Séamus Connolly, Irish Fiddle - Séamus, returning for his third year at RMFC, is one of the world's most respected master Irish musicians. A native of Killaloe, County Clare, Ireland, he now resides in Groton, Massachusetts. Séamus won the Irish National Fiddle Championship 10 times, a feat unequalled by any other musician. He was also the winner of the internationally acclaimed "Fiddler of Dooney" Competition, and he was named "Traditional Irish Musician of 2002". Séamus has had the honor of representing Ireland on three "Masters of the Folk Violin" tours organized by the National Council for the Traditional Arts. He has performed at most major festivals in the United States, including the National Folk Festival, Smithsonian Festival of American Folklife, Wolf Trap Irish Folk Festival and American Roots Fourth of July Celebration at the Washington Monument. He also performed on the "Folk Masters" radio series, which was broadcast nationwide on National Public Radio. As a performer, teacher and lecturer, he has traveled to places as far afield as Australia, Spain, France, England, Canada, Alaska, and Ireland. Visit Séamus' Website.

Sandy MacIntyre, Cape Breton Fiddle - Sandy was born in Cape Breton and was raised in a typically musical Cape Breton family. Both his parents were fiddlers, and Sandy has been playing, recording, teaching and promoting traditional Cape Breton Fiddle music for over 40 years. He has traveled extensively in Canada and has made trips to Scotland as well as the Shetland and Orkney Islands doing fiddle workshops and concerts.  He appeared for five years on the CBC National TV show “Ceilidh” from Halifax with other players such as Winnie Chafe, Buddy MacMaster, John Campbell, Cameron Chisholm, and Doug MacPhee.

Mary MacIntyre - Cape Breton Piano - Mary is Sandy’s talented sister, also steeped in the music and traditions of Cape Breton.  She has played Cape Breton piano all her life and is widely recognized as a sought-after accompanist. An excellent and popular teacher, returning to RMFC for her second time she will be accompanying Sandy during the first week and Dave MacIsaac (a distant cousin) during the second week

Tom, Brad, and Alice. Three musicians renowned for their contributions to traditional American music combine their talents in this performing ensemble. Tom Sauber, Brad Leftwich, and Alice Gerrard are “musicians’ musicians.” Their stunning vocal harmonies over the bedrock of their instrumental work cover a range of emotion that can move you by turns to smiles, to dance, or to tears. They have taught successfully at many camps including Ashokan, Augusta Heritage, Fiddle Tunes, and Swannanoa.  Coming to RMFC for the first time, Tom and Brad will teach Old Time fiddle and banjo, participating in the Rocky Mountain Banjo Program, and Alice will be teaching guitar and singing.  Visit Tom, Brad, and Alice's website.

Dave MacIsaac - Cape Breton Fiddle & Guitar. Dave is considered a master of stringed instruments and one of the finest Celtic guitarists in the world. He is also an accomplished fiddler with an individualistic old style that is very rare in this day and age. As a guitarist, on one hand, he is in command of a dazzling array of styles - perhaps the most important of which is an original and inspired form of Celtic flat-picking, learned through the influences of Cape Breton musical elders and others. But there is more to it than his dexterity and impressive repertoire. It is his tonal dialect, betraying a total immersion in and understanding of the traditional tune and song repertoire of Cape Breton Island. Then there is the fiddling, the breathtaking medleys spiked with those rarely performed beauties that Dave regularly extracts from his personal and well-thumbed archives: a world-class library of tapes, records, reel to reels and sheet music. A walking encyclopedia of tune history (and anecdote), he can imitate the past masters, play in the high-bass and counter tuning, draw dancers to the floor, and impress the elders in the community, whose standards are very high indeed.

Laura Risk, Scottish Fiddle - Laura's imaginatively expressive interpretations of Scottish, Irish, and Cape Breton fiddle music have garnered international acclaim. "A virtuoso fiddler. Her fluency in fiddle styles from Cape Breton to Appalachia is remarkable," raves The Boston Globe, while Folk Roots (U.K.) calls her playing "technically excellent and highly expressive." Says Grammy-winning filmmaker Ken Burns, "Laura Risk's fiddle is a revelation and achingly beautiful." She has appeared at many of North America's most prestigious acoustic music festivals, including the Newport, Winnipeg, and Philadelphia Folk Festivals; Celtic Colors (Cape Breton Island); and City Stages (Birmingham, AL). She is in high demand as a fiddling instructor and has taught at the Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling School, The Swannanoa Gathering and the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes. Visit Laura's website.

