Traditional Song Week July 6-12, 2025
Traditional Song Week celebrates the power and diversity of community singing, taught by renowned practitioners and culture bearers from right here in southern Appalachia and as far away as Scotland and Ireland. For 2025, coordinator Matt Watroba has assembled another top-flight staff to make the magic happen, including Sheila Kay Adams (storytelling and meeting house songs), Kathy Bullock (gospel choir and abolitionist songs), Susan Cattaneo (songwriting), Josh Goforth (shape-note singing and music theory), Sarah Grey (ballad interpretation), Reggie Harris (freedom songs), Cathy Jordan (Irish love songs and Child ballads), Zoe Mulford (community singing and ballad styles), Fiona Ritchie (Scottish song), Sally Rogers (songs of Jean Ritchie), Claudia Schmidt (vocal wellness and harmony), and Pat Wictor (vocal improv and guitar).
Traditional Song Week realizes a dream of a comprehensive program completely devoted to traditional styles of singing. Unlike programs where singing takes a back seat to the instrumentalists, it is the main focus of this week, which aims to help restore the power of songs within the larger traditional music scene. Here, finally, is a place where you can develop and grow in confidence about your singing, and have lots of fun with other folks devoted to their own song journeys. Come gather with us to explore various traditional song genres under the guidance of experienced, top-notch instructors. When singers gather together, magical moments are bound to happen!
Traditional Song Week is proud to present a gathering of highly influential singers and musicians who have remained devoted over the years to preserving and promoting traditional song. We will include many opportunities for students to perform for an audience. Beyond the student showcase on Friday, there will be opportunities to apply what you’ve learned to the delight of other students and staff. Our Community Gathering Time affords us the opportunity to experience together, as one group, diverse topics concerning our shared love of traditional song. We will carry on the tradition of gathering three of the five days directly after lunch from 1:15-2:15. This year’s spotlight will feature panels on topics that reflect the styles of our diverse staff. Classes may feature classes in both traditional and contemporary gospel, voice technique from a variety of perspectives, sea chanteys, Irish songs, blues, songs from movements & protests, as well as a variety of ways to build confidence with your instrumental accompaniment and your performance. You may choose to focus on writing in the tradition, learning duet harmony, singing ballads from the mountains that surround us or from across the ocean, or just simply experience the magic of community singing. The week will also feature concerts and nightly singing sessions, with ample opportunity to participate. Bring a friend and come join us for a week you will never forget!