Are you an artist in Virginia who is working in traditional or community arts and open to performing, demonstration, or teaching opportunities? Are you a programmer or presenter seeking artists for your next event?

The Virginia Folklife Artist Directory serves to connect artists, craftspeople, and tradition bearers to prospective programmers and/or students. Initially conceived and launched as “TRAIN: Teachers of Remote Arts Instruction Network” in response to COVID-19, we have updated this free resource to indicate both in person and online availability and have limited it to residents of Virginia. We also support our directory artists to with enrollment in the Virginia Commission for the Arts teaching and touring artist rosters.

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Displaying 31 - 39 of 39

Andrew Small

Floyd County | Teaching Artist


About Me

Multi-instrumentalist Andrew Small has performed with artists ranging from Sierra Hull and Mandolin Orange to the North Carolina Symphony. A native of eastern North Carolina, Andrew now lives

Areas of Expertise

Old Time Fiddle, Old Time Banjo (clawhammer and fingerpicking), Bluegrass and Old Time Mandolin, Bluegrass and Old Time Guitar, Double Bass

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Gina Sobel

Albemarle County | Teaching and Performing Artist


About Me

Gina Sobel is a natural improviser. A virtuoso on multiple instruments (flute, sax, voice), she exudes energy and excitement in her live performances and is sought after as

Areas of Expertise

Flute, sax, voice, guitar, songwriting, piano, jazz studies

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Natalie Spears

Montgomery County | Teaching Artist


About Me

Natalie Spears is a multi instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and dance lover. She has performed heavily over the past 7 years and has played at the John Hartford Memorial Festival

Areas of Expertise

Banjo, Bass, Jamming 101, Piano

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Martha Spencer

Grayson County | Teaching Artist


About Me

Martha Spencer is a singer-songwriter, mountain musician and dancer from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. She grew up in the musical Spencer family and learned to play

Areas of Expertise

Flatfoot dancing, old time banjo, fiddle, guitar

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Tradición Dance Company

Richmond | Teaching and Performing Artist


About Me

Tradición is a Puerto Rican folkloric Dance Conay based in Richmond Virginia and is part of Salsa Richmond, LLC. Tradición is dedicated to creating awareness about the extensive

Areas of Expertise

Traditional Puerto Rican and other Latin Folkloric Dances

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Mac Traynham

Floyd County | Teaching Artist


About Me

66 years young. I have been an advocate for the traditional ‘sound’ of old-time music as found in music of the original mountain people of the Blue Ridge

Areas of Expertise

Traditional style Clawhammer banjo, Old-time fiddle, guitar, and old-time harmonica

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Chris Whitley

Waynesboro | Teaching Artist


About Me

Chris started his musical journey growing up watching his father and grandad play, which sparked his interest in music from a young age. Chris went on to study

Areas of Expertise

Reggae piano, music production, song writing

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Jacob Wright

Montgomery County | Teaching Artist


About Me

I am a professional banjo player who works for the iconic Bluegrass musician, Larry Sparks. I offer online lessons as well and always enjoy meeting new students and

Areas of Expertise

Banjo and guitar lessons

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Bob Zentz

Norfolk | Teaching Artist


About Me

Smithsonian Folk-Legacy recording artist BOB ZENTZ is an award-winning singer, songwriter and songfinder, and multi-instrumentalist, now in his sixth decade of performing, with stops along the way including

Areas of Expertise

Folk music, songwriting, storytelling, traditional instruments

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