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Augusta Fiddler’s Reunion slated

Kim Johnson, Bobby Taylor and Jesse Pearson perform at the 2015 Fiddlers’ Reunion. For this year’s event, master fiddlers from throughout West Virginia will share their talents in short sets from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today in The Joni and Buck Smith Arts Forum in Myles Center for the Arts. The performances are free and open to the public.

ELKINS — Performances by some of West Virginia’s finest fiddlers will highlight the 27th annual Fiddlers’ Reunion presented by the Augusta Heritage Center of Davis & Elkins College through Sunday on the college campus. The events cap off October Old-Time Week.

Master fiddlers from throughout West Virginia will perform short sets from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today in The Joni and Buck Smith Arts Forum in Myles Center for the Arts. The free performances will feature Ben Townsend, Betty Perry, Bobby Taylor, Dave Bing, Gene McConnell, Gerry Milnes, John Morris, Joe Herrmann, Margo Blevin Denton, Mark Crabtree, Ralph Roberts, Ray Fought, Rock Garton, Ron Mullennex and Scott Prouty.

Townsend grew up in Romney and has studied old-time music extensively on banjo and fiddle. As a member of The Fox Hunt and Old Sledge, and now as a solo performer, he has traveled throughout the world spreading his take on West Virginia old-time music. Townsend is the new coordinator for Augusta’s October Old-Time Week.

Taylor, a fourth generation West Virginia fiddler, has played for more than 40 years, starting at the age of 13. He learned his music from Clark Kessinger and Mike Humphreys and was influenced by the fiddling styles of Ed Haley, Doc Roberts, French Carpenter, the Skillet Lickers, Sam Jarvis and countless other legendary fiddlers.

Perry, from Salem, plays around the region with a country band, The Chaparrals. She has won first place at the West Virginia Open Championship. She particularly shines on slow pieces, waltzes and airs, but plays hoedown numbers as well.

Bing, a member of Bing Brothers and Gandydancer, lives in Roane County. A veteran teacher and musician, he plays a wide variety of West Virginia fiddle and banjo music, from the Hammons Family to bluegrass. This is his 30th consecutive year at Augusta.

McConnell is from Circleville in Pendleton County. He has been playing fiddle since 2007 often with Rare Gold or for square dances in Pendleton County. He also helps organize the Highland County Old-Time Fiddlers’ Convention.

Milnes, a West Virginia State Fiddle Champion, has won the old-time banjo championship at Clifftop and recorded with Gandydancer. A distinguished authority on Appalachian culture, Milnes has written three highly acclaimed books about West Virginia folklore and served as Augusta’s folk arts coordinator for 25 years.

Morris, from Ivydale, is an old-time fiddler who was greatly influenced by the fiddling of legendary central West Virginia fiddle player French Carpenter. In the late 1960s, Morris and his brother Dave established and hosted the Morris Family Old-Time Music Festival at Ivydale. His energetic fiddling may be heard at the West Virginia State Folk Festival at Glenville, and he occasionally performs with Dwight Diller and others.

Herrmann, from Paw Paw, has been playing fiddle with the Critton Hollow Stringband since 1975 and has brought traditional American old-time music to audiences throughout the United States, Canada, Japan, Ireland, and Scotland.

Denton has lived in Randolph County since 1977. She began playing guitar in college, but soon fell in love with old-time fiddling. As the director of Augusta for 26 years, she learned from many of the great West Virginia fiddlers, including Melvin Wine and Woody Simmons, but was especially influenced by Wilson Douglas from Clay County, who passed along the music he learned largely from French Carpenter and Ed Haley.

Crabtree is a native West Virginian who has been playing fiddle for more than 25 years. He learned from several of the old West Virginia fiddle masters, including Wilson Douglas, Melvin Wine, Burl Hammons, Lester McCumbers and Elmer Rich, and he plays with Ralph Roberts whenever possible.

Roberts was born in 1929 on Poplar Creek of Birch River in Nicholas County. He learned from his father, Granville Roberts, and his grandfather, John Roberts. He plays in unusual tunings that were used by his relatives, the Roberts and Hammons.

Fought made and played cornstalk fiddles as a youth growing up in Wirt County. His love for fiddles led him to learn the repair process, and he experiments widely with his instruments. He plays many standard old-time tunes and lives, plays and makes fiddles in Parkersburg. Garton grew up around his Grandpaw Garton playing fiddle for square dances and in his home since 1973. He plays for the Jackson’s Mill Jubilee, Irish Spring Festival and most Tuesdays for the Lewis County square dance.

Mullennex was born and raised in Whitmer and has lived in the Bluefield area for 40 years. He has been playing old-time music for more than 50 years and performs most often on banjo and mandolin, but also occasionally on fiddle. His musical influences include his family, the Hammons Family, Oscar Wright, Frank George, Melvin Wine and others in the Bluefield, Princeton, Monroe County area.

Prouty’s music has been shaped by time spent with older traditional players and contemporary musicians as well as rare field recordings.

He has written several articles and reviews on traditional music and is currently working on an oral history interview project for the Old-Time Herald magazine. He has extensive teaching experience conducting workshops at the Augusta Heritage Center, Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, Cowan Creek Mountain Music School and Berkeley Old-time Music Convention.

“This is going to be a great day of music that celebrates the uniqueness of West Virginia and its traditions,” said Becky Hill, events coordinator of Augusta Heritage Center. “Started in 1989 by Gerry Milnes, the Fiddlers’ Reunion has continued to be a vibrant tradition at Augusta Heritage Center. We hope you’ll come out and join us.”

A freestyle flatfooting contest at 4 p.m. will conclude the events today. Prizes will be awarded.

Exhibitors this year will be Smakula Frettted Instruments, Brown Instruments, Mountain Arts District, Appalachian Mountain Books, Questionable Press, D&E Appalachian Music and Dance Club bake sale and Anne’s Market Bakery.

Throughout the day, jam sessions will occur all around Myles Center for the Arts, locals and visitors are invited to come participate.

The Fiddlers’ Reunion Weekend will conclude with a gospel sing at 10 a.m. Sunday in Robbins Memorial Chapel with Norm Williams and Tom and Betty Druckenmiller.

“These gospel sings are a rich tradition at Augusta Heritage Center and we invite anyone who enjoys singing to gather in song,” Hill said.

A Center of Excellence for more than 40 years, the Augusta Heritage Center of Davis & Elkins College offers several week-long programs featuring instruction in many traditions of music, dance, craft and folklore.

Concerts, dances, a summer festival and other heritage arts events are part of the Augusta experience. The Augusta Heritage Center is also home to significant collections of field recordings, oral histories, photographs, instruments and Appalachian art.

Programs offered by the Augusta Heritage Center of Davis & Elkins College are presented with financial support from the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts.

For additional information on the Fiddlers’ Reunion or Augusta programs, call 304-637-1209 or visit www.augustaheritagecenter.org.

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