MEET THE BOARD
Our dedicated board members include staff and enthusiastic campers.
Others, too, have volunteered their time and skills toward the re-birth and continued growth of NHMC.
Thank you!
Others, too, have volunteered their time and skills toward the re-birth and continued growth of NHMC.
Thank you!
Rose Jackson - President
Montague, MA
Montague, MA
Back before the dawn of time (okay, perhaps only a couple decades ago), when cars still had tape decks and parents entertained their children by buckling them into car seats and turning on the stereo, Rose already knew exactly what she liked from her parents’ massive tape collection: Warren’s Zevon’s Excitable Boy and Nightingale’s The Coming Dawn. Fast forward a few years to when 9-year-old Rose, yet to play her first scratchy and out-of-tune note, met Becky Tracy, that oft-heard Nightingale fiddler, and realized that recordings were made by real live people, one of whom lived nearby! Warren Zevon didn’t stand a chance. From then on, it was all trad and only trad.
The folk scene of Western Mass was rife with opportunities for a young devotee, and in addition to taking up the fiddle under Becky’s tutelage, she was introduced to contra dancing at her elementary school. She began Morris dancing and step dancing soon after, and was a regular at the local pub sing long before she was allowed anywhere near the bar.
As a teenager, Rose became involved with the Young Tradition Vermont Touring Group, then under the artistic leadership of Pete Sutherland, who convinced her to come to “Nahumca.” There was no looking back. After a few years as a camper, and charmed by promises of camp for free and hanging out with all the cool people, she joined the board in 2017, and became its president in 2020.
In addition to her work with NHMC, Rose wears many professional hats as a wilderness trip leader with Outward Bound, a gardener, a sewing assistant, and almost anything else she can get her hands on (she’s been a lift attendant, farmer, van driver, writing tutor, tall-ship deckhand and dog-sled guide). She toured nationally with the contra dance band Polaris and currently can be found playing dances around New England with various combinations of musicians she admires. She also loves linoleum block printing, knitting, and various other handicrafts which she occasionally sells to support her craft habit.
The folk scene of Western Mass was rife with opportunities for a young devotee, and in addition to taking up the fiddle under Becky’s tutelage, she was introduced to contra dancing at her elementary school. She began Morris dancing and step dancing soon after, and was a regular at the local pub sing long before she was allowed anywhere near the bar.
As a teenager, Rose became involved with the Young Tradition Vermont Touring Group, then under the artistic leadership of Pete Sutherland, who convinced her to come to “Nahumca.” There was no looking back. After a few years as a camper, and charmed by promises of camp for free and hanging out with all the cool people, she joined the board in 2017, and became its president in 2020.
In addition to her work with NHMC, Rose wears many professional hats as a wilderness trip leader with Outward Bound, a gardener, a sewing assistant, and almost anything else she can get her hands on (she’s been a lift attendant, farmer, van driver, writing tutor, tall-ship deckhand and dog-sled guide). She toured nationally with the contra dance band Polaris and currently can be found playing dances around New England with various combinations of musicians she admires. She also loves linoleum block printing, knitting, and various other handicrafts which she occasionally sells to support her craft habit.
Oliver Scanlon - Vice President
South Burlington, VT
Inspired by Pete Sutherland and his contradance band at the Lake Champlain Waldorf School, Oliver began playing traditional music when he was in fourth grade. His early training included a stint playing viola with the Vermont Youth Orchestra, in addition to some years in various Young Tradition Vermont programs including Fiddle Heads and the Touring Group.
Oliver first appeared at Northeast Heritage Music Camp in 2006 at 11 years old with his red fiddle case in hand and bright green Crocs under foot, ready to be inspired by the immense talent of the camp’s faculty. NHMC’s inspiration turned out to be a success as in 2008 Oliver and a few talented middle school friends formed the group which became the The Irregulars and in 2013 he co-founded Pete’s Posse and became the youngest member of Sutherland’s long running dance band The Clayfoot Strutters.
Oliver was recruited to join the NHMC board in 2016 and became its vice president in 2020 where he continues to serve today. Presently Oliver teaches private fiddle and mandolin lessons, performs at concerts and contradances, provides live sound reinforcement in and around Vermont, and works at local violin shop Vermont Violins. He is also a proud cat dad of two of the loveliest kitties on the planet, Azalea and Monroe.
