The 8th annual Cowan Creek Mountain Music School, June 22 - 26, 2009 will bring together some of this country’s finest old time musicians, along with students of all levels, to enjoy a week of learning and fun. The school will offer courses in banjo (four levels), fiddle (four levels), beginning and lead guitar, old time string band, singing, storytelling, Kids on the Creek, an arts and music class for kids ages 5 to 10 led by Carla Gover, and new this year- square dance calling.
The faculty will include fiddlers Roger Cooper, Bruce Greene, Jamie Wells, John Harrod, Sarah Howard and Ron Short; banjoists Rich Kirby, Randy Wilson, Cari Norris, John Haywood, and Brett Ratliff; and Don Rogers, Karly Higgins, Donavan Cain, Roy Tackett, Charlie Whitaker and Angie DeBord. Students will also be treated to in-class visits and performances by masters of traditional music Clyde Davenport, Donna & Lewis Lamb and master-in-residence, banjo picker George Gibson. In the afternoon, students can take part in jam sessions for all levels or a singers circle. Then students have a choice of afternoon workshops in clogging, beginning bass, four-part harmony singing, jug band, and more. Each evening the faculty and students will gather for square dancing or a faculty concert.
The school is open to students ages 11 and older & adults. Tuition is $150 for Kentucky residents and $200 for out-of-state students. A limited number of youth scholarships are available for Kentucky students. Class size is limited to 10 so early registration is encouraged. The Cowan Creek Mountain Music School is produced by the Cowan Community Center and hosted by the Cowan Elementary School and Cowan Community Center with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Kentucky Arts Council, Appalshop and the Letcher County Board of Education. For a brochure, Carol Ison or Stacy Dollarhide, Cowan Community Center, 81 Sturgill Branch, Whitesburg, KY 41858 (606) 633-3187 or cowancreekmusic@tvscable.com. Applications and youth scholarship forms are located on the website.
