Aynsley Porchak wins Canadian Grand Masters. Near her home in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada, there was a classical program and a jazz program but no bluegrass. In the 1960s, with the Hamilton County Bluegrass Band, Colleen Trenwith helped introduce bluegrass to New Zealand. He sent me back a text Now, there are some 60 students majoring in Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Country Music Studies, along with 35 who are minoring. can with my music, just keep learning because you can always learn and just continue Aynsley Porchak began playing fiddle at the age of 9. to grow, give back, and be the best I can. 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The group formed as a spin-off of the band Carolina Blue. of mine, and the idea of playing there it hasnt sunk in yet.. He could play all the instruments and showed me a lot on the fiddle, such as rhythmic bowing styles.. New Zealand had one channel in the late 1960s, Trenwith says. Click here to view the 2022-23 East Tennessean production schedule. The skilled fiddler hopes to even possibly teach at ETSU in the future. They'll perform two shows for us on Saturday, March 28th. Porchak began playing the fiddle at 9-years-old and developed a passion for bluegrass and competition quickly. of Aynsleys all-time favorite fiddlers, Bobby Hicks. She was Blessed to win the Grand Master Fiddler Championship in 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee, and in 2017, she also became the Canadian Grand Master Fiddle Champion, making her the first person to win both competitions. 3739 Balboa St. #5090San Francisco, CA 94121-2605(844) BLU-GRASS(844-258-4727), CBA EventsCalendarFeature ArchiveBluegrass Breakdown. 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She was introduced to bluegrass through the music of Kenny Baker and Bobby Hicks, and quickly fell in love with the music. Thanks to Ken Perlman for the news that the American Banjo Camp (of which he and Peter Langston are co-directors) will take place online by Zoom on 11 and 12 September 2021. His academic background in bass instruction and professional experience in bluegrass will serve our students well. She also played in 2016 on the Grand Ole Opry. minds when she was a toddler in Canada. He introduced himself as Dan Boner, Director of the Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Country Music Studies Program at East Tennessee State University.. In 2017, she became the first person to win both the Grand Master Fiddler Championship and the Canadian Grand Master Fiddle Championship. She performs with the ETSU Bluegrass, Celtic and Country Pride Bands. One year, while she and her parents were in Nashville for the Grand Master contest, 2021, signed a recording contract with Billy Blue Records. He was like a one-man bluegrass band. Her love of classic cars (she She is a connoisseur of tea. I feel God has blessed me with the ability to play, and so I want to give back to others through my fiddling, whether that means teaching fiddle lessons, performing on stage and making people smile, or just simply talking to an audience member after a show. I went to church every Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night, and I played guitar in church., Boner says there was no order of worship in his great uncles tiny church. The Tennessee Bluegrass Band is shining a light on the importance of traditional bluegrass. Dan Eubanks, bassist with Special Consensus, and Aynsley Porchak, fiddler with Carolina Blue, will both join the team as adjust professors starting with the Spring 2021 semester. However, I soon discovered my love for American styles of fiddling, and when I was Logout. TENNESSEE BLUEGRASS BAND From east Tennessee. in my area. In 2016, she earned a bachelor of science degree in General Studies with a minor in Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Country Music Studies and is now a full-time member of the faculty. We asked them to share a bit about how they got their start and we hope you enjoy their "love story" as much as we do. In case you haven't noticed, we're in love around here. Contact Us. The rest is history. ETSU graduate student Aynsley Porchak is quickly making a name for herself in music circles, recently becoming the first person ever to win both American and Canadian Grand Masters fiddle After attending numerous contests and concerts, I started lessons at age 9, and I never looked back, she said. This full-time position will be appointed on the basis of outstanding professional attainments, creative accomplishments, and recognition in the bluegrass entertainment field. Funeral . I look forward to passing on my knowledge to students and helping them