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Russ Barenberg (bluegrass guitar) - Long at the creative forefront of the acoustic music scene, Russ has collaborated with many of its finest artists, including Jerry Douglas, Edgar Meyer, Tony Trischka, Bela Fleck, Alison Krauss, Mark O'Connor, Andy Statman and legendary jazz bassist, Charlie Haden. His playing has graced numerous film soundtracks, most notably Ken Burns’ documentary, The Civil War. Russ’s most recent album, When at Last, earned him a GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Instrumental Performance, and was also nominated for the International Bluegrass Music Association's Instrumental Album of the Year. His other solo recordings include When at Last, Moving Pictures, Halloween Rehearsal, Behind the Melodies, and Cowboy Calypso. (Russ Barenberg Site) (Russ Barenberg at Elderly)

Cathy Barton Para - Cathy Barton Para has been playing banjo for more than thirty-five years in both the clawhammer and two-finger picking styles. She worked with Grandpa and Ramona Jones in their crafts shop and dinner theater in Mountain View, AR in the 1970s and 1980s, and she toured with Ramona Jones for several years. Her banjo repertoire is influenced by Grandpa and Ramona, and by Missouri fiddlers such as the late Taylor McBaine and Pete McMahan. Her musical interests also include early country music, and music from the Civil War and Lewis-and-Clark eras. She and her husband Dave Para tour the United States, Europe and Canada and are best known for performing songs and tunes collected from traditional singers and fiddlers in their home state of Missouri and the Ozarks region. Cathy won the Tennessee State Banjo Championship two times, she appeared on the "Grand Old Opry," and on the television shows "Hee Haw" and "Nashville Now." She and Dave have made ten duet recordings. (The Cathy Barton and Dave Para Web Site) (Cathy Barton Para at Elderly.com)

Janet Beazley plays banjo and sings with the California band, Chris Stuart & Backcountry. She also co-produced and engineered both CSB band albums as well as solo projects by Chris Stuart and guitarist Eric Uglum. Janet' solo CD, 5 South, is just out on the Backcountry Records label and is the focus of the profile article in the August 2005 issue of Banjo Newsletter. Janet has taught banjo, music theory and harmony singing classes at the British Columbia Bluegrass Workshop in B.C., Canada, the Northern Bluegrass Circle Music Society Workshop in Edmonton, Alberta, and the California Bluegrass Association Music Camp in Grass Valley, CA. She holds a doctorate in early music performance and when not on the road with the band she teaches at the University of Southern California, University of California at Riverside, and Claremont Graduate University. (Janet Beazley at Elderly.com)

Howie Bursen is best known for his gravity-defying, triplet-filled fiddle-tune variations, and his eclectic recordings contain quite a number of extraordinary clawhammer solos. He is not only one of today's foremost practitioners of the style, but he is also an excellent singer, song-writer and guitarist. His responisibilities as foreman of a Connecticut winery generally keep him close to home, but when possible he tours with his wife, folk-singer Sally Rogers, with whom he has made two recordings -- "When Sally Met Howie," and "Satisfied Customers." Howie has taught clawhammer at the Maryland Banjo Academy, Common Ground on the Hill, and Banjo Camp North. His recordings include "Cider in the Kitchen," "Building Boom," and "Banjo Manikin." (Howie Bursen at Elderly.com)

Greg Cahill formed The Special Consensus in 1973 in the Chicago area and the band became a full time touring and recording entity in 1975. Greg has appeared on all twelve Special Consensus recordings and has released three solo recordings, one European bluegrass music recording and four banjo instructional videos/DVDs. He has also appeared on numerous recordings by other artists and on countless national television and radio commercials. Greg conducts workshops and master classes at bluegrass camps and festivals worldwide. His teaching credits include Nashcamp, the Maryland Banjo Academy, the Minnesota Bluegrass and Old Time Music Workshop Camp, the British Columbia Bluegrass Workshops and the Cabin Fever Bluegrass Workshops. He has taught banjo at The Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago for over 25 years and currently teaches at the World Folk Music Company in Chicago; he also is a regular contributor to Banjo Newsletter. Just recently, Greg was appointed chair and president of the International Bluegrass Music Association. (Greg Cahill Web Site) (Greg Cahill at Elderly.com)

