I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve been selected to participate in the Illinois Arts Council’s Ethnic and Folk Arts Master Apprentice Program.

Over the next 9 months, I’ll be working with master fiddler Paul Tyler on Midwestern Old Time fiddle traditions. We’ll be focusing on repertoire and technique that Paul picked up over his many years of playing with Lotus Dickey, Les Raber, Francis Geels and other Midwestern fiddlers.

I’m so honored to be part of this program and I’m really looking forward to working closely with Paul. I’ll be posting about the Apprenticeship here, sharing videos and progress along the way.

Me and Paul at the Old Town School First Friday String Jam. Note: We are not as serious as we appear in this photo.