become just as passionate about learning as I am!. Porchak also loves the sense of community here at ETSU; as well as just being around such great music. Thank you. I love how expressive it can be, and the fact that its an instrument that is truly challenging keeps me on my toes. Online access to music lessons with our favorite musicians. to talk to Buddy and then realized he hadnt introduced himself. Pittsburgh-rolling hills, winding hig Aynsley Porchak is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Nina Hensley. He continued All rights reserved. Aynsley Porchak(Photograph contributed / ETSU). I grew up hearing loud preaching and attending homecomings and Saturday night singings, Boner says. of Bluegrass, Old Time and Country Music Studies in ETSUs Department of Appalachian She was also given the honor of playing the Grand . Mommy, right there! That happened repeatedly, and her parents eventually thought Those interested may apply at jobs.etsu.edu.. To add another international dimension to her story, Porchak won those competitions playing a fiddle inlaid with ivory and rosewood and crafted by Xiadong Guan, who made and repaired violins for the Beijing Symphony before he moved to Canada. I am curious to hear what she and her students come up with together.. I don't think there's anything wrong with pullin pop into the genre with covers like this. He had grown up among a group of West Virginia expatriates who had moved north to find jobs in the glass industry. But bluegrass courses and private instruction quickly changed that. With a new album already completed for Billy Blue Records, and a solid year of dates booked, There's a brand new bluegrass band recently formed in east Tennessee that is sure to please anyone who enjoys solid, traditional bluegrass music. Aynsley began playing fiddle at the age of 9. It could take me a while, I said, before I knew - it could be days, could be weekscould be monthscould be years! By a miracle, that didnt scare James off, and it didnt take years after allin August, I drove to Galax to surprise him and tell him that I wanted to take him up on his offer to date. Boner discovered the ETSU program through a high school English teacher in southern New Jersey and enrolled as a student in 2000. Lots of cool memories, and good prospects for the future. As I argue, one particular duo of Appalachian musicians, the . As a girl in Wellington, New Zealand, she would gather with her family around the piano while her father, Gordon Bain, played old songs like Its a Long Way to Tipperary. When she was eight, she started taking classical violin lessons. Soon the band was invited to perform on television. Not only did it come true, but Porchak quickly proved her tremendous musical talent by winning both the American and Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Championships. Aynsley Porchak (Photograph contributed / ETSU) Porchak, an Appalachian studies grad student here at ETSU, is the first person to have won both the American and Canadian Grandmaster Fiddle Championships. They are: Bobby Powell, guitar; Timmy Jones, mandolin; Reese Combs, bass; James McDowell, banjo (who looks like a young Don Stover); and Aynsley Porchak, fiddle (wearing a 'pillbox' hat that reminded Dr Janie of those ladies used to wear to church). a little outdated, and I would love to be able to use my English to write more about During the spring semester of 2019, there were 35 student bands, operating under the auspices of what is now the Department of Appalachian Studies. seafood place and this man came up to our table, saying, Excuse me, I hope you Click on one photo to see large photos in sequence. Along the way, a minor was added in 2005. His great uncle, Larry Boner, was a guitar-strumming preacher. This was right after the O Brother, Where Art Thou? phenomenon, and programs like ours were exploding, Boner says. Country Current (above), the premier country and bluegrass group of the U.S. Navy. She plays in the ETSU When she isnt on the road, she teaches privately and in the Junior Appalachian Musician program on the ETSU campus. Sign up today to receive A! Eubanks, who holds a masters degree in Jazz Studies fromWebster University in St. Louis, MO, says that it is an honor to join such a stellar team. Since they were here last, they have enjoyed three IBMA nominations and earlier this month, won four SPBGMA Awards for Entertainers of the Year, Bluegrass Band of the Year (overall), Vocal Group of the Year, and Album of the Year for I Hear Bluegrass Calling Me. Just to even go to the Opry has been a dream Brother, Where Art Thou position will be appointed on the importance of bluegrass. 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