Oliver first appeared at Northeast Heritage Music Camp in 2006 at 11 years old with his red fiddle case in hand and bright green Crocs under foot, ready to be inspired by the immense talent of the camp’s faculty. NHMC’s inspiration turned out to be a success as in 2008 Oliver and a few talented middle school friends formed the group which became the The Irregulars and in 2013 he co-founded Pete’s Posse and became the youngest member of Sutherland’s long running dance band The Clayfoot Strutters.
Oliver was recruited to join the NHMC board in 2016 and became its vice president in 2020 where he continues to serve today. Presently Oliver teaches private fiddle and mandolin lessons, performs at concerts and contradances, provides live sound reinforcement in and around Vermont, and works at local violin shop Vermont Violins. He is also a proud cat dad of two of the loveliest kitties on the planet, Azalea and Monroe.
Gianna Marzilli Ericson - Secretary
Arlington, MA
Gianna has been a fiddler for nearly half her life and a musician for almost all of it. At age 7 she taped numbers to the keys on her step-dad’s piano, attempting to teach herself songs. Her mom took the hint and signed her up for lessons. A few years later Gianna’s step-mom brought her to a Pioneer Valley contra dance, where she fell in love with dance music and promised herself she’d learn to play it. It took awhile, but she eventually traded classical piano for fiddle.
In 2008 - a few years after her first fiddle lessons - a friend invited her to Fiddle Hell, where she learned about NHMC. In what was perhaps the most fortuitous musical decision of her life so far, she gifted herself a week at camp upon finishing grad school in 2009 and thus found herself connected to a community of musicians, mentors, and friends across Massachusetts and Vermont who have enriched her life ever since.
In particular, Gianna owes a debt of gratitude to David Kaynor along with many associated Montague MA and Montpelier VT musicians, and to her stepdad Glenn - her first musical partner. Without them she would’ve had far fewer opportunities to practice messing up in front of people and know far less about many important things in life, including not only how to play music but also the value of joyfully sharing it with others.
In recent years, Gianna has played for contra dances around the northeast, been a frequent coffee shop, church, and community musician, and taught fiddle tunes and harmony workshops at camp, online, and at Fiddle Hell. Gianna joined the NHMC board in 2020 with much excitement and gratitude. In addition to playing fiddle and piano, Gianna sings, writes tunes, and likes to mess around on any instrument tuned GDAE. Outside of music, she works as a UX designer and researcher in the field of healthcare technology, bikes a lot, grows vegetables, and spends a ton of time with her family, including her two kids.
In 2008 - a few years after her first fiddle lessons - a friend invited her to Fiddle Hell, where she learned about NHMC. In what was perhaps the most fortuitous musical decision of her life so far, she gifted herself a week at camp upon finishing grad school in 2009 and thus found herself connected to a community of musicians, mentors, and friends across Massachusetts and Vermont who have enriched her life ever since.
In particular, Gianna owes a debt of gratitude to David Kaynor along with many associated Montague MA and Montpelier VT musicians, and to her stepdad Glenn - her first musical partner. Without them she would’ve had far fewer opportunities to practice messing up in front of people and know far less about many important things in life, including not only how to play music but also the value of joyfully sharing it with others.
In recent years, Gianna has played for contra dances around the northeast, been a frequent coffee shop, church, and community musician, and taught fiddle tunes and harmony workshops at camp, online, and at Fiddle Hell. Gianna joined the NHMC board in 2020 with much excitement and gratitude. In addition to playing fiddle and piano, Gianna sings, writes tunes, and likes to mess around on any instrument tuned GDAE. Outside of music, she works as a UX designer and researcher in the field of healthcare technology, bikes a lot, grows vegetables, and spends a ton of time with her family, including her two kids.
Todd Taska - Treasurer
Montpelier, VT
Todd grew up with his mom playing cello and with classical music (especially Pablo Casals and Jacqueline Dupre) often in the background. He took piano and then French horn lessons, but didn’t much like to practice. It was as a teenager, while incessantly listening to the progressive rock bands of the day that he began to play piano a lot on his own. This continued through college and beyond.
