October Old-Time Retreat 2026

Rachel Eddy | Artistic Advisor

Intermediate Fiddle with Rachel: There are many aspects of fiddling we will discuss, including tone, bowing patterns, phrasing of notes to make a groove, good mechanics, and economy of motion.  Learning the fiddle is a journey, and I’m so happy to help you along the way!

Waltzing the Banjo One Shot: Let’s learn a waltz on the banjo!

About Rachel: Rachel Eddy is a native of West Virginia who grew up in a musical family steeped in the traditions of Appalachian music and dance. Rachel is known throughout the world as both a dynamic, emotionally powerful performer and an engaging, thoughtful teacher. Rachel’s soulful singing and multi-instrumental finesse—including fiddle, banjo, guitar, and mandolin—may be heard on numerous solo and collaborative recordings as well as at dances and jam sessions, where they are dedicated to fostering community and sharing a love of music with others.

Rhys Jones

Advanced Fiddle

Class Description coming soon!

About Rhys: Rhys Jones has been playing traditional Appalachian, French-Canadian and Irish fiddle music for 30 years. Born in Chicago, he began his fiddling at age 7 in the fertile environment of the Chicago Barn Dance Company. Soon after, his family moved to southern West Virginia where he learned from the older generation of fiddlers, including Ernie Carpenter, Melvin Wine, Glen Smith and Wilson Douglas. Rhys continued his musical education while living in Westport, County Mayo, Ireland, and has now played for concerts, dances, workshops and festivals across the United States and Europe. He has won both fiddle and band contests at The Appalachian String Band Festival (Clifftop), and is regarded as one of the bright lights of the current generation of traditional performers. Rhys has three albums with the Vigortone label, appears on numerous compilations and recordings, and can be seen in the award-winning concert documentary Absolutely Irish. Rhys is also known as an accomplished banjo and guitar player, and is always in demand as an accompanist to both Irish and American musicians.

Benny Bleu

Advanced Banjo

Class Description: Advancing on the banjo means something different for everyone. In this class we’ll draw from a wide pallet of inspiration to continue progressing. We will look at lesser used tunings to play familiar tunes. We will listen to an old recording and transcribe it. And of course we will spend a good deal of time focusing on groove and fluidity in our playing.

One Off: Banjo Beat Box Breakdown –  the ‘cluck’ and playing bass and drums on the clawhammer banjo. 

About Benny: Benny Bleu Haravitch plays old time banjo in the Finger Lakes of upstate New York – a land defined by deep lake valleys and steep highlands. The topography is reflected in the local fiddle tradition, and Benny’s banjo rolls along having studied and played with regional old-time visionaries Mac Benford, Richie Stearns, Judy Hyman, and Bruce Molsky. As a former geologist, his songwriting is earth-focused and inspired by the natural world. Benny’s performances are soothing journeys through tunes from his homeland, old songs learned by growing up next to a jug-bandleader, and original modern folk contemplations. 2024 is a prolific year as Benny released twin albums Banjo Meditations (featured in Bandcamp Daily’s Best Country Music of June 2024) and Banjo Jubilations (#2 artist and #5 album on FAI Folk Radio Chart June 2024), and embarked on an all-too-uncommon Amtrak tour to the west coast and back, spreading the efforts of sustainability and eco -consciousness in the traveling arts.

Hunter Walker

Intermediate Banjo

Class Description: We’ll make sure no fundamentals are lost in this course. We’ll visit the techniques you’ll need to bring your banjo playing to the next level using some interesting and jam-relevant tunes as vehicles to get you going as you prosper. Be ready to retune and use a capo as we explore how to be comfy playing tunes in all jam keys with skills that will help you pick up new tunes, as well. 

Learn Maysville On The Banjo One Shot: This tune merits its own class. It’s a quirky, super crooked C tune from JP Fraley that is worth the study. To know it is to become your new favorite tune. It’s an exercise in learning the intricacies of chord and tune structures. It has a great story and comes from one most celebrated Old-Time fiddlers of our tradition. Learning this tune will be an exercise for your ear and will help you as you approach difficult tunes going forward. 

About Hunter: Hunter Walker has learned the craft of Old-Time Music from the masters of the form. His brilliance on the mountain dulcimer and banjo has garnered him countless blue-ribbon titles and championship wins at state championships and fiddler’s conventions across the country. He’s lauded as a patient teacher who’s taught at Augusta and other prestigious camps who always wants to get all levels of students in on the fun.

Jesse Milnes

Intermediate/Advanced Guitar

Class Description: In this class Jesse will teach techniques for accompanying fiddle tunes and songs in an old-time style on guitar. The class will work on hearing the chords to a tune, how to create a strong rhythmic foundation for the fiddle, and how to fit in bass runs. If the class is interested Jesse will teach some traditional songs with simple leads you can pick. 

