Bio

Nashville, TN. Photo by Dane Miller.

Robin (center, dressed as Wednesday Addams) calling a Halloween square dance. Photo by Dr Dave Weiland.

 
I am a fiddle player, music teacher, and square dance caller based in the Bay Area. My passion is playing and teaching old-time fiddle music, and calling traditional square dances.

Although I played music throughout childhood, I didn't discover the fiddle until high school. When my grandfather died, my family found a couple of old violins in his attic. My dad had the better one fixed up, and after my first lesson I fell in love with it. About a year later I discovered bluegrass jamming, and before long was regularly sneaking into the local bluegrass bar for jams.

Since then I have continued my mentorship with Chad Manning, and now teach at Manning Music in Berkeley with a focus on learning my ear. Check out the lessons page for more info.

I play regularly with the Bearcat Stringband ... usually in duo form these days!

In 2014, after many nights as a dancer and musician, I started calling traditional square dances, and am happy to say now do quite a bit of that! I've called dances up and down the west coast, including at the Los Angeles Old Time Social, Parkfield Bluegrass Festival, and the Oakland Museum of CA. I also help organize the twice monthly North Oakland Square Dance - come dancing some time!

*Click here for square dance calling press kit*