Caitlin Belém grew up in a house full of music in northern Wyoming. She fell in love with the fiddle at a young age and and continued to learn, playing saxophone and guitar, and singing through private lessons, school groups, and with her parents. She’s explored many genres, from Brazilian bossa nova and samba to Cuban son, to American jazz, blues, and swing. She’s performed in diverse venues, from thousand-seat concert halls to living rooms to TV and radio. Caitlin plays regularly with the Brazilian/Latin band Maracujá, the swing/folk duo Modern Bygones, the Basque ensemble Ospa, and The Fireants. She is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Ethnomusicology at the University of California, Berkeley.

Tim Connell has created a sophisticated and original global style on the mandolin. Widely regarded as one of the top North American interpreters of the Brazilian choro style on the mandolin, Tim has his own unique voice on the instrument, described in a Mandolin magazine cover story as “fiery and energetic, soulful and evocative.” Tim’s latest releases include June Apple, a nationally noted album of bluegrass fiddle tunes with guitarist Eric Skye, and MandAlone, a collection of original solo mandolin arrangements including his popular arrangement of “Here Comes the Sun.”

Chuck Ervin is the bassist for the acclaimed western group the Sons of the Pioneers. A versatile musician, he has performed swing music with the Sylvia Herold Ensemble, folk music with Euphonia, classic country with the Michael Stadler & Mary Gibbons Band, jazz and pop with guitarist Chris Grampp, blues with guitarist Pete Madsen, and has long been active in the Bay Area’s vibrant jazz and acoustic-music scenes. He has worked with many Bay Area musicians and fellow camp instructors, including Bobby Black, Joe Craven, Ed Johnson, Jinx Jones, Laurie Lewis, Keith Little, Tony Marcus, Carol McComb, Jim Nunally, Ron Peters, Tom Rozum, Julian Smedley, Jack Tuttle, Michael Wollenberg, and Radim Zenkl. He has also performed as an actor and musician in numerous stage productions.

Dennis Fortin has been playing guitar since childhood. Over the years he’s played a variety of music styles including rock, folk, blues, R&B, jazz, country, and bluegrass. Today he devotes most of his musical time to playing jazz, performing regularly with his gypsy jazz group Eclair de Lune. Dennis also performs regularly with On the Air and the Nu Jazz Trio. His teaching experience includes Bandworks, and more than ten years at Cazadero Performing Arts Family Camp teaching classes such as Swing Band, Pit Band, and Gypsy Jazz.

Katie Glassman is one of the country’s most renowned and decorated Texas-style and swing fiddlers, as well as an accomplished songwriter, singer, and educator. She’s a four-time National Swing fiddle champion and two-time National Divisional champion. Based in Denver, CO, Katie toured and recorded with the renowned trio The Western Flyers—winners of the 2018 Best Western Swing Group (Ameripolitan Awards) and Western Swing Album of the Year (Western Music Association and the Academy of Western Artists) for Wild Blue Yonder. Katie is the founder, owner, and primary instructor at FiddleSchool.com, an online academy offering fiddlers around the world the opportunity to learn, improve, and progress in Texas-style fiddling, Western swing, and early jazz.

Viewing music through a wide-angle lens, Paul Hemmings utilizes the unassuming ukulele to fuse together elements of modern jazz, free improvisation, and American roots music. His proclivity for crossing musical boundaries led the venerable jazz journal Downbeat to note, “Hemmings hauntingly teases sounds out of the little chordophone that fit no stereotype.” Paul considers himself fortunate to have performed with a list of creative musicians that includes John Tchicai, Rudy Royston, Greg Tardy, George Reed, Curtis Fowlkes, Eric Alexander, Onaje Allan Gumbs, Gaku Takanashi, Duane Eubanks, and Lou Grassi, to name a few. Since 2001, Paul has been a faculty member at the Third Street Music School Settlement in New York City. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and two sons.

