Bluegrass Week 2026

Jen Larson, Advisor

Jen Larson is an independent archivist, historian, educator, and bluegrass vocalist. Over the years, she has performed at regional and national festivals, participated in educational programs through Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, and appeared on “Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion.” In 2014, she joined a U.S. State Department tour to Oman with Bob Perilla’s Big Hillbilly Bluegrass Band. That same year, she released an EP titled “Burning House,” produced by Michael Daves. Jen has also performed and co-taught bluegrass and country vocals with Michael Daves, contributing vocal tracks to his ArtistWorks Bluegrass Vocals course. She has additionally taught with Joe Newberry for Bluegrass Week at the Augusta Heritage Center. From 2016 to 2023, Jen served as the Archives Manager for the Grand Ole Opry, and she is currently researching the life and career of bluegrass trailblazer Hazel Dickens. 

Dudley Connell

Vocals

Dudley Connell came to national attention in the 1980s as the powerhouse singer-guitarist of the Johnson Mountain Boys. He has been a member of the Seldom Scene since 1995. Dudley has contributed his distinctive voice and guitar to the work of numerous artists, including Hazel Dickens, Seneca Rocks, and the supergroup
Longview. In 2000 he received the International Bluegrass Music Association’s award for Male Vocalist of the Year.

Sally Love Connell

Vocals

Sally Love Connell is a current member the Blue Moon Cowgirls, a shimmering trio of female voices who blend front-porch directness with neon-lit sophistication as they sing about home and highways, heaven and honkytonks, heartbreak and hope. A Washington Area Music Award winner for best bluegrass vocalist, Sally is in demand as a lead and back-up vocalist, and has performed with various acoustic and bluegrass groups in the Washington, DC, area in such venues as the Ramshead Tavern, Kennedy Center, and the Barns at Wolf Trap. She and husband Dudley Connell have taught vocal and harmony classes at Augusta and Common Ground on the Hill. They also perform with their own group, Seneca Rocks!

Tyler Grant

Guitar

Tyler Grant grew up in the sagebrush hills of Southern California. As a teen, he was taken by music & followed this calling to the University, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance from California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). A rocker by nature (his early tenure in the Electric Waste Band earned him a spot in the San Diego Music Hall of Fame), Tyler was pursuing the Classical path when he discovered Flatpicking guitarists Tony Rice & David Grier. Shortly after graduation, Tyler moved to Nashville, where he spent years touring with Abigail Washburn, Adrienne Young & Little Sadie, and April Verch, before getting the call to join the Drew Emmitt Band (co-founder of Leftover Salmon), which evolved into the Emmitt-Nershi Band (ft. Bill Nershi, of The String Cheese Incident). These Colorado-based acts lured the Flatpicker to the Rocky Mountains, where he has lived since 2009. In 2010, Tyler founded the Cosmic Americana band Grant Farm, which toured steadily & released five albums before the “Great Pause” of 2020 forced an indefinite hiatus and a significant Pandemic Pivot into Outdoor Leadership and Whitewater Raft Guiding. Tyler’s 2025 release, Flatpicker, tells part of this story but there is much more to tell…

It’s these unique experiences and a structured, methodical approach to teaching that have gained Tyler students and accolades as an instructor all around the world. His Flatpicking Academy is open for enrollment online at ArtistWorks. 

Mark Delaney

Banjo

Mark Delaney is a native of Maryland and began playing the banjo seriously at the age of eleven under the tutelage of his Kentucky born grandfather. Not long after, he was playing professionally in regional bands in the Washington, D.C. area including many years with Arnold Hobbs and Partners at Partners Two club in Centreville, Va. Mark’s inventive approach to Scruggs style playing made him a favorite with bluegrass audiences in the Washington-Baltimore area.

Mark is currently a member of Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass. He has worked with Randy Waller & the Country Gentlemen, Norman Wright and The Travelers, Wayne Tayloe, Badly Bent, The Patuxent Partners, and The Good Deal Bluegrass Band. In addition to performing and recording Mark teaches banjo and mandolin. Highlights in Mark’s career include appearances with bluegrass legends Charlie Waller and Buzz Busby, as well as recording with Mike Auldridge and Frank Wakefield.

Kenny Kosek

Fiddle

Kenny Kosek is one of America’s finest fiddlers. He has played and recorded with numerous bluegrass and new acoustic bands, including Country Cooking, Breakfast Special, Bill Keith and Tony Trischka. In addition, he has worked with artists as diverse as Laurie Anderson, Steve Goodman, John Denver, James Taylor, Jerry Garcia, Loudon Wainwright III and The New Blue Velvet Band. Kenny has played in several Broadway musicals, including “Big River,” “Foxfire” and “The Robber Bridegroom,” and is the author of the book “Bluegrass Fiddle Styles” (Oak Publications). His solo CD, “Angelwood,” is on Rounder Records.