Bob Carlin has taken the distinctive southern banjo style to appreciative audiences all over the US, Canada and Europe and he is a three-time winner of the late Frets Magazine "Favorite Banjoist" readers poll. He has several solo recordings with Rounder Records, including Banging and Sawing, Where Did You Get That Hat?, and Fiddle Tunes For Clawhammer Banjo, in addition to which he as recorded duo CDs with Bruce Molsky and John Hartford. He also played as a regular in Hartford's band for several years prior to the latter's untimely demise. A noted teacher, Bob recorded a two volume instructional series on clawhammer for Homespun Tapes, and he has served as instructor at the American Festival of Fiddle Tunes and at the Ashoken Fiddle and Dance Camp. He started his career as sought after producer of acoustic recordings by organizing the seminal recording, Melodic Clawhammer Banjo back in the 1970s. He is also a highly regarded folkloris (Bob Carlin's Web Site: cartunesrecordings.com) ( Bob Carlin at Elderly.com)

Ryan Cavanaugh may well have taken the art of playing jazz on 5-string farther than any other living player. He grew up in North Carolina playing traditional bluegrass and took first place at the Merlefest, Rockygrass, and Renofest banjo contests. He began studying jazz in high school, and soon began adapting it to banjo, developing in the process a method for playing rapid runs by in effect performing forward rolls on single strings. Discovered by guitar legend John McLaughlin in 2006, Ryan has spent the last few years touring the international jazz scene with acclaimed saxophonist Bill Evans. He also played on several cuts of Evans' recent CD, "The Other Side of Something." Songs For the New Frontier" was released in 2007 (now available only through the (Itunes store). "Cavanaugh�s bluegrass credibility is undeniable but, while he�ll humbly tell you that he�s still got so much to learn, he�s already a remarkable jazz player." John Kelman - reviewer, All About Jazz magazine (Ryan Cavanaugh MySpace) (Ryan Cavanaugh at Elderly.com)

Chris Coole (co-leader, old-time novice program), was first attracted to the sounds of old-time and bluegrass music as a teenager growing up in Toronto, Ontario. In the late 90s, his style of clawhammer began to reach a wider audience with the release of his first two C.D.s - both collaborations with fellow Torontonian Arnie Naiman -- entitled "Five Strings Attached With No Backing" and "Five Strings Attached, Vol. 2." Both recordings featured sparse, well played rrangements of traditional tunes as well as a number of original compositions. Apart from his own recordings he can also be heard as a sideman on over thirty CDs by Canadian artists such as Sylvia Tyson, Ron Hynes, Jenny Whiteley and April Verch. Chris performs regularly with Crazy Strings, The Foggy Hogtown Boys and with fiddler Erynn Marshall. ( Chris Coole at Elderly.com) (Chris Coole Web Site)

Bill Evans is well-known within the bluegrass banjo world as a player and teacher. A former member of Dry Branch Fire Squad, Bill currently tours nationally with Peter Rowan, John Reischman, Tony Trischka, and with his solo historical concert The Banjo in America. In addition, he writes a monthly instructional column for Banjo Newsletter and has produced instructional books and videos with Sonny Osborne and J.D. Crowe for AcuTab Publications and Homespun Tapes. He has taught at American Banjo Camp, Augusta Heritage Center, Banjo Camp Northm Camp Bluegrass, and Nashcamp Bluegrass Instructional Camps. (Bill Evan's Native and Fine Web Site) (Bill Evans at Elderly.com)

Cathy Fink In 1980 Cathy Fink became the first woman to win the West Virginia State Old Time Banjo contest, an honor she earned 3 times. Beginning in 1984, she has taught banjo, guitar, fiddle, vocal styles and more at a number of major music camps such as Augusta Folk Heritage, the Maryland Banjo Academy, the Puget Sound Guitar Workshop, Steve Kaufman's Kamp, and Swannanoa. Cathy's banjo recordings include " Banjo Haiku: 26 Clawhammer Banjo Tunes," " Old Time Music Party," " Old Time Slow Jam" with Bruce Molsky and Marcy Marxer, and the new " Singing With the Banjo, Clawhammer Style" DVD on Homespun Tapes. Cathy has won two GRAMMY awards and performs full time with Marcy Marxer. (Cathy Fink at Elderly.com)(Cathy Fink Web Site)

