www.folkcollege.com

2008 Staff and Instructors


Genticorum Genticorum - Alexandre de Grosbois-Garand, Yann Falquet, and Pascal Gemme - is one of today's most sought-after Québécois bands, presenting their music with a rare energy and contagious enthusiasm. Firmly rooted in the soil of their native land, this power trio also incorporates North American and European folk cultures in their sound. Weaving wooden flute, fiddle, acoustic guitar, jaw harp, bass, foot percussion with strong vocal harmonies, they produce a brilliant tapestry that gives them their distinctive sound. Genticorum recently won the Canadian Folk Music Award in the "Best Ensemble" category.	Scott Ainslie Scott Ainslie is a man who can speak about the Blues with the same compelling passion and authority that drives his musical performances. On stage, he brings the African and American roots, history and soul of the music alive with a mesmerizing mix of story, and what Dirty Linen magazine describes as "fiery picking and slide work and his deep passionate bluesman's growl." Scott is a recent recipient of the National Slide Guitar Festival Living Heritage Award, a paired award he shares with Robert Johnson.

Creaking Tree The Creaking Tree String Quartet is comprised of four virtuoso musicians: John Showman on fiddle, Brad Keller on guitar, Andrew Collins on mandolin, and Brian Kobayakawa on bass. They create an acoustic roots sound all their own with jazz forms sliding over a rootsy bluegrass base, flashes of chamber music, irreverence and avant-garde experimentation. Creaking Tree's awards include a Juno nomination, a Pushing The Boundaries trophy at the Canadian Folk Music Awards, Instrumental Album of the Year at the Indie Acoustic Project Awards, and Instrumental Song of the Year at the International Acoustic Music Awards.	Rustical Quality String Band Rustical Quality String Band, a Folk College favorite who's back for their third time, plays an eclectic mix of old-time string band music, novelty tunes, and originals. The group has been together for 30 years and includes Tim Craven on vocals and guitar, Karen Hirshon (also of Simple Gifts) and Mike Rovine on fiddle, Celia Millington-Wyckoff on bass, and Mick Smyer on washboard.

Spirit Wing Spirit Wing - Barbara Andrews-Christy, Barry Lee, Chris Hawley and Doug Penglase - represents Native American music at its best. Featuring traditional, contemporary, and original music, the group sings songs relating to Indian history, spirituality, and culture, and they perform on Native American flute, percussion, and guitar. Spirit Wing is a two-time finalist in the Native American Music Awards.	Simple Gifts Folk College’s host band is three women (Linda Littleton, Karen Hirshon & Rachel Hall) playing twelve instruments! They've performed at the Smithsonian and National Theatre, and recently won an Indie Acoustic Award.


Peggy Shutes Peggy is a music teacher in the State College Area School District where her middle school curriculum focuses on Pennsylvania, U.S.A. and World Folk Music. She is a member of several area jam groups and plays mountain dulcimer and keyboard with Smash the Windows, a folk and contra dance band.	Rachabelle Rachabelle (Rachel Bell) is a founding member of Tunescape, one of the region's hottest new contradance bands. She plays piano and button accordions, flute, and many other instruments, encompassing sounds from Quebec, New England, Brittany, Scandinavia, and Ireland. Rachabelle is an elementary school music teacher near Bradford, PA.	Howard Blumenthal Howard has been playing & singing folk, old time, country, bluegrass & contra dance music for many years on guitar, fiddle & mandolin. His energy and large repertoire of fiddle tunes can keep a jam session going far into the wee hours!

Bob Nicholson Bob is a Folk College tradition, making our annual Friday night contradance truly special. Bob is in demand as a contra and square dance caller who is known for his relaxed teaching style, patience, energy, and ability to make the dance fun!	International Folk Sounds Comprised of Susan Anderson, Carol Wadlinger and Bill Wadlinger, International Folk Sounds play dance music from around the world, especially the Balkans, using some unusual instruments such as Bulgarian bagpipe, Macedonian tambura, Russian balalaika and Bolivian charango. Susan and Carol are music directors on the Mainewoods Dance Camp staff, and all three are accomplished folk dance teachers.	Curt Osgood Curt is one of those people who just can't stop jamming! He's been playing hammered dulcimer and clawhammer banjo for more than 30 years, and he appears with performance and dance ensembles throughout the Northeastern U.S. Curt is one of the organizers of the Cranberry Dulcimer Gathering in upstate New York.

Will Mills and Jeff Howanek Will attended Folk College as a student for many years. Now that he's a college student and an excellent fiddler, we welcome him back as staff! Will's musical focus is both Irish and jazz fiddle. He'll be joined by Jeff Howanek on guitar. Both are students at Penn State.	Curtis Rockwell Curtis spends most of his time as a luthier building Oriskany Guitars. He brings many years of experience to he role as Technical Director - both as a stage performer and as the guy twiddling knobs in the back of the house.	Gordon Bonnet Gordon is the flutist and vocalist with the Ithaca area band Alizé. His specialties include music from central France, Brittany, the Balkans, and any music with non-standard rhythms.

In addition to these instructional staff, Folk College has a dedicated volunteer staff to make sure all other aspects of the weekend run smoothly.