Piano

After a frankly classical training including two Masters degrees (performance, UofM 2001 and piano pedagogy, UL, 2003), two first prizes at the prestigious Canadian Music Competition (1997 and 1998) and a solo performance of Beethoven’s second with the Orchestre Symphonique de la Montérégie (1997), Rachel Aucoin specialises today in folk music accompaniment, since her first appearance at the Carrefour Mondial de l’Accordéon in 1999.

She never imagined this apparently innocent performance would change her musical destiny. (more…)

Jan Gill has been playing keyboard and singing professionally since 1970. She holds a bachelors degree in piano performance from the University of Maine Augusta jazz music program. She has enjoyed teaching piano, organ, guitar, and voice professionally since 1984. She plays a wide variety of genres including folk, rock, funk, jazz, blues, traditional fiddle music and classical. She began playing piano and Hammond B-3 with Greg Boardman in 1977 and appears on his “Century Reel” and “In Came The FIddler” and “Christ Made A Trance” recordings. She currently teaches K-5 Music at Livermore Elementary as well as private student lessons, and performs regularly

Multi-instrumentalist, producer, step dancer and host of the TradCafe podcast, Neil Pearlman is a vital and distinctive voice in contemporary folk music. Described as “a tremendous pianist” on BBC Radio Scotland and “a force to be reckoned with” by WGBH’s Brian O’Donovan, Neil is best known for his groundbreaking approach to the piano in Celtic music. Motivated by a deep musical curiosity and a love of collaboration, his playing is continually evolving and spontaneous without losing its roots in the traditional piano styles of Atlantic Canada, New England and Scotland. He has appeared internationally at major festivals such as the Newport Folk Festival, Celtic Connections in Glasgow, Celtic Colours in Cape Breton and the Orkney Folk Festival and has recorded or performed with luminaries of traditional folk music including Natalie MacMaster, Darol Anger, Seamus Egan and Alasdair Fraser.

Neil’s deep love of the Gaelic music traditions has seen him welcomed into spaces that few other Americans have been. He was selected for the 2025 Shannon Residency at Beinn Mhabu in Cape Breton and has performed and guest lectured at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at University of Limerick, Ireland and the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music in Plockton, Scotland. His first solo piano album Refractions features frequently on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal and BBC Radio Scotland and his 2020 release with Shetland fiddler Kevin Henderson received 5 stars from Scotland’s national newspaper The Scotsman.

In addition to touring regularly with Kevin Henderson, the Pine Tree Flyers, and as a solo pianist, Neil teaches at festivals throughout North America and Europe and has guest lectured at Berklee College of Music, Northeastern University and the aforementioned University of Limerick. He co-directs an annual St. Patrick’s Day concert with Katie McNally at Groton Hill Music Center and releases podcasts and video collaborations with musicians from around the world through his production company TradCafe.

Gordon Peery started playing contra dance piano in the late 1970’s  He was fortunate to be in the neighborhood of Bob McQuillen, who was an inspiration and mentor. Though Gordon quickly evolved his own style of playing, he was permanently influenced by Bob’s commitment to providing a solid bass line for dances. Gordon was the piano player for the band Fresh Fish, (with fiddler Kerry Elkin), which became a nationally prominent contra dance band. They toured the country extensively between 1985 and 1995, and produced a recording, “Turning of the Tide”. (more…)

Doug likes to play the “old-time piano” for dances, melodramas, honky tonk saloons, and silent movies. He learned his style from Otto Soper, Geneva Walton, and Danny Patt among many others. He plays with Old Grey Goose and produced all three of their recordings, including the group’s first recording in 1978 for Folkways, “Old Time Country Dance Tunes and Songs from Maine”, now available again on CD. Doug also plays piano, accordion, and fiddle. He is the Camp Director again this year. 
116 Pleasant Cove Dr. Woolwich ME 04579 207-522-3800

Cindy is an accomplished piano accompanist and stepdancer and has collaborated with her husband, Don Roy on numerous recordings and performances.
114 Plummer Rd. Gorham ME. 04038 892-3512

I grew up in the small town of Blue Hill, Maine nestled in the forest on the edge of the ocean. My parents are both self taught folk musicians and from a young age I have heard them play traditional music for contra dances, weddings and other events. Growing up with my sisters we listened to lots of different kinds of music. My mom had Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan and Carole King records and my dad was into Thelonius Monk, Miles Davis and the artists from the Motown era. These sounds absorbed into my being and began to expose me to the vast, rich world of music. Though I have to credit my dad as my first piano teacher, I began official piano lessons with Win Pusey at age eight. I loved playing the piano and I felt a natural connection to the instrument. Once I advanced to 6th grade I started with teacher and lifelong mentor Ginger Hwalek who helped take my classical playing to the next level. In 7th grade when I formed an a cappella group at the Bay School with some of my friends, I really started to get excited about exploring my voice. I had the opportunity to record my own CD in a professional studio as my 8th grade project and I saw first hand how much work goes into making a recording; but the rush I got from being in the studio was like nothing else. (more…)

David Stimson began backing up country dance music on the guitar in 1965 at the age of eleven. During several summers the 1960s he attended Pinewoods cape with his family while his stepfather, Bob Guillard, taught Morris Dancing and English Country Dance. David’s was first exposed to Contra Dance during the evening dances at Pinewoods; however, the disease remained latent until he learned English Concertina and joined the Woods Hole Folk Orchestra in1979. (more…)

Pam sings and plays several instruments in the folk trio, T-Acadie, is fiddler and singer for the Maine-based Cajun dance band, Jimmyjo & the Jumbol’Ayuhs, plays fiddle and mountain dulcimer in the contradance band, Scrod Pudding, and performs solo or with guitar player and caller Bill Olson. She is an accomplished tunesmith and has composed scores of tunes, from lively jigs and reels, to entrancing airs and beautiful waltzes.

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