After college, some friends took him to the contradance at the Cambridge VFW and it was a revelatory experience…in many ways. Once in Vermont, he eventually joined the Contradance Umbrella, the organizing group of the Montpelier contradance, and he served on this board, booking callers and bands, and creating innumerable flyers, for 25 years. Through this he met many dancers, callers, and musicians.
In 2012, Todd went to the two meetings held by people interested in restarting something like NHMC, after Ken and Peter ended their run with it. He became a part of the new board, which re-booted a camp of the same name, having many of the same features (and faculty), as a non-profit.
Since 2010, when Todd bought his second accordion, he has taken many lessons and classes (particularly with Jeremiah McLane), and attended a variety of camps and workshops. He still has a love of music which fuses elements of different genres…whether those be traditional dance music, classical, rock, or jazz.
In his life outside of music, Todd is dad to two grown kids and now the proud grandfather of a one-year old granddaughter (who is already “playing” pianos and keyboards). He loves to hike, run, Nordic ski, and study and learn languages…among many other interests.
NHMC has been an incredible project for him to be involved with, and he has contributed to all the work of the board in many ways.
After college, some friends took him to the contradance at the Cambridge VFW and it was a revelatory experience…in many ways. Once in Vermont, he eventually joined the Contradance Umbrella, the organizing group of the Montpelier contradance, and he served on this board, booking callers and bands, and creating innumerable flyers, for 25 years. Through this he met many dancers, callers, and musicians.
In 2012, Todd went to the two meetings held by people interested in restarting something like NHMC, after Ken and Peter ended their run with it. He became a part of the new board, which re-booted a camp of the same name, having many of the same features (and faculty), as a non-profit.
Since 2010, when Todd bought his second accordion, he has taken many lessons and classes (particularly with Jeremiah McLane), and attended a variety of camps and workshops. He still has a love of music which fuses elements of different genres…whether those be traditional dance music, classical, rock, or jazz.
In his life outside of music, Todd is dad to two grown kids and now the proud grandfather of a one-year old granddaughter (who is already “playing” pianos and keyboards). He loves to hike, run, Nordic ski, and study and learn languages…among many other interests.
NHMC has been an incredible project for him to be involved with, and he has contributed to all the work of the board in many ways.
Cynthia Thomas - Member at Large
Leverett, MA
Leverett, MA
Cynthia loves harmony. And there’s always a tune in her head, always. As a child, the family car trips were always filled with song. Music was everywhere.
Thanks to public schools that value the arts, in fourth grade a fiddle was thrust into her hands, complete with lessons. While she liked classical music, she felt something was missing. After five years and a school change she put down her violin. As she filled the void playing early and baroque music duets on recorder with piano, her violin lay sadly neglected until 2004 when her nephew asked her to play fiddle for his wedding - note fiddle, not violin. It was her rising-of-the-phoenix moment.
Cynthia entered the trad music scene through David Kaynor’s welcoming Monday night sessions. She loves to play harmony and improv. Her current trad favs, any music with a French accent: Quebecois music with French Press, French-Breton music and Balfolk dances with Danse Café, and Balfolk music with Duo Thomas-Fownes. Full disclosure here: the Balfolk music seduced her into learning the diatonic accordion - it’s SO French!
When not making music Cynthia designs and creates a line of fun, women’s clothing with her sister-in-law at First Mountain Design. Other distractions include making art and biking the scenic byways of the Pioneer Valley.
Cynthia attended her first NHMC way back in 2006, its second year. She’s probably its longest attending attendee! With NHMC she has found her vibe, her tribe. She remains grateful for the wonderful music, awesome community, good times, and lovely friends NHMC has given her.
Thanks to public schools that value the arts, in fourth grade a fiddle was thrust into her hands, complete with lessons. While she liked classical music, she felt something was missing. After five years and a school change she put down her violin. As she filled the void playing early and baroque music duets on recorder with piano, her violin lay sadly neglected until 2004 when her nephew asked her to play fiddle for his wedding - note fiddle, not violin. It was her rising-of-the-phoenix moment.
