The Virginia Folklife Program celebrated its eighth annual Apprenticeship Showcase on September 11. Festival-goers were treated to the food, music, and crafts of the Commonwealth. We congratulate all graduating Virginia Folk Masters and welcome the new class of masters and apprentices. View the slideshow below to see the wonderful images captured from the afternoon.

• Jamming on the stage

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  Steve Kilby, Sammy Shelor, Sam Gleaves, Ashley Nale, and Emily Spencer grace the stage at the Apprenticeship Showcase.

  

• Shape Note Singers kick off the festivities

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• Master cobbler Dave Young and apprentice Yvonne Young

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• Debbie Bramer of the Whitetop Mountain Band

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• A menhaden net in the handsof the Northern Neck Chantey Singers

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• The Northern Neck Chantey Singers

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• Master cheese maker Gail Hobbs-Page

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• Master of the Galax-style dulcimer Phyllis Gaskins and Ganna Natsag, Mongolian mask-maker master

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• Apprentice Zana Natsag shows the work of the Mongolian mask-making tradition.

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• Maral Natsag demonstrates the Tsam

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• Master autoharp maker and player John Hollandsworth and apprentice Sam Gleaves

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• Randal Eller, master instrument maker

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• Master banjo player Sammy Shelor and Scott Fore, an alum of the Apprenticeship Program.

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• Master of the clawhammer banjo, Emily Spencer

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• Earl Blake, master of Caribbean costume building

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• Bill Savage, master gristmiller, receives his “Virginia Folk Master” certificate

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• Jason Rutledge, master of traditional forestry, and his draft horses

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• Frances Davis prepares her delicious fried apple pies

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• Frances Davis, the legendary fried apple pie lady

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• A packed audience enjoys the Showcase

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• Steve Kilby and Leah Hall on flatpick guitar

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• Ali Analouei and Nader Majd

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• Dudley Biddlecomb, master of oyster aquaculture

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• The Folklife Showcase was fun for all ages

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Video: Northern Neck Chantey Singers