CURRENT INSTRUCTORS
Rachel
SUMNER
Rachel Sumner is an award winning singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist based in Boston. Co-founder of bluegrass band Twisted Pine and pan-folk trio Sumner & Moss, Rachel has proven herself to be a fixture in the regional roots scene. She has performed on the main stages of major festivals like Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Celtic Connections in Scotland, Green River Festival, and FreshGrass Festival and has had the honor of performing with folk luminaries like Peter Rowan. She is currently working on releasing her original songs with Sumner & Moss and writing for Twisted Pine’s upcoming full length album.
STASH
WYSLOUCH
A graduate of Berklee College of Music, Stash has studied and played with some of the best musicians in different respective genres ranging from bluegrass to folk music, to rock and jazz. Stash toured nationally and internationally with the band "The Deadly Gentlemen" fronted by Greg Liszt, banjo player of the band Crooked Still. The band's 2013 album is "Roll Me, Tumble Me." His first solo album "Stash!," released in August of 2015, is a powerful collision of heavy metal, bluegrass, and country.
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PAST INSTRUCTORS.
Mia
FRIEDMAN
Mia graduated in 2012 from the New England Conservatory, but by 2011 she and her sister Ari had already released their first album "Unruly Hearts," which featured grammy-nominated Sarah Jarosz. Mia's song “Across the Water” won the 2011 John Lennon Songwriting Contest in the folk category. Today, Mia is an active educator, performer, and composer with two more albums “Land On Shore” (2013) and "Out of Stone" (2015) created with her sister. While her musical roots hold onto Americana and old-time Appalachian traditions, she effortlessly blends contemporary experimental themes into her compositions.
Katherine
McSHANE​
Katie McShane is a musician currently based in Boston, MA. In addition to teaching privately, Katie co-produces an artist-in-residence program for middle school students in upstate NY. When she's not teaching, Katie spends the majority of her time composing music for various ensembles and leading her own touring bands. She studied music education and cello performance at Ithaca College, as well as composition and improvisation at New England Conservatory. You can learn more about Katie's projects at ktmcshn.tumblr.com.
Isa
BURKE
Isa Burke is a fiddler, singer, guitarist, and songwriter raised in Maine and based in Boston’s thriving roots music scene. As the daughter of folk musicians Susie Burke and David Surette, Isa has spent her life grounded in songs. She performs primarily as co-frontwoman of the acoustic trio Lula Wiles, but has also been seen onstage with artists such as Darol Anger, Rose Cousins, Laura Cortese, Caitlin Canty, and Della Mae. She is soulful, evocative, and versatile Isa has taught workshops in old-time and bluegrass music, fiddle, singing, and songwriting at Maine Fiddle Camp, Miles of Music House Camp, and the Passim School of Music, and has performed at festivals and venues such as Club Passim, Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Freshgrass Festival, Ossipee Valley Music Festival, and the Sinclair. http://www.lulawiles.com/
Emily
STEWART
Emily holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in violin performance from Boston University and continues to transcend her classical background, crossing the threshold into the world of contemporary, world music, Americana, and jazz. She has performed in festivals and concerts across the globe, and has been honored as a Fulbright scholar at the Conservatoire de Musique in Geneva, Switzerland under the tutelage of renowned violinist, conductor, and pedagogue Jean-Pierre Wallez.
Emily has collaborated on projects with KAIROS Dance Theater, Boston University School of Theater, Philip Hamilton, and her live performance credits include Stevie Wonder, Rod Stewart, and Collin Ray. She is currently a member of the Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra and is Associate Concertmaster of the New England Repertory Orchestra. Emily currently lives in Boston, where she is on the faculty of the Brookline Public Schools Performing Arts Department.
Anay
SARAF
Anay started his music career in fourth grade. Now a high school violinist, Anay has played for a variety of orchestras, including the Brookline Youth Orchestra, Brookline High School Orchestra, and Boston Music Institute. In the summer of 2016, he formed the “Suite & Sour” chamber ensemble with four other musicians, playing for enjoyment and later as entertainment for nursing homes.