Grey Larsen, Irish Flute, Tin Whistle, Piano- Famous for his talent as a performer and teacher, Grey is also an author, composer, recording artist and producer. His new 480-page book, The Essential Guide to Irish Flute and Tin Whistle, is changing the way people are learning and understanding Irish music. He has taught at numerous camps and workshops around the US, Canada and Australia, including Lark in the Morning and Swannanoa; this will be his fourth season at RMFC. Grey has been music editor for Sing Out! magazine since 1989. Visit Grey's Website

Bruce Molsky, Appalachian Old Time Fiddle - One of the most influential old-time fiddlers around, Bruce is also a remarkable guitarist, banjoist and singer. His high-spirited music melds the archaic mountain sounds of Appalachia, the power of blues, and the rhythmic intricacies of traditional African music. The Washington Post says Bruce's music "set[s] into motion melodies that radiate enormous spirit and momentum," and Sing Out! says his fiddling "combines precision and abandon so perfectly that it raises the hairs on the back of your neck."  Bruce is a highly sought-after fiddle and banjo teacher, teaches his own intensive fiddle workshop program all over the United States, and has taught at many camps and festivals. Visit Bruce's Website

Richard Greene, Bluegrass & Celtic Crossover Fiddle - In the words of one of his fellow fiddlers, Richard is "one of the most innovative and influential fiddle players of all time". Growing up in Los Angeles, he dabbled in classical music until his encounter with the pyrotechnic fiddling of Scotty Stoneman which permanently changed his musical direction. He first attained prominence with Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys in 1966 as one of Monroe's first "northern" band members. His advanced technique and intense yet "cool" tone shocked audiences and prefigured such players as Jean-Luc Ponty and others, influencing a generation of fiddle players including Darol Anger, Alison Krauss and Stuart Duncan. His latest CD is “Hands Across The Pond”, melodies from the British-American tradition. He currently leads seminars on all aspects of fiddling and violin playing nationwide, teaching courses at The Mancini Institute, the RockyGrass Academy, the Festival of Fiddle Tunes, the Mark O'Connor Fiddle Camp and dozens of workshops throughout the year. Visit Richard's website.

Shona Le Mottee, Scottish Fiddle - A Vancouver resident for several years, Shona started playing the fiddle at an early age on the island of Jersey in the English Channel where she was born. Although she had a classical start, she soon fell in love with Celtic music and studied for 13 years at Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddle School. Currently working on her first solo album, she has toured professionally and played in various folk and Celtic festivals all over North America. She’s been teaching for over 10 years, and she’s the founder and leader of the Vancouver Scottish Fiddle Club, which is currently in it's sixth successful year. “People have described my fiddle style as a blend of Scottish and Cape Breton, although I believe that it's really a West coast style of its own that has been heavily influenced by the East coast style of Canada.

Andy Stein, Swing Fiddle, is best known as the "Powder Milk Biscuit" fiddler on A Prairie Home Companion, where he has been heard for the last 14 years. Often compared with jazz greats Stephane Grappelli and Joe Venuti,he was a founding member of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, he recorded and won a Grammy with Asleep at the Wheel, and he has worked with a wide range of musicians, including Itzhak Perlman, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, André Watts, Mariah Carey, and Smashing Pumpkins. A native and resident of Manhattan, his arrangements and compositions have been performed by orchestras across the country, including an opera with libretticist Garrison Keillor, and he has composed film scores for Roger Corman and National Lampoon. Visit Andy's Website. More about Andy.

Kim Robertson, Harp - Generally considered to be on the cutting edge of contemporary lever harp performance, Kim has influenced a new generation of harp players with her skills at composition, arranging, and fiery performance. Since discovering the Celtic harp in the mid-70s, her career has taken her down diverse and unexpected paths. She has delivered singing telegrams with her lap harp, performed on mountaintops, luxury cruise ships, grass roots folk clubs, and played herself on an episode of Beverly Hills 90210. With dozens of recordings and harp publications to her credit, she is also revered as one of the finest teachers around. Visit Kim's Website.

