In 1996, the Swannanoa Gathering established an award for lifetime achievement, to be given periodically to certain remarkable master musicians and teachers that we have been privileged to have here as members of our staff. The following individuals have been declared to have earned the title of Master Music Maker:
Ralph Blizard – 1996
Tom Paxton – 1996
Margaret Bennett – 1998
Fiona Ritchie – 2000
David Holt – 2001
Jean Ritchie – 2001
John McCutcheon – 2001
Seamus Connolly – 2002
Mike Seeger – 2003
Billy Jackson – 2004
Stranger Malone – 2005
Phil Jamison – 2008
Alice Gerrard – 2010
Al Petteway – 2013
Liz Carroll – 2016
Martin Hayes – 2016
John Doyle – 2016
Ginny Hawker & Tracy Schwarz – 2016
Robin Bullock – 2016
Mike Marshall – 2016
Tony Trischka – 2016
Joe Craven – 2016