Teachers old and new

A strong and imaginative player, Peter plays anything with strings on it, and is equally adept at backup and hot improvisation. He has played in respected bands on both the East Coast (Metropolitan Opry, Wretched Refuse) and the West Coast (Puddle City, Entropy Service, Portland Zoo), and has performed with such notables as Doc Watson, Reverend Gary Davis, Tony Trischka, Peter Rowan, Alison Brown, Johnny Gimble, and Mike Seeger. Peter has led a double life as a musician and a computer whiz kid and has taught both audio recording and computer science at the college level. Peter has been a frequent member of the staff of various music and dance camps, including the California Coast Music Camp, Sierra Swing, the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, the Northeast Heritage Music Camp, Alta Sierra, and the American Banjo Camp.

Beth Lawrence has composed music and lyrics for both Broadway and film, and her voice can be heard on various national jingles. She has recorded five CDs, garnering awards from Parent's Magazine, Billboard Magazine, the American Song Festival and L.A. Jazz Scene Magazine. Beth has been teaching voice and performance workshops for twelve years and has developed a unique blend of movement, visualization, relaxation and breathing exercises to create The Integrated Voice technique.

With an Irish father, a Greek mother, and a Brazilian wife, Paddy has found himself inevitably drawn to learning and playing the musics of all three cultures. He also grew up playing drums in funk, rock, and jazz groups, and spent a not insignificant amount of time hanging out with Nepalese folk percussionists. Today he's one of the leading guitarists and percussionists on the contemporary Celtic music scene, plays fiddles and lutes with various groups in Greece and the US, and for a gringo knows a thing or two about forró and maracatu.

Keith is a multi-instrumental performing and recording artist, vocalist, and composer. He's been a member of many national touring bands (Country Gentlemen, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, and Lonesome Standard Time), and has performed on GRAMMY award winning recordings by the Chieftains and Dolly Parton. His songs have been recorded by Crystal Gayle, Claire Lynch, and Tim O'Brien, and he is an honorary lifetime member of the California Bluegrass Association.

For over 30 years, Keith's bass playing has spanned many genres from orchestral music to pop, folk, swing, and country. Keith's comprehensive knowledge and experience has given him a unique perspective that has resulted in a strong, innovative style. The result is an eclectic and extensive resume. Keith has recorded and/or toured with such people as Bill Frisell, Wayne Horvitz, Robin Holcomb, Danny Barnes, Orville Johnson, Fiona Apple, David Sylvian, Jim Byrnes, Zubot and Dawson, Kelly Joe Phelps, and Duffy Bishop. Career highlights include performing on such TV shows as Conan O'Brian, Jay Leno, David Letterman, Rosie O'Donnell, Saturday Night Live, Howard Stern, and opening for the Rolling Stones in NYC at Madison Square Garden. Keith's enthusiastic stage presence captures his love of music and performance. He is eager to share in the joys of music with you at the upcoming PSGW.