Christopher has taught middle school English and worked as a radio journalist, university marketing writer, and director of development for a college access nonprofit. Now half of the folk rock singer-songwriter duo Clymer & Kurtz, he has also been part of jazz, rock, and Americana bands.

Mark discovered oldtime fiddle music in 1992, later taking fiddle and clawhammer banjo lessons with 2-Gun Terry. Since then he’s been playing oldtime jam sessions and been co-leader of an oldtime jam in Harrisonburg for 8 years. He also plays banjo in his stringband.

Thaddeus Jackson is a Jazz Musician, Vocalist, Multi-Instrumentalist, and Music Producer from Harrisonburg, Virginia. He graduated with his Bachelors Degree from Eastern Mennonite University with majors in both Guitar Performance and Vocal Performance. Currently he does freelance work on the East Coast and serves as a Board Member for the Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir.

Shay has spent many years learning music and instrumentation since high school. She is a graduate of Blue Ridge Christian School and has spent 10.5 years leading her band Cousin Jimmy’s. She has played with multiple bands throughout Harrisonburg and has picked since she was 6 years old with her first experience being at an…

Judith has played violin since 6th grade and earned her Music Education degree from Eastern Mennonite University in 2024. She enjoys helping students grow through encouraging, personalized lessons. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with loved ones or visiting local pho restaurants.

Zachary Windsor is multifaceted, fiddle/violin player. He has attained his Bachelors degree in music performance from Shenandoah Conservatory and his Masters in music performance from James Madison University. Zachary has been teaching strings around the Shenandoah Valley since 2015.

Praveen has been playing, writing, recording and performing in bands since middle school. Since then he has been regularly playing local and regional shows as well as touring all across the US and Canada. He’s held private lessons of all skill levels specializing in rock, punk, metal and prog-fusion.

Charlie Hale is a local from Grottoes Virginia, and is a rising senior Music Education major at Bridgewater College. He has a background in Bass, Voice, Euphonium, and Music Composition. He looks forward to, as Leonard Bernstein put it, teaching “The Joy of Music,” and to see you in his class!

Mariana has been learning and playing the violin since early elementary school. She has played and performed with her husband for over 20 years. She currently plays with Dr. How and the Reasons to Live with her husband and sometimes their son. Mariana has been teaching at Woodland Montessori School for over ten years and…

Megan began studying Suzuki violin at age 4 and has been teaching since college at EMU, where she also completed her Suzuki teacher training. In 2010, she founded Tiller Strings Violin Shop in downtown Harrisonburg, VA, offering high-quality instruments, rentals, repairs, and restoration services. Megan teaches private and group classes to students of all ages…