About the Teachers
Elke Baker
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.
Amy Cann (New England, French)
is a twenty year veteran of both public and private school classes and residencies; a dance caller, a couple dance teacher and a member of numerous dance bands in New England in a variety of styles. She also writes music, and her tune “Catharis,” was brought to international recognition by Nathalie MacMaster’s rendition of it on her recording, No Boundaries.
Lisa Gutkin (Klezmer)
from Brooklyn, NY, was a founding member of the ‘Downtown Celtic’ group and Whirligig; she tours internationally and won a Grammy with the Jewish band, the Klezmatics and plays with recently formed the QuasiModal Stringband. Lisa composes for film and theater, has appeared on many recordings and just released the DVD “Play Klezmer Fiddle!” on Homespun Tapes.
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.
Ellen Jacobs (Folk Fiddle Basics)
has performed in dance bands in the Washington, DC area, including the Capital Quicksteps and Childsplay. She teaches Suzuki violin to many young students, incorporating her love of folk styles- including Scandinavian, French Canadian, Irish, New England and more- into the program. She is also trained in Brain Gym and Alexander Technique and uses many of those techniques to help her students be more comfortable and improve their playing skills.
Cleek Schrey
(Irish Fiddle) is a gifted performer and teacher of Irish fiddling. He was mentored by Brendan Mulvihill, and has spent time digesting and interpreting the music of some of Ireland’s finest fiddlers. He performs regularly with The Kitchen Quartet and old-time band, Hammer & String. Cleek has taught fiddle and piano accompaniment at the Blue Ridge Irish Music School, at the Catskills Irish Arts Week and Irish Week at the Augusta Heritage Center and numerous other camps.
Ken Kolodner
is known for his expressive and improvisational style and for his creative back-up 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 recording with his son Bradley, “Otter Creek.”
Paul Oorts
a native of Belgium, is adept at musette accordion and many things with strings. His instrumental versatility and consummate knowledge of many different styles of music has made Paul the accompanist of choice for many hammered dulcimer players and dance bands. He plays English, Scottish, vintage and contra dance with Goldcrest, Gigmeisters, Cabaret Sauvignon and numerous DC area bands.
Upper Potomac Music Weekends