Any of you with news of interest to the Gathering community should send a copy to the Gathering office, so we can publish it here… We note with sadness the passing of a number of dear friends of the Gathering: the great songwriter and former Gathering instructor Bill Staines who penned such classic songs as “A Place in the Choir” and “Roseville Fair”; NC Heritage Award winning ballad singer and storyteller Bobby McMillon and long-time attendee Robert Seiler, who booked entertainment at nearby The Purple Onion for many years. Congratulations and best wishes to our Master Music Maker and multiple Grammy-winner David Holt, who delivered his retirement performance at last December’s annual Swannanoa Solstice concert at Asheville’s Diana Wortham Theatre. A local treasure, David received three prolonged farewell standing ovations… For their landmark 1971 recording Skara Brae, staffer Daithi Sproule and the other surviving members of the Skara Brae group became the first music group to receive a Gradam Ceoil, the premier traditional Irish music award from TG4 Irish television… Huge congratulations go to Fiddle Week staffer Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, who was selected ‘Fiddle Player of the Year’ at the International Bluegrass Music Association’s (IBMA) annual award ceremony for the second time… We note with gratitude the conclusion of an exceptional performing career by the legendary Janis Ian, and her generosity in offering her Master Class in Artistry during all five weeks of this summer’s Gathering… Due to her inability to be vaccinated against Covid, Traditional Song Week Coordinator Julee Glaub Weems has had to depart the program she created. She will be greatly missed. Matt Watroba, who assisted Julee for several years, takes on the Coordinator’s role… After many years at the Gathering as an Instructor, Logistics Coordinator and Coordinator of Fiddle Week, Julia Weatherford has decided to enjoy a retirement full of family, friends and music. We’ll expect to hear her cello holding down the low end for many of next summer’s jam sessions. Andrew Finn Magill, who literally grew up at the Gathering, assumes the Fiddle Week Coordinator’s role… Teachers please note that the Swannanoa Gathering offers teacher renewal certification hours for any of our weeks. Contact your local school board for prior approval… Don’t forget to support your local Public Radio and Television stations. For other folk news, don’t forget the online resources AcousticGuitarForum.com, UMGF.com (The Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum), MandolinCafe.com, BanjoHangout.com, Mandozine.com and magazines The Old-Time Herald, Acoustic Guitar, Dulcimer Players News and Fiddler.