Matt Flinner Starting out as a banjo prodigy who was playing bluegrass festivals before he entered his teens, Flinner won the National Banjo Competition in Winfield, KS in 1990. He later took up the mandolin and won the mandolin award there the following year. He moved to Nashville in 1999, and his musical horizons quickly broadened. His two solo mandolin albums for Compass Records, The View from Here and Latitude, both also featuring such bluegrass stalwarts as Todd Phillips, David Grier, Stuart Duncan, Jerry Douglas and Darol Anger, have received high critical acclaim. He has also performed with the Matt Flinner Trio, with Phillips, Grier, and Flinner, the Frank Vignola Quartet, the Ying Quartet, Tim O'Brien, Dave Douglas, and the Modern Mandolin Quartet. Matt was also featured on Steve Martin's CD The Crow, which won the 2009 Grammy Winner for Best Bluegrass Album. Matt's banjo playing career has partnered him with artists such as Darrell Scott, Leftover Salmon, The BallingerFamily Band and the Drew Emmitt Band. ( ) ( Matt Flinner at Elderly.com)

Gerald Jones, life-long Texan, has been involved with the performing, production and teaching of music for over 30 years. He's a skilled player in many different styles including bluegrass, western swing, country, classical, jazz, and Polish war hymns... He's played or recorded with with Jim "Texas Shorty" Chancellor, Mark O'Connor, Vince Gill, Sam Bush, Hank Thompson, Red Steagall, Jerry Douglas, Junior Brown and many more. He's the editor of Mel Bay's webzine Banjo Sessions (http://BanjoSessions.com), and is a frequent contributor to Joe Carr's Mandolin Sessions. Gerald invented the Acoustic Plus pickup used by Earl Scruggs, Bela Fleck, Alan Munde, Bill Keith and many other great banjo players. Gerald is also a favorite instructor at many bluegrass and roots music camps around the nation, teaching banjo, mandolin, and many special topics such as "Jam Survival Skills." Joe Carr said of Gerald, "students love him because he jams a lot with them and teaches as much out of class as in!" (Gerald Jones Web Site)

Bill Keith - A renowned explorer of the frontiers of banjo picking and of the instrument's harmonic potentialities, Bill Keith largely invented the three-finger picking style known as "melodic" banjo. He first came to international attention in the early 60s when he played and recorded with Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys. He co-authored the original Earl Scruggs banjo instruction book and record, and has also written several other banjo instruction books, including the first ones ever published in French and Italian. He has recorded several albums for Rounder, Green Linnet, and Hexagon, and has toured widely throughout North America, Western Europe, Japan, and Australia. He devised and, through the Beacon Banjo Company, still markets the famous tuning pegs that bear his name. (Bill Keith at Elderly.com)

Alan Munde needs no introduction to long-time Bluegrass fans. From his early creative work with Sam Bush in Poor Richard's Almanac to his traditional bluegrass apprenticeship with Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys to his 21-year stint anchoring the landmark Country Gazette, Alan has blazed a trail as one of the most innovative and influential banjo players of all time. Along the way, Alan also recorded and contributed to numerous instrumental recordings, including the 2001 IBMA Instrumental Album of the Year -- "Knee Deep in Bluegrass." Alan has supplemented his recorded work with several instructional publications for the banjo, and, since 1986, he has taught Bluegrass and Country Music at South Plains College in Levelland, Texas. (Alan Munde's Web Site) (Alan Munde at Elderly.com)

Joe Newberry Joe Newberry is a Missouri native and North Carolina transplant who has played music most of his life. His powerful and innovative banjo playing has won contests around the country, including first-place at the Appalachian String Band Music Festival. He has taught at the Augusta Heritage Workshops, the Swannanoa Gathering, Ashokan, and Pinewoods. His bands include the prize-winning Big Medicine, and the Grey Eagles, a trio with Rafe Stefanini and Jim Collier. Joe also performs with original Red Clay Ramblers Jim Watson, Bill Hicks, and Mike Craver. In addition to his banjo work, Joe is also a fine guitarist, fiddler, and singer. His solo CD "Two Hands" has earned praise from reviewers and fans alike. (Joe Newberry web site) (Joe Newberry at Elderly.com)

Alan O'Bryant (aka OBanyon) - is best known as a singer, songwriter and banjo player with The Nashville Bluegrass Band. Originally from Reidsville, NC his career in Nashville spans some thirty plus years of recording, producing, publishing and performing worldwide. His appearances have included workshop classes on banjo technique and instrument set-up, vocal and band performance dynamics and more at venues including; Augusta Heritage Center,in Elkins WV, Wintergrass Academy in Tacoma WA, Vancouver Folk Festival, Rocky Grass Academy in Lyons, CO, Disney Institute in Orlando, FL and Nashcamp in Cumberland Furnace, TN. Along with NBB and his home project studio Alan currently enjoys picking with his two sons Calan and Ian, learning old time tunes on the mandolin and five string banjo and gives private lessons at the Fiddle & Pick near his home in Pegram, TN. (Alan O'Bryant at Elderly.com)

