Bill Evans - San Francisco Bay Area musician and Virginia native Bill Evans has been involved with bluegrass music and the banjo for over twenty-five years as a player, teacher, writer and historian. He occupies a unique niche in the banjo world: celebrated worldwide for his traditional and progressive bluegrass banjo styles as well as his innovative original compositions, he also enjoys a reputation as an outstanding instructor as well as being an expert player of 19th century minstrel and classic/parlor banjo styles. His latest accomplishment is authoring Banjo for Dummies for Wiley Publications. Since its release in August 2007, Banjo For Dummies has become the largest selling banjo book in the world.

Jon Weisberger - A member of the Night Drivers since the beginning of 2003, Jon Weisberger is a quadruple bluegrass threat as bass player, songwriter, radio producer and journalist. He first drew attention as a member of Cincinnati-based Union Springs, which released three well-received CDs in the 1990s, following that with a stint in the Wildwood Valley Boys before moving to Nashville at the end of 2002. In addition to his regular gig as a Nightdriver, he has also appeared with artists ranging from Hazel Dickens, Jimmy Martin and Roland White to Tony Trischka, Harley Allen, Melonie Cannon, 3 Fox Drive and Canadian fiddler April Verch. As a bluegrass journalist, he has written features and reviews for multiple publications and liner notes for more than 80 albums, earning him the IBMA’s Print Media Person of the Year award in 2000 and Best Liner Notes in 2001. His “Losing Again,” recorded by the Chapmans, was among the most popular songs of 2001, and his songs have subsequently been recorded by Del McCoury, Blue Highway, Jim Van Cleve, Dwight McCall and others. Since 2006, Jon has produced Into The Blue, the most widely syndicated bluegrass radio show in North America, and Sirius satellite radio’s Hand-Picked with Del McCoury.

Tim May - If you were not fortunate enough to have caught a show by the Nashville-based group Crucial Smith during its fifteen-year run, flatpicking guitarist Tim May has probably managed to fly under your flatpicking radar. If that is the case, then get ready for him to pop up on your screen and be added to your list of favorite flatpickers because he is starting to fly high. Guitar guru, toured with Patty Loveless promoting her bluegrass album, “Mountain Soul” and also played in Eddie Rabbitt’s “Hare-Trigger Band”. Tim has recorded three albums with “Crucial Smith”. He has been featured in “Flatpicking Guitar Magazine”, “Bluegrass Unlimited” and “Bluegrass Now”.

In the past couple of years he has toured with Patty Loveless, played on an all-star-cast Rounder project called Moody Bluegrass: A Nashville Tribute to he Moody Blues and recorded a bluegrass gospel project with Charlie Daniels. Additionally, FGM Records is getting ready to release Tim’s new solo CD and he is featured in a new FGM Records concert DVD with Brad Davis and Cody Kilby.

If you own the Flatpicking Favorites: Hot and Spicy CD and have listened to Cody Kilby and Tim May tear up “Lonesome Fiddle Blues,” you’ll know why Tim is now getting called to play so many prominent gigs in Nashville. As they say here in southwest Virginia, “The boy can pick!”

Steve Smith - is a musician, composer, performer, and teacher. His music reflects the many influences his life, from his beginnings in Virginia as the son of a musician to his current home in the desert southwest (Las Cruces, New Mexico). You can observe these influences in his musical compositions, performances and multi-instrumental prowess as he conquers everything from Bluegrass and Old-time, to Jazz, chamber, Celtic and New Age music. Steve has performed professionally for over 25 years and has toured in 47 states, 8 European countries, Cuba, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. He has appeared in the national touring company cast of the Harry Chapin musical "Cotton Patch Gospel" as an actor and multi-instrumentalist. He also appeared in the off-Broadway production hit "The Robber Bridegroom" and composed the score to the Sam Sheppard play "Curse of the Starving Class". He is founder and leader of the old-time, retro-bluegrass, modern acoustic band Steve Smith and Hard Road. He is a former member of the group Cloud Valley and the Nothin' Doin' band. Steve plays mandolin, sings lead and harmony vocals.
www.DesertNight.com

Nate Lee - Nineteen-year-old Nate Lee brings a youthful energy to the camp. Like Steve Smith, Nate was born in Virginia, but moved to Texas when he was four years old. Growing up in a musical family in Ovilla, Texas (Nate’s father is banjo maker Chuck Lee), Nate started playing fiddle at the age of ten. He took lessons from Valerie O’Brien and gained valuable experience in Texas Old-Time Contest fiddling. Nate is currently a student at South Plains College. Nate plays fiddle and sings harmony vocals with the Alan Munde Gazette.

Tim McCasland - McCasland is a veteran of bluegrass music education with over twenty years experience as an instructor in the South Plains College Commercial music program. He is accomplished on the dobro, steel guitar, standard guitar and banjo. Tim's down-to-earth approach to music makes him an instant hit with students. Tim's many dobro instruction videos for Mel Bay Publications and Texas Music and Video have been popular for over ten years.

Dede Wyland - Best known in Bluegrass circles as the lead singer for Tony Trischa's influential 1980s band SKYLINE, Dede will share her beautiful voice and years of vocal teaching experience with a small group of lucky students. BACK AGAIN BY POPULAR DEMAND!

Dan Miller - the editor and publisher of Flatpicking Guitar Magazine and has been playing acoustic music on guitar, banjo, mandolin, and bass for nearly thirty years. In conjunction with publishing Flatpicking Guitar Magazine, Dan also own FGM Records (fgmrecords.com) and Flatpicking Mercantile (flatpickingmercantile.com). Currently the record label, which specializes in various styles of acoustic guitar music, has produced 25 CDs and 4 live concert DVDs. Additionally he has produced instructional material for guitar and sell it through Flatpicking Mercantile. To date Flatpicking Mercantile has released four instructional books and nine instructional DVDs.

The Rest of the Faculty:
(special in their own ways)

Joe Carr - Joe is an experienced teacher with many instructional books and videos to his credit. He will present several special topic lectures during the camp.

Gerald Jones - Certified banjo weirdo, who also plays guitar, mandolin and fiddle, you are more likely to see him at 3 a.m. in the dorm teaching and picking, than in class at 10:00 a.m. His special topics sessions are camp favorites.

Alan Munde - World class banjo stylist featured in the banjo bible, SPC instructor and excellent teacher. Many years teaching experience give Alan special insight into the problems faced by players of all levels. His time tested techniques really work! www.AlanMundeGazette.com