Virginia Folklife Program

Virginia Foundation for the Humanities

VA Folklife Showcases Master & Apprentice Teams On Sept. 12

Champion Oyster Shucker, Deborah PrattJoin the Folklife Program at the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities on Sunday, September 12th, from Noon to 5:00 p.m. for the seventh annual Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Showcase. We’ll celebrate the seventh graduating class of folklife apprentices and introduce the incoming Virginia Folk Masters, with musical performances, crafts, and traditional Brunswick Stew.

The event is free and open to the public. Children and families are welcome. The Virginia Foundation for the Humanities is located next to the Boar’s Head Inn, 145 Ednam Drive, off Route 250 West in Charlottesville. For directions or more information, call 434-924-3296.

This year’s showcase will feature masters of a wide range of Virginia traditions, including:

  • Legendary gospel singing of Maggie Ingram and the Ingramettes
  • Work songs of the Northern Neck Chantey Singers
  • Old time dance music of the Whitetop Mountain Band
  • Award-winning oyster shucker Deborah Pratt
  • Traditional instruments made by Randall Eller
  • The Eagle family, Master practitioners of maple syrup making
  • The Shelton family, Master apple cider makers from southern Albemarle

Also, there will be draft horses worked by traditional forestry Master Jason Rutledge, a traditional grist mill run by Master Bill Savage, snake cane carving by Norman Amos, and much more.

Please join us!

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2010-2011 Virginia Folklife Apprenticeships Announced

The Virginia Folklife Program announces the 2010-2011 class of master artists and apprentices.  Folklife Apprenticeships pair an experienced master artist with an eager apprentice for a one-on-one, nine month learning experience, in order to help ensure that a particular art form is passed on in ways that are conscious of history and faithful to tradition. This eighth class of apprenticeship teams includes:

  • Master Menhaden Chantey Singers Elton Smith Jr., Edward Taylor, William Muse, Lloyd Hill, and James Carter and apprentice Lewis R. Blackwell Jr. of King and Queen County
  • Master Clawhammer Banjo player Emily Spencer and apprentice Amanda Spencer of Grayson County
  • Master of Galax-Style Dulcimer Phyllis Gaskins and apprentice Blue O’Connell of Rockingham County
  • Master Grist Miller Bill Savage and apprentice Bob Savage of Accomack County
  • Master of Persian Classical Music Nader Majd and apprentice Ali Analouei of Fairfax County
  • Master Flatpick Guitarist Steve Kilby and apprentice Leah Hall of Grayson County
  • Master Instrument Maker Randall Eller and apprentice Jonathan Plowman of Smyth County
  • Master of Traditional Forestry Jason Rutledge and apprentices Melanie Carrier and Adam B. Greene of Floyd County

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