Sarah Larsen

Bluegrass Kids Academy (more info below)

Sarah Larsen is a multi-faceted teacher and musician. Originally from Wisconsin, she grew up playing classical music with her pianist mother and sister. Her formative years were spent at Lawrence University, the Walnut Hill School, the New England Conservatory’s Preparatory Division, and the University of Hartford’s Hartt School on full scholarship. College introduced her to alternative styles including a run with string quartet Vox4 that led to Carnegie Hall; Americana rock string trio, Little Ugly; and premiering Gary Tomasetti’s Violin Concerto written specifically for her. Refusing to be defined by labels or genres, Sarah is equally at home in a jazz jam, a bluegrass pick, or an orchestral setting. She has spent over 30 years learning to communicate with musicians of all levels and styles, and has dedicated her life to helping others achieve satisfaction and joy through music.

Joy Louise

Guitar

 Award winning multi-instrumentalist, Joy Louise whose guitar playing was praised by critics as “…technically immaculate”, enjoys an active career as a collaborative band member and soloist. She made her solo debut at the age of three years old often singing in front of large concert crowds in the American Southwest. Joy is a prodigious songwriter and teacher as well as a busy studio musician. Even as a teen, Joy won many flatpicking guitar contests often competing against seasoned players two or three times her age.  In high demand as a session musician in Los Angeles she has also performed with several ensembles including The Gatlin Brothers, Marty Raybon and Randy Travis.  Recent performances have taken her to Nashville, Tennessee, Salem, Oregon and Long Island, New York.

Joe Newberry

Songwriting | Vocals

Known around the world for his clawhammer banjo playing, Joe Newberry is also a powerful guitarist, singer and songwriter. The Gibson Brothers’ version of his song “Singing As We Rise,” featuring guest vocalist Ricky Skaggs, won the 2012 IBMA “Gospel Recorded Performance” Award. With Eric Gibson, he shared the 2013 IBMA “Song of the Year” Award for “They Called It Music.”

A longtime and frequent guest on A Prairie Home Companion, he was a featured singer on the Transatlantic Sessions 2016 tour of the U.K. with fiddler Aly Bain and Dobro master Jerry Douglas, and at the Transatlantic Session’s debut at Merlefest in 2017 with fellow singers James Taylor, Sarah Jarosz, Declan O’Rourke, Karen Matheson, and Maura O’Connell.  In addition to performing solo, Joe plays in a duo with mandolin icon Mike Compton, and also performs with the dynamic fiddler and step-dancer April Verch.  Joe has taught banjo, guitar, singing, and songwriting at numerous camps and festivals, including Ashokan, Midwest Banjo Camp, American Banjo Camp, the Puget Sound Guitar Workshop, Targhee Music Camp, the Swannanoa Gathering, Centrum Voice Works, the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, Pinewoods Camp, the Australia National Folk Festival, the Blue Ridge Old-Time Music Week, Bluff Country Gathering, and Vocal Week, Bluegrass Week, and Old-Time Week at the Augusta Heritage Center in Elkins, WV, 

Growing up in a family full of singers and dancers, Joe took up the guitar and banjo as a teenager and learned fiddle tunes from great Missouri fiddlers. he moved to North Carolina as a young man and quickly became an anchor of the incredible music scene in the state. He does solo and studio work, and plays and teaches at festivals and workshops in North America and abroad.

Laura Orshaw

Fiddle

GRAMMY nominated fiddler and vocalist Laura Orshaw has toured throughout North America and Europe with Danny Paisley and the Southern Grass, Alan Bibey & Grasstowne, and The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys. With her first solo recording receiving significant attention and airplay, Orshaw’s highly anticipated sophmore album with Dark Shadow Recording is expected to be release in early 2026.  In 2020 Laura won in two categories at the prestigious International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Awards Show, and in 2019, the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America (SPBGMA) named Laura the Fiddle Performer of the Year, making her the first woman to win the award.  Laura has performed with Del McCoury, Ricky Skaggs, John Scofield, Mike Compton, Sarah Jarosz, Tony Trischka, Becky Buller, and Darol Anger among others. Her music has been featured on SiriusXM’s Bluegrass Junction, and in Bluegrass Today, No Depression, Sing Out!, and Dirty Linen. According to Bluegrass Unlimited, “Laura Orshaw has firmly established herself as a significant emerging artist in the arena of traditional American music… [she is] an extremely talented musician with unlimited potential.” Laura is also a highly sought-after instructor who has taught numerous camps, workshops and kids’ academies, and started teaching weekly lessons to adults when she was just 12 years old.

Michael Prewitt

Mandolin

Michael Prewitt, a bluegrass musician, is recognized for his mandolin playing and singing, having learned the instrument in East Kentucky and drawing influence from bluegrass musicians like Bill Monroe and The Stanley Brothers. Prewitt has released albums, such as “The Peerless Mountain Sessions” and “Something He Can Handle,” and performs with Aaron Bibelhauser as a duo, and as a member of Special Consensus. His music is available on streaming platforms, and he regularly tours in the United States and Canada.