Ken Perlman - Perhaps the best-known exponent of the "melodic" clawhammer style, Ken is known where-ever banjos are played as a master of clawhammer technique and an expert teacher of clawhammer mechanics. He has been a Banjo Newsletter columnist for over 20 years; he has written several books on clawhammer instruction including the well known works Melodic Clawhammer Banjo and Clawhammer Style Banjo, and he has recorded several series of audio and video banjo instruction. He has taught at well over a dozen banjo and general music camps including the American Banjo Camp, Banjo Camp North, Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, Maryland Banjo Academy, the Puget Sound Guitar Workshop, Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp, Common Ground on the Hill, Suwannee Banjo Camp, and the Tennessee Banjo Institute. His most recent recording is Northern Banjo, and his most recent book is Everything You Wanted to Know About Clawhammer Banjo. (Ken Perlman's Web Site)(Ken Perlman at Elderly.com)

Scott "Stretch" Reinsmith - is a repair technician at Elderly Instruments. He started repairing instruments at his home in the late 70's and was the owner of Stretch Guitar Repair in the 90's. Stretch enjoys working on banjos and can do everything from basic setups to refrets, inlays, repair broken headstocks, re-cut neck heels and reset dowel sticks for proper neck angles, Binding repair and replacement and make new fingerboards, He has run a banjo repair shop and taught a repair class at the Midwest Banjo Camp IV & V. (" Stretch" at Elderly)

Tom Sauber - is an old time musician equally at home playing banjo, fiddle, or guitar. Tom grew up near Los Angeles, where as a teenager he was inspired to learn the 5-string banjo by attending a Pete Seeger concert. Soon afterwards, he began learning the styles and repertoire of Mike Seeger and his band, the New Lost City Ramblers. Following the Ramblers' lead, he began learning from a number of older generation musicians, and while still a teenager he visited such notables as Sam and Kirk McGee, Dock Boggs, Clint Howard, and Doc Watson. At the same time he began playing with older Southern musicians who had emigrated to Southern California, suchas Earl Collins, Ed Lowe, Bob Rogers, and Mel Durham. From over 25 years playing with Ed Lowe, the nephew of Round Peak legend Charlie Lowe, Tom has absorbed both the essence and the subtle techniques of the Round Peak style of clawammer banjo as it is played on both fretted and fretless banjos. He is also a master of finger-style banjo, equally at home playing thumb or index lead 2-finger or old-time 3-finger style. (Tom Sauber at Elderly.com)

Mike Sumner - claims numerous playing influences, from his father Joe Sumner to Bela Fleck, Scott Vestal, Allison Brown, and Sammy Shelor. He won the Indiana State Picking and Fiddling Banjo championship seven times and the Kentucky State Banjo championship twice. In 2001 alone, he placed first at Merlefest, first at Rockygrass, and won the Winfield National Banjo Championship (which he repeated in 2007). Mike currently plays banjo for the Randy Kohrs Band. He has taught extensively throughout Indiana and Michigan. (Mike Sumner's MySpace Site) (Mike Sumner at Elderly)

Bobby Taylor (Camp Fiddler)- is a fourth generation West Virginia fiddler. He plays several styles of old-time and contest fiddling, but got his start from the legendary fiddler Clark Kessinger, who is considered one of the fathers of bluegrass fiddling. Bobby was the 1977 West Virginia State Open Fiddle Champion. In 2003, Bobby received the Footbridge Award from FOOTMAD (Friends of Old-Time Music and Dance) for his contributions to old-time music. In 2010, he was presented the Vandalia Award - West Virginia's highest folk-life honor - by the West Virginia Division of Culture and History. Bobby has been the coordinator of West Virginia's Vandalia Gathering contests in Charleston, WV since 1979. He was the contest coordinator of the Appalachian Open Contest from 1984 through 1987, and for many years he has served as the contest coordinator at Appalachian String Band Music Festival (often known as "Clifftop"�). Bobby is also a noted fiddle contest judge; he has judged the Tennessee, Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia state championships, and is a regular judge at the Old Fiddler's Convention in Galax, VA. He has judged the Grand Master Fiddle Championship in Nashville, TN five times from 2006-2010. In 2008, he served as a judge at the Grand National Fiddle Championship in Weiser, ID. Bobby has taught fiddle workshops at the Augusta Heritage Center and at Allegheny Echoes in West Virginia. He currently presents historical showcases on fiddle styles with his old-time band "Kanawha Tradition". (Bobby Taylor Site) (Bobby Taylor at Elderly)