Cynthia entered the trad music scene through David Kaynor’s welcoming Monday night sessions. She loves to play harmony and improv. Her current trad favs, any music with a French accent: Quebecois music with French Press, French-Breton music and Balfolk dances with Danse Café, and Balfolk music with Duo Thomas-Fownes. Full disclosure here: the Balfolk music seduced her into learning the diatonic accordion - it’s SO French!
When not making music Cynthia designs and creates a line of fun, women’s clothing with her sister-in-law at First Mountain Design. Other distractions include making art and biking the scenic byways of the Pioneer Valley.
Cynthia attended her first NHMC way back in 2006, its second year. She’s probably its longest attending attendee! With NHMC she has found her vibe, her tribe. She remains grateful for the wonderful music, awesome community, good times, and lovely friends NHMC has given her.
Linda Young - Member at Large
Montpelier, VT
Linda’s first love is singing (in fact, she can hardly help herself, and regularly “leaks” songs and tunes as she goes about her day for better or worse). Raised mostly by an Estonian mother and grandmother, singing was a constant accompaniment to pretty much any activity in the home, with songs ranging widely from Estonian and American folk music to hymns, show tunes, jazz, and early rock. Many years in Lutheran church choirs and early music chorales, and some very early years spent in Austin, TX exposed to fiddles and pedal-steel guitars, added to the pool of musical influences.
In college she tried a few voice lessons and they piqued her excitement for opera enough to lead to graduate studies in classical vocal performance, but eventually she found her way back to the music she started with and loves the most - folk and jazz. Linda picked up the guitar and started performing as a singer-songwriter when she moved home to Vermont. There she encountered David Kaynor’s exuberant dance calling and Pete Sutherland’s wise workshop teaching, and when their names showed up on posters advertising the NHMC 2013 season, she resolved to take a leap into the unknown and give it a try! NHMC has been Linda’s musical home ever since.
In the fall of 2013, several of Linda’s new “best musical friends” whom she’d met at NHMC that summer took her to the New World Festival. That’s where she first heard both Dominique Dodge and Maeve Gilchrist playing harp, and had a “harp conversion” experience. She hasn’t looked back since, and regularly enjoys playing harp in sessions and with small ensembles, including for English country dances. She’s excited to help keep NHMC going as place that provides a rich musical community and opportunity for others to keep making new musical friends and discoveries.
In college she tried a few voice lessons and they piqued her excitement for opera enough to lead to graduate studies in classical vocal performance, but eventually she found her way back to the music she started with and loves the most - folk and jazz. Linda picked up the guitar and started performing as a singer-songwriter when she moved home to Vermont. There she encountered David Kaynor’s exuberant dance calling and Pete Sutherland’s wise workshop teaching, and when their names showed up on posters advertising the NHMC 2013 season, she resolved to take a leap into the unknown and give it a try! NHMC has been Linda’s musical home ever since.
In the fall of 2013, several of Linda’s new “best musical friends” whom she’d met at NHMC that summer took her to the New World Festival. That’s where she first heard both Dominique Dodge and Maeve Gilchrist playing harp, and had a “harp conversion” experience. She hasn’t looked back since, and regularly enjoys playing harp in sessions and with small ensembles, including for English country dances. She’s excited to help keep NHMC going as place that provides a rich musical community and opportunity for others to keep making new musical friends and discoveries.
Steve Hoffman - Member at Large
Thetford Center, VT
Thetford Center, VT
Steve finds an immense amount of pleasure while playing fiddle in small groups, and as a result, has found himself in a number of bands over the years. Most have been focused on contra and community dances. The interplay and comaraderie of a contra dance band can’t be beat, although performances in front of folks that aren’t moving makes him nervous. He’s happiest while playing behind a caller or in someone’s kitchen.
After a childhood of hit and miss piano lessons, he renewed his interest in making music through group music nights in college, occasionally playing a chord or two on guitar or banjo. Sadly, it never settled into a regular playing routine. It wasn’t until his forties when he borrowed a fiddle and started playing behind some talented friends, that the bug bit. And one winter he met Jeremiah McLane while ice skating and was convinced that going to a weekend camp that summer would be good (turns out that he attended for 10 years straight)
Following on that, Jeremiah taught a class on “How to be in a contra dance band” and the hook was set. He would spend the next 10 years hosting a monthly family dance and dinner in Woodstock VT with his classmates/bandmates in “Old Sam Peabody”. Near the end of their tenure, Steve started playing with a group closer to his home in West Thetford – Blind Squirrel - and another 10 years slipped by learning tunes, playing for dances and having fun.