Sam Bartlett, Banjo, Guitar, Mandolin - Sam is a rabid, irrepressible banjo, guitar and mandolin player known to dancers across the country for his innovative approach to traditional Irish and American music. He has toured nationally with the percussive dance company Rhythm In Shoes, internationally with the Vermont-based Green Mountain Volunteers, and currently with The Reckless Ramblers and The Monks. In addition to being a three time gold medalist on banjo and mandolin at the Midwest Fleadh Cheol, Sing Out! magazine declared him a member of “the rhythm players hall of fame.” Sam illustrates and publishes the Journal of Stuntology, and his artwork appears on countless dance and music event t-shirts.

Abby Ladin, Dance, Bass - Abby grew up immersed in a community of traditional music and dance; her mother a charismatic International Folk Dance instructor, her father a faithful supporter of the American Folk music revival. Abby devoted eleven years to touring nationally with Rhythm In Shoes, a performing company reinventing traditionally based percussive dance and live music. She has taught dance in the schools and has workshopped thousands of people of all ages and abilities. At home in Bloomington, Indiana she plays bass fiddle in the old-time dance band The Monks. Abby performs with her sister, Evie and husband, Sam Bartlett in the ensemble tongue & groove.

Paula Bradley, Guitar - Paula is best known as old-time guitar player and singer with the old time trio, the Rhythm Rats, a fixture at festivals, concerts and dances across the U.S. Also a well-known instructor, Paula has been on staff for years at the Augusta Heritage and Swannanoa music weeks, the Bluff Country Gathering, and Alasdair Fraser's Valley of the Moon fiddle camp. A high-energy performer rooted in tradition, her hard driving, solid guitar playing and singing is augmented by banjo, ukulele and her grace as a lovely flatfoot dancer. She has performed with many old-time music luminaries like Bruce Molsky, Rayna Gellert of the Freight Hoppers, Kirk Sutphin and Mac Benford of the Woodshed Allstars, and Highwoods String Band. She will be teaching the elements of OT fiddle tune back-up, including appropriate rhythmic emphasis, chords, and bass runs.

Ed Miller, Scottish Songster - Ed is originally from Edinburgh, Scotland, and now lives in Austin, Texas. He continues his singing, with regular gigs in Austin and tours throughout North America, taking his songs and stories everywhere from coffee houses and folk clubs to festivals and Highland Games. Ed's repertoire is representative of the breadth of the Scottish folk revival, including ageless ballads and the songs of Robert Burns, as well as more recent songs which are entering the folk repertoire and keeping it fresh. From children's street songs to songs of nationalism, emigration and urban life, a performance by Ed Miller gives the audience an education (in the most entertaining way) in the constants and changes of Scottish life. Ed's voice soars as distinctive, smooth and satisfying as a good malt whisky. As the folk music critic for The Scotsman newspaper wrote, "we couldn't ask for a more tasteful and accomplished ambassador of Scots song". Visit Ed's Website.

Abby Newton, Cello - Returning for her fourth year at RMFC, Abby Newton is an unusually versatile cellist who is active in both the folk and classical music scenes. Over the past two decades, her association with Scottish musicians Jean Redpath and Alasdair Fraser has taken her on tours throughout Scotland and the US, with special appearances on A Prairie Home Companion. For seven summers she has been the instructor of Scottish cello at Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddle School in California. Her teaching stresses the use of the cello both as a melodic and rhythmic instrument. (Note: As in 2003, Steve Scott will teach Week One of camp -- Abby will join him on Wednesday for the balance of the week. Abby will teach all of Week Two.) Visit Abby's Website.

Steve Scott, Cello - Steve is a talented multi-instrumentalist who has broad professional experience, including chamber/symphonic, jazz and Dixieland, folk, and Celtic. He has performed at many Celtic, jazz and folk festivals in the Northwest, and has numerous recordings to his credit, with his own bands and as a studio player. An experienced dance musician, Steve's playing is driving and rhythmic, and he continues to expand the cello's possibilities in traditional and folk music. Steve is highly regarded as a teacher, and has been named to several "Who's Who" lists in education.

Ken Perlman, Banjo, Guitar - Ken is returning to RMFC for his fifth year, and in 2004 has designed the new Rocky Mountain Banjo Program for the first week of camp (August 8-15). Ken is both a pioneer of the banjo style known as "melodic clawhammer," and a master of finger style guitar. He draws his material from traditional sources -- the music of Scotland, Ireland, Cape Breton, Prince Edward Island and the American South. He has written some of the most widely respected banjo and guitar instruction books of modern times, and he has been on staff at prestigious teaching festivals around the world. He has toured much of the world and made several recordings. Visit Ken's Website.

