Possums, Childsplay, the Reel Dealers and the Bogwanderer’s Ceili Band. A warm and enthusiastic teacher and a fine player, his Galway flavored Irish fiddle style is a highpoint of the Bogwander’s release “Here’s to You” and he is featured on all four Childsplay recordings.
Joe Herrmann
(Appalachian Fiddle) and his wife Sam founded Critton Hollow String Band in 1975. The group has toured internationally and recorded six albums and Joe has recently released a solo recording “Gather Round.” A favorite of many instructional weeks and festivals, Joe is known for his patient and generous teaching and his great command of Appalachian repertoire.
Adam Hurt
(Banjo) draws on diverse musical influences of central Appalachia to create his own elegantly innovative clawhammer banjo playing. Deemed a "banjo virtuoso" by the Washington Post, at age 24, Adam has already placed in or won most of the major old-time banjo and fiddle competitions. A gifted and respected teacher, Adam has conducted banjo workshops at many folk camps around the country.
Laura Light
(Swing Fiddle) has been singing and playing fiddle for dances, concerts, and festivals for over thirty years. She has studied with Paul Anastasio, Johnny Gimble, Dewey Balfa, Liz Caroll, and many other master teachers, all adding to her eclectic style as a dance fiddler and vocalist. She tours frequently with her husband George Paul and with her group, the Avant Gardeners, look for their new recording, “Goats in the Garden” this fall.
Eden MacAdam-Somer
(Eclectic) is equally comfortable in classical and folk violin and has performed with symphony and chamber orchestras, jazz and swing bands, bluegrass, and more including lots of traditional and Renaissance ensembles. Fluid and versatile, she has appeared on numerous recordings in folk, rock, jazz, and classical genres. She performs most frequently with Larry Unger in Notorious, at festivals, concerts and dance events.
Larry Unger
(Mixed–instrument Classes) has been a full-time musician since 1984 and has presented a diverse range of musical performances across the United States, Europe, and Scandinavia and has played with many top contra dance bands. Unger has become one of the most sought-after rhythm players in the country and has a great breadth of understanding of traditional music to complement his considerable technical proficiency. Titled “master guitarist” by Dirty Linen, Unger Larry’s original waltzes and fiddle tunes have been played and recorded by musicians around the world.
Upper Potomac Music Weekends