Details
Fiddle harmony tonight with Daphne Pickens and Matt Sloboda anchored by Tom Santarsiero’s strumming on guitar, banjo and mandolin.
Intro lesson at 7:00, dance 7:30 – 10:00. Admission is on a sliding scale – pay what you can to support the dance. Suggested amount is $10.
Caller
Evan De Smitt
One of Rochester’s seasoned callers, Evan brings great timing from his experiences playing saxophone in marching bands. His lovely, clear, resonant voice carries well, and he is very attentive to the dancers.
Bands
Daphne Pickens
Daphne Pickens (fiddle)
Fiddler Extraordinare! Daphne has played for Rochester contras since high school, when she and Casey Murray played for us, and also with Ginger Majority. Daphne has her BA from the Oberlin Conservatory and her master’s from Eastman. Daphne now teaches music in the Penfield Schools and the Kanack School of Musical Artistry.
With strong roots in folk and classical styles, she currently performs with The Crooked North and Birch Trio. She has released one folk 2013 album to date with her best friend and bandmate, Casey Murray, titled To Zamir. In addition to her roles as a performer and teacher, Daphne is also an avid composer, arranger, and visual artist. In 2016, Daphne collaborated with the Great Bear Trio, composing and recording string parts for their album, Magic Fantasy Dream Dance. Her drawings are featured in Basslines & Fantasies by Alice Kanack.
In her free time, Daphne enjoys spending quality time with her friends and family, playing board games, knitting, attending contra and blues dances, and creating art out of broken, unusable musical instruments.
Tom Santarsiero
Tom Santarsiero (Guitar, Mandolin, etc.)
One of our favorite pickers, Tom is equally at home with the guitar, mandolin, banjo and other fine instruments. We’ve enjoyed his music in many ways, including with The Groovemongers and Riverbend.
Matt Sloboda
Matt Sloboda (Fiddle, Bouzouki, Mandolin, Accordion)
Raised in the tradition, Matt has played with many bands, including Lake Effect and Glenrose. Matt brings a great lift to his style that swings.