Loretta Thompson, Fiddle & Gaelic Singing - A genuine and enthusiastic artist, Loretta's spontaneous nature charms audiences at home and abroad. She has been featured at festivals, music camps, and in concerts with many notable Celtic performers including the Tannahill Weavers, Cherish the Ladies, Natalie MacMaster, Alex Beaton, Alasdair Fraser, Jerry Holland, Donnie Macdonald, James Kelly, Ed Miller, Seamus Kennedy, and others. Loretta is a talented Scottish Gaelic singer and fiddler who has traveled and played extensively in Scotland and Ireland. Loretta arranges, directs, and composes music for all forms of Scottish and Irish dancing, and is a sought after educational performance artist. Currently finishing a degree in music education and conducting, Loretta is also a music teacher, performer, and recording artist.

Larry Edelman, Dance Caller, Mandolin - Larry Edelman has traveled widely in the United States and around the world delighting both novice and veteran dancers with his humor, enthusiasm, skillful teaching, knowledge of dance history, and colorful calling. Larry has played guitar and mandolin in several bands and currently plays fiddle in Colorado-based Poultry in Motion. Larry is the author of Square Dance Caller's Workshop, an acclaimed text on the art of calling square dances. Larry has called dances and has taught workshops throughout the U.S.

Anthea Lawrence, Irish Fiddle - Anthea is a sought-after teacher and performer in the Northwest, mainly playing Irish and Contra-dance music. Specializing for many years in working with adult fiddlers, Anthea is known for her warm, enthusiastic teaching style. She has a well deserved reputation for helping students troubleshoot technical difficulties, approach and learn tunes with greater ease, and make the process of playing music even more enjoyable for the improving player. Anthea has toured and recorded professionally with The Casey Neil Trio and Slainte. She currently fronts the Celtic Trio Fiddlehead and is a regular tutor at the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes.

Laurie Riley, Harp - Known for her ability to make a harp sound like a whole new instrument, Laurie can make it speak, make it laugh and cry. A professional musician since the age of ten, Laurie has toured throughout the US, in Canada, and in Ireland. She has recorded eleven albums of harp music, authored five books, and made five instructional videos. She also judges harp competitions and teaches for harp organizations in the US and abroad. Laurie will also be teaching Vocal Techniques for Folksingers. Bring forth your best voice with a few technique secrets that will help you get more volume, better tone, better enunciation, and more feeling in your singing. You'll love the way you sound! Visit Laurie's Website.

Bonnie Carol - Fretted & Hammered Dulcimer, Bodhran - "Bonnie is a wonderful, relaxing, encouraging, and excellent teacher. She had a nice mix of practice and performance tips, interesting music, clear handouts, and engaging teaching style. . . . I was honored to be in her class." - from students of Bonnie's 2001 Swannanoa Gathering Class. Bonnie is a dulcimer pioneer. She brings to the camp a perspective and knowledge of the developments of the dulcimer from the past 30 years. Expert on the hammered and fretted dulcimers, marimba, and percussion instruments, Bonnie brings experience and repertoire from contra dance, old-time, Celtic, African, and Latin American music. Bonnie has produced, recorded, and distributed five albums of her music, on which she plays the majority of the instruments. She put her knowledge of traditional music and dulcimers into the five books she authored. Most of the dulcimer contests across the nation have seen Bonnie win or place. Visit Bonnie's Website.

Jennifer Sordyl, Beginning Fiddle - Jennifer was literally "raised in the music business" along with her 8 brothers and sisters in the family music store in the Midwest. These days you'll find her enthusiastically teaching fiddle and beginning violin at three rural charter schools in Southern Arizona. She especially loves teaching the Montessori preschoolers and their parents, in the arts community of Tubac, where she sponsors regular jam sessions and as well as playing professionally with an "eclectic-traditional" string band at a local Bistro.

Brian Theriault, Fiddle - Brian is one of the Bay Area's most sought after dance fiddlers and has been inspiring both dancers, and fiddlers, in a variety of settings over the years. Brian is originally from Maine but has traveled extensively throughout the U.S. to play dances, concerts, festivals and teach workshops. Though he has performed with many different bands in various styles, he draws his fire from New England fiddle sensibilities in what he calls "fiddlin' both sides of the tradition". Visit Brian's website.