It wasn’t all play – Steve ran the Norwich Farmers Market for 12 years and hired hundreds of musical groups. Now he fills his time trying to fit in as many rehearsals, jams, classes, workshops, and camps as he can. 2022 was his first weeklong NHMC experience.
After a childhood of hit and miss piano lessons, he renewed his interest in making music through group music nights in college, occasionally playing a chord or two on guitar or banjo. Sadly, it never settled into a regular playing routine. It wasn’t until his forties when he borrowed a fiddle and started playing behind some talented friends, that the bug bit. And one winter he met Jeremiah McLane while ice skating and was convinced that going to a weekend camp that summer would be good (turns out that he attended for 10 years straight)
Following on that, Jeremiah taught a class on “How to be in a contra dance band” and the hook was set. He would spend the next 10 years hosting a monthly family dance and dinner in Woodstock VT with his classmates/bandmates in “Old Sam Peabody”. Near the end of their tenure, Steve started playing with a group closer to his home in West Thetford – Blind Squirrel - and another 10 years slipped by learning tunes, playing for dances and having fun.
It wasn’t all play – Steve ran the Norwich Farmers Market for 12 years and hired hundreds of musical groups. Now he fills his time trying to fit in as many rehearsals, jams, classes, workshops, and camps as he can. 2022 was his first weeklong NHMC experience.
Joanne Puente - Member at Large
Worcester, VT
Worcester, VT
Born and raised in Barre, VT, Joanne spent many hours of her childhood singing along with Frank Sinatra, Vicki Carr and Mills Brothers by the family's console. She took piano lessons from 4th to 8th grade and discovered the magic of musical instruments.
When her Italian grandparent's house was cleaned out, an old guitar was found in the garage. From a cousin in Italy she learned that when her grandfather immigrated to Barre as a young single man, he used to play guitar and sing for the ladies – until the day her grandmother stepped off the train having just arrived from Italy. From then on he sang only for her. Joanne still has the guitar. Her grandmother used to sing Italian songs while doing housework and Joanne and her mother were always singing when she was growing up.
In high school, Joanne sang in the Glee Club chorus and developed her love for harmony. She also joined the Drama Club and discovered that she loved stage managing, especially the fine details involved in the production of concerts and theater shows.
After many years living around the state, Joanne moved back to central Vermont as a single mom and returned to the theater doing musical comedies and G&S operettas with Unadilla Theater, Barre Players, Lamoille County Players (where she won the role of Grisabella in CATS), and the Valley Players in Waitsfield where she still stage manages and performs.
In 2006, she fulfilled a life-long dream of learning to play the fiddle and joined the Vermont Fiddle Orchestra. Two years later she became VFO's Manager, a position she still holds. She first heard about NHMC from Sarah Hotchkiss, VFO’s founder and first director. But it took David Kaynor, Sarah’s successor, to convince Joanne to attend NHMC in 2015. She has been a happy camper since! After hearing the amazing playing of David Surette at NHMC, she bought a mandolin. She loves playing both instruments.
Joanne has been a dental hygienist for 47 years. She currently works full time as a hygienist and case manager at People’s Health & Wellness Clinic in Barre which provides free medical & dental care to uninsured Vermonters. She lives in a log cabin with her lab Rita (named for her Italian grandmother Margherita) and her cats Pansy & Rose. She sings Italian and folk songs to her little grandson and looks forward to teaching him to play her dance hall piano.
When her Italian grandparent's house was cleaned out, an old guitar was found in the garage. From a cousin in Italy she learned that when her grandfather immigrated to Barre as a young single man, he used to play guitar and sing for the ladies – until the day her grandmother stepped off the train having just arrived from Italy. From then on he sang only for her. Joanne still has the guitar. Her grandmother used to sing Italian songs while doing housework and Joanne and her mother were always singing when she was growing up.
