Featured Teachers

Elke Baker (Scottish) 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.

Julia Borland-ferneborg (Folk Fiddle Basics) has performed in dance bands including the Capital Quicksteps, Powdered Eagle Stringband and Childsplay. She lived in Sweden for 19 years, playing with 3 different fiddler's clubs and traveling to different parts of Sweden to learn the music. Two years of folk music for violin and folk music pedagogy at Malung's folk college coupled with Suzuki method teacher training in Sweden has given her a sense of joy in playing that she imparts to young students in Sweden and in Washington D.C.
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 new release "Here's to You " and he is featured on all four Childsplay recordings.

Barbara Greenberg (English, New England) plays fiddle with Hold the Mustard, A Joyful Noise, A Band Named Bob and Reunion. She's in demand at dance camps across the country as a musician and as a leader of fiddle or band workshops. She's also passing her love of music on to her Suzuki violin students. She has 6 recordings of English Country and contra dance music including "Red Star Line" and "New Friends," featuring music to dances by Philippe Callens and Gary Roodman.
Joe Herrmann (Appalachian Fiddle) and his wife Sam founded Critton Hollow String Band in 1975. The group has toured internationally and recorded six albums including two on Flying Fish, "Great Dreams" and "By and By." Their most recent recording is the "Dulcimer Collection." A favorite of many instructional weeks and festivals, Joe is known for his patient and generous teaching and his great command of Appalachian repertoire.

Steve Hickman (Texas Longbow, NE Band) one of the truly great performers of fiddle music, has electrified audiences for over 30 years. A dance fiddler in the Washington, DC area for numerous bands and director of the Capital Quicksteps, he has also toured internationally with the Footworks Dance Ensemble and the band Evening Star. Known not only for his fine fiddling, Steve brings great presence to the stage with his hambone antics, sense of humor and his magnificent handlebar mustache.
Laura Light (Swing fiddle) has been singand and playing fiddle for dances, concerts, festivals, and celebrator occaisions for over thirty years. She has a fine solo recording, "No Gravity" which reflects her far ranging eclectic musical tastes and has recently recorded "Stronger than Dirt" with her contra/swing band the Avant Gardeners. She tours frequently with them, her husband George Paul and with the contra band, Childsplay.

Bruce Sagan (Scandinavian, Euro Band) is an internationally respected player and teacher of folk music from Europe, especially Scandinavia and the Balkans. He plays fiddle, nyckelharpa (Swedish key fiddle), hardingfele (Norwegian fiddle), and gudulka (Bulgarian rebec). His two recordings, Spelstundarna and With Friends, have garnered critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic. Bruce has also been music director for various events, including Nordic Fiddles and Feet and the Stockton Folk Dance Camp.

PO Box 1474,  Shepherdstown, WV   25443          (304) 263-2531      updf @ earthlink.net