Bennett Sullivan

Banjo

Bennett Sullivan is an in-demand banjo player, educator, session musician, and composer whose performed alongside Steve Martin, Martin Short, Billy Strings, Del McCoury, Sam Bush, Bela Fleck, Tony Trischka, Ben Sollee, Woody Platt, Shannon Whitworth, Weird Al Yankovic, Elle King, Balsam Range, Darren Nicholson, The Falco Brothers, John Sebastian, Maria Muldaur, Geoff Muldaur, Jim Kweskin, and many more.

Bennett’s banjo playing can be heard on the hit series Poker Face, as well as in The Greatest Showman and Bright Star on Broadway. His diverse experience in both the studio and on stage gives him a unique perspective that enriches his teaching on his innovative online platform, Banjo Licks.

With over 11,000 students on his YouTube channel and hundreds more through online lessons and workshops, Bennett has a proven track record of helping banjo players of all levels progress and find their own musical voice.

Folk Arts for Kids with Zoe Payne

Kids classes run from 9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Zoë’s teaching experience is a culmination of teaching artistry experience, dance technique classes, and interdisciplinary teaching practices. She began teaching through an apprentice program at The Dance Factory under Nina Scattaregia and has been teaching both in person & virtual for over 8 years. In the Spring of 2021-May 2023, Zoë added a dance portion of Sister’s Academy in West Baltimore’s After School Programming & Summer Programming. Zoë is also an instructor for Augusta Heritage Center’s Folk Arts for Kids, leading through a STEAM approach to learning with hands on activities. Zoë has also expanded her teaching range through positions at AileyCamp Baltimore, Pilgrim Christian Day School, Metropolitan Ballet Theatre & private lessons.

Bluegrass Kids Academy with Sarah Larsen

The Bluegrass Kids Academy, now in its second year, is an exciting program for musicians aged 9-14.

Sarah Larsen is a multi-faceted teacher & musician. Originally from Wisconsin, she grew up playing classical music with her pianist mother and sister. Her formative years were spent at Lawrence University, the Walnut Hill School, New England Conservatory’s Preparatory Division, and the University of Hartford’s Hartt School on full scholarship. College introduced her to alternative styles
including a run with string quartet Vox4 that led to Carnegie Hall; Americana rock string trio, Little Ugly; and premiering Gary Tomasetti’s Violin Concerto written specifically for her.

Sarah’s time in Philadelphia saw her playing with the Hot Club of Philadelphia, multiple bluegrass bands as well as frequent calls as string arranger for local songwriters. She has recorded at every
major studio in the greater Philadelphia area, working with Ben Arnold, Susan Werner, Hop Along and Dr. Dog, among others. Sarah is an award-winning contest fiddler having taken Grand Champion of the Lyons Fiddle Festival and the Delaware State Championship.

Refusing to be defined by labels or genres, Sarah is equally at home in a jazz jam, a bluegrass pick, or an orchestral setting. She has spent over 30 years learning to communicate with musicians of all
levels and styles, and has dedicated her life to helping others achieve satisfaction and joy through music.

Quilting Class with Margie Burns and Kathryn Prentice

This class will be held at the Elkins Sewing Center, a local institution that has served our sewing community for many decades, and will be taught by two experienced teachers from the ESC staff: Margie Burns and Kathryn Prentice. In this class, students will explore traditional quilting while using modern tools and techniques. Students will create four traditional West Virginia quilt blocks: Country Roads, Turkey Tracks, Mountain Homespun and Woodland Path. They will then learn how to turn those blocks into a finished project (students can choose either a wall hanging, table runner or table topper). No materials fee will be charged at registration. Students may choose whether to purchase their fabric from the Elkins Sewing Center (they can choose and purchase their fabrics on Monday afternoon after check in) or to bring fabric from home.

The Elkins Sewing Center has been providing quilting and sewing enthusiasts in the Elkins, WV, area with a wide variety of premium fabrics, high quality quilting products, and innovative sewing equipment since 1982

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Tapestry Weaving (Your New Favorite Hobby!) with Nevada Tribble

In this beginner-friendly class, students will learn how to make their own unique tapestries with a frame loom. Students will begin by creating a miniature tapestry project to learn the essentials of weaving, and practice skills like warping, changing colors, hiding ends, and finishing techniques. After that initial project, we will dive in deeper. Students will use larger tabletop frame looms to explore a variety of textural techniques and different stitches, and learn how to design both geometric and organic shapes. Students will be encouraged to explore their own artistic style and learn how to combine techniques, colors, and shapes in a way that supports their creative vision. Over the course of the four day class, students will create at least one miniature tapestry and two larger ones (& more if time allows). Students will leave with the skills to continue weaving at home, and the confidence to create beautiful tapestries with this fun and relaxing creative outlet. (Suitable for brand-new or beginner/intermediate tapestry weavers)

Nevada Tribble is an interdisciplinary fiber artist who finds inspiration by seeking out patterns in nature. Her work is a sensory experience of color and texture, often featuring layered combinations of weaving, sewing, and handmade paper. Nevada is a local Elkins artist, and you can see her work in the Wilt Building, the Tygart Hotel, in art galleries throughout the region, and at craft fairs and festivals throughout the year. Find Nevada’s work online at nevadatribble.com, on instagram @nevada.wv, or on Substack @nevadatribble.