In high school, Joanne sang in the Glee Club chorus and developed her love for harmony. She also joined the Drama Club and discovered that she loved stage managing, especially the fine details involved in the production of concerts and theater shows.
After many years living around the state, Joanne moved back to central Vermont as a single mom and returned to the theater doing musical comedies and G&S operettas with Unadilla Theater, Barre Players, Lamoille County Players (where she won the role of Grisabella in CATS), and the Valley Players in Waitsfield where she still stage manages and performs.
In 2006, she fulfilled a life-long dream of learning to play the fiddle and joined the Vermont Fiddle Orchestra. Two years later she became VFO's Manager, a position she still holds. She first heard about NHMC from Sarah Hotchkiss, VFO’s founder and first director. But it took David Kaynor, Sarah’s successor, to convince Joanne to attend NHMC in 2015. She has been a happy camper since! After hearing the amazing playing of David Surette at NHMC, she bought a mandolin. She loves playing both instruments.
Joanne has been a dental hygienist for 47 years. She currently works full time as a hygienist and case manager at People’s Health & Wellness Clinic in Barre which provides free medical & dental care to uninsured Vermonters. She lives in a log cabin with her lab Rita (named for her Italian grandmother Margherita) and her cats Pansy & Rose. She sings Italian and folk songs to her little grandson and looks forward to teaching him to play her dance hall piano.
Jonathon Leonard - Member at Large
Florence, MA
Florence, MA
Jonathan is a multi-instrumentalist who plays guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, fiddle, open-backed claw-hammer banjo, and B/C button accordion. Music has always been an important part of Jonathan's life starting before elementary school when Jonathan played the old upright piano in his grandmother's house on Cape Cod in the 1960s. He took classical piano lessons from age 11 through college, and played trombone, baritone horn, and tuba in junior high school, and high school marching bands.
Jonathan has always been drawn to dances and acoustic music. In high school he took weekly square dancing lessons and in graduate school at UVM Jonathan learned to contra dance and was introduced to the deep well of traditional music. In the early 2000s he was in Irish session tune classes with Benedict Kohler and Hillary Farrington, and most recently has been taking Celtic Tune repertoire classes with Keith Murphy and Becky Tracy. He also participates in shape note singing, and loves pub sings and shanteys. David Surette was a good friend and mentor to Jonathan. Maine Fiddle Camp was a favorite camp of Jonathan's, and he first went to Northeast Heritage Music Camp in 2018 where he was greeted by friend Pete Sutherland who said "You are finally here!".
Besides music, Jonathan's career at the University of Vermont spanned over three decades and included teaching IT, public speaking, and Propaganda, Media Ownership, and Citizen Responsibility. He has a Ph.D. in Forest Entomology. He is now retired, has a duo gig with his partner, and plays some form of music every day.
Jonathan has always been drawn to dances and acoustic music. In high school he took weekly square dancing lessons and in graduate school at UVM Jonathan learned to contra dance and was introduced to the deep well of traditional music. In the early 2000s he was in Irish session tune classes with Benedict Kohler and Hillary Farrington, and most recently has been taking Celtic Tune repertoire classes with Keith Murphy and Becky Tracy. He also participates in shape note singing, and loves pub sings and shanteys. David Surette was a good friend and mentor to Jonathan. Maine Fiddle Camp was a favorite camp of Jonathan's, and he first went to Northeast Heritage Music Camp in 2018 where he was greeted by friend Pete Sutherland who said "You are finally here!".
Besides music, Jonathan's career at the University of Vermont spanned over three decades and included teaching IT, public speaking, and Propaganda, Media Ownership, and Citizen Responsibility. He has a Ph.D. in Forest Entomology. He is now retired, has a duo gig with his partner, and plays some form of music every day.
BOARD ALUMS
And let us not forgot our former, fellow board members who helped us get NHMC to where it is today.
Carol Dickson Pete Sutherland David Kaynor Chris Knippenberg Susan Reid
Doug Feeney Don Houghton Kristi Austin
THANK YOU!
Carol Dickson Pete Sutherland David Kaynor Chris Knippenberg Susan Reid
Doug Feeney Don Houghton Kristi Austin
THANK YOU!
