Cary Fridley, Instructor
Cary Fridley is an Appalachian singer, bassist, and innovative educator. Her style is rooted in tradition, and has evolved to embrace all styles of traditional country, blues, folk, and jazz. She is a published songwriter, recording artist, and bandleader, singing and performing in western North Carolina for over 15 years. She is currently a member of the Adjunct Fine Arts Faculty at AB-Tech in Asheville, NC, and teaches old-time guitar at two regional JAM (Junior Appalachian Musician) programs, Haywood County and Buncombe County. Check out Cary's website: https://caryfridleymusic.com/
Helena Rose Hunt, Instructor
Hi everyone! Helena Hunt here. I’m a touring banjo player/singer songwriter and environmentalist from Waynesville, North Carolina. I was a part of the JAM program when I was 8 years old, and it is what sparked my interest in the music of this region. Now, my love for Appalachia grows stronger with each fiddle tune I learn, and each batch of sorghum syrup I make at my family’s farm. I try to use my music and my social media platforms to help share these traditions, while also creating new and less harmful stereotypes about the region. I graduated from Haywood Community College with an Associate’s in Fish and Wildlife Management, and from East Tennessee State University with a Bachelor’s in Biology and a minor in Environmental Studies, plus a few bluegrass classes here and there of course. I strive to combine my music and education to help spread and preserve the Appalachian traditions I love so dearly, so I am so excited to help teach banjo for the JAM program!
Nat Copeland, Instructor
Nat grew up playing a traditional style of fiddle music called Texas Style. His childhood was spent traveling to different places in the country to study with his heroes and compete in fiddle contests. His love for music has led him to Warren Wilson College to study bluegrass, old time, country, and jazz. Nat graduated this spring and is now living and playing music professionally in Asheville. He found a love for teaching at an early age and enjoys kindling a passion for music in others.
Sophie Moekel, Instructor
Sophie grew up surrounded by music in the mountains of Virginia. She fell in love with the community aspect of old time music and dance as a Floyd County JAM student and has been playing and teaching ever since. She's taught in JAM programs for the past 8 years, and has also taught private lessons and run youth and adult music camps, workshops, after-school programs, and programming of all kinds in Floyd, VA, and beyond. Sophie has a passion for bringing people together around traditional music and dance, and especially loves drawing young people into the tradition. She has a background in Waldorf Education and has taught in classrooms and run farm-based education programs bringing together music and craft traditions and the outdoors. Sophie is currently pursuing Environmental Education and music studies at Warren Wilson College and enjoying the mountains of Western NC. She's had the honor of being mentored by many dedicated and seasoned tradition-bearers and is thrilled to pass along what she's learned to Haywood JAM students this semester.