About Jesse: Jesse Milnes grew up in the world of West Virginia old-time music (his father is fiddler and folklorist Gerry Milnes). Though he is widely known as a fiddle player, Jesse’s first instrument was a guitar and he has developed a personal style of finger-picking, drawing on influences from blues to bluegrass to country. He has played fiddle and guitar with many country, old-time and bluegrass bands over the years, including the Sweetback Sisters, a country band for which he was also a main songwriter. Jesse has won many local and regional fiddle contests, including the WV State Folk Festival in Glenville, WV, and the Ed Haley Fiddle Contest in Ashland, KY. Jesse and his wife, Emily Miller, recently toured in Australia and California and recorded their first album as a duo. They live in Valley Bend, WV.

Gerry Milnes

West Virginia Repertoire for All Instruments (Int/Adv)

Class Description: Gerry’s rythym and repertoire class will concentrate on tunes from fiddlers and banjo players whom he has got to know and learn from. Melvin Wine, Frank George, Ward Jarvis, Ernie Carpenter, Sarah Singleton, Currence Hammonds, and others are names you will hear. He will show photos and share stories and folklore about and learned from these folks. He’s looking forward to meeting you at Cass.”

About Gerry: Gerry Milnes began collecting and learning banjo tunes in central West Virginia in 1975. As a player, he has won blue ribbons at the WV State Folk Festival, the Vandalia Gathering, and both age levels at the Clifftop competitions. His playing may be heard on several recordings as well as those of Melvin Wine and Ernie Carpenter. Gerry has performed and taught at venues throughout the country.

Sophie Wellington

Int/Adv Singing

Class Description: Playing old time music opens doors to the past and its people. These songs and fiddle tunes have melodies that tell stories, and by singing in harmony with others, we can keep those stories alive. In this class, we’ll discuss vocal technique, warm ups and ear training games, and we’ll investigate the music theory in old time harmony. This class will cover 2 songs each day from a variety of old time singing repertoire. Please bring pencil and paper and a recording device.

Picking Fiddle Tunes on the Guitar One Shot: Old time music, with its rhythmic drive and strong harmonic landscape, lights a clear path to comfortably flat-picking the acoustic guitar. These tunes are distinct and complex, and they lay out well in various positions and tunings. We’ll discuss right and left hand posture, picking exercises, and we’ll learn how to use old time tunes like practice etudes. Please bring a recording device!

About Sophie: Sophie Wellington is a Boston-based musician. From old time fiddle tunes to jazz singing, from flat-picking guitar arrangements to Appalachian flatfooting, Sophie brings a unique and spontaneous approach to making music.Growing up in Staunton, VA, Sophie’s love of music was  encouraged by their parents, concert pianist Lynne Mackey and old time musician and dance caller Bill Wellington. Sophie was brought up in music and community via contra and square dances, choirs, music festivals and dance camps. These communities offered them the opportunity to make powerful connections between music and dance. Sophie’s approach to performing, teaching, and learning has been heavily influenced by having a foot in the world of dance and music (pun intended!)​​​​

Becky Hill

Dances of Appalachia

Class Description: Dancing is a great way to participate in old-time music! This workshop offers a deep dive into Appalachian dance traditions, including flatfooting, clogging, buck dance, square dance and partner dance. Through the stylings, stories, and traditions of influential dancers, we’ll connect historical context with hands-on practice. Together we will focus on the close relationship percussive dance has to string band music exploring musicality, syncopation, improvisation, and what it means to “dance the tune.”  We’ll also step up to the microphone to learn the fundamentals of calling a square dance. By the end of the week you’ll have the skills and confidence to improvise footwork at a jam session or in your own kitchen, along with the ability to call a square dance at the drop of a hat. This workshop welcomes dancers of all experience levels. Leather-bottomed or smooth-soled shoes are recommended.

Becky Hill is a sought-after percussive dancer, square dance caller, choreographer, and educator. Becky has worked with Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble, Rhythm in Shoes, Good Foot Dance Company, and studied with an array of percussive dance tradition bearers. Her choreography has been featured at Wheatland Music Festival, Jacob’s Pillow, and the Kennedy Center among others. She performs regularly with Ben Nelson, Rachel Eddy and Cathy & Marcy’s Old-Time Coalition. Becky has done extensive research into Appalachian Dance traditions alongside folklorist Gerry Milnes, where they co-created a documentary “Reel ‘Em Boys, Reel ‘Em” on West Virginia dance traditions and co-founded the Mountain Dance Trail of Augusta Heritage Center.