Sylvia Herold brings to CCMC a deep enthusiasm and knowledge of jazz, swing, and folk songs. Researching songs and developing guitar arrangements fuels her artistic passion. Her performing credits include the popular swing trio Cats & Jammers, Euphonia, Hot Club of San Francisco, and Sylvia Herold & the Rhythm Bugs. Sylvia currently performs with the Celtic Grateful Dead band, Wake the Dead, and her jazz combo, the Sylvia Herold Ensemble. She is a popular guitar and repertoire teacher at Puget Sound Guitar Workshop, California Coast Music Camp, British Columbia Swing Camp, Colorado Roots Music Camp, Lark in the Morning, and the Ashokan Center.

Erik Hoffman fell in love with playing guitar in 1970, after a friend encouraged him to learn a blues shuffle. Studying with jazz master, Bill Thrasher, Erik learned theory as well as mapping the guitar neck with the CAGED system. In 1980, Erik discovered contra and square dancing, and fell in love with the music that drives that dance. Learning to play that music on guitar, fiddle, and other instruments is now his joy. 

Classical. Brazilian. R&B. Jazz. Afro-Cuban. Pop. Rock and Roll. Funk. Folk. Ed Johnson’s mastery of so many different styles, coupled with a passion for harmony vocal and horn arrangements, all factor into a magical blend of vibrant, original contemporary jazz that has won fans and airplay worldwide. As a vocalist, Ed is frequently compared to Ivan Lins, Milton Nascimento, Kenny Rankin, and Michael Franks. As a guitarist and bandleader, critics often cite the sounds of Airto and Flora Purim. Ed has seven recording projects to his credit, in addition to producer credits for numerous artists. He currently performs and records with his Brazilian jazz ensemble Novo Tempo, as well as with the Americana roots band Cabin Fever NW.

David Miles Keenan is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, teacher, band leader, producer, music director, and gardener based in Seattle, Washington.

Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Kristina Olsen has added "author" to her quiver with the release of her e-book with embedded songs. Kristina is an award-winning songwriter whose songs have been covered by artists including Eric Bibb, Mary Coughlin, Maddy Prior and Fairport Convention. With 14 recordings of original songs (four on Rounder/Philo Records), she is typically on the road ten months a year having way too much fun.

Monica Pasqual is the winner of 5 Independent Music Awards and Six Emmy Awards. Her song “Bird in Hand” charted on both Americana and Roots Radio and was among the top 10 Folk Radio songs for 2011. In 2017 her song and video “You Can't Kill Light” garnered radio play and views on stations across the U.S. and Germany. Monica performed the song at the 2018 Women’s March. Her songs have been used on numerous network television shows, and she has composed soundtracks for PBS, the History Channel, and National Geographic Television. For the last 18 years, Monica has been a member of the popular Bay Area band Blame Sally, touring the U.S. and Europe extensively and releasing 8 albums in addition to her own 5 solo albums.

Jennifer Scott is a Vancouver-born vocalist and jazz pianist specializing in jazz, blues, and world music. She is considered one of the most important jazz artists working in Canada and the United States today. From sold-out concerts in San Francisco to exclusive local club performances, Jennifer’s performance experiences have been varied. Jennifer has appeared at jazz festivals all across Canada and the U.S., appearing with such jazz luminaries as: Tommy Banks, Don Thompson, Jon Batiste, Kenny Wheeler, Skywalk, and Hugh Fraser, to name a few. She has numerous ongoing musical projects, including performing as the pianist/vocalist for San Francisco–based Novo Tempo, a Brazilian/jazz fusion group, and is a founding member of Crossing Borders, an international jazz group that performs and records music from the heart. Crossing Borders has released two CDs and performed at Kuumbwa and the Monterey Jazz Festival. Jennifer continues to perform at festivals worldwide and has two new recordings: Live at Samson Winery and Music for Bigs and Smalls. Her duo recordings and concerts with bassist/husband René Worst are critically acclaimed. Jennifer is in demand as an educator and clinician in the U.S. and Canada, and has taught and created many workshops and college courses.

Performer and teacher Laura Silverstein plays fingerstyle guitar and bluegrass banjo. Her guitar style is rooted in the folk traditions of John Fahey, Merle Travis, and Doc Watson, and has expanded over the years to include elements of blues, rock, and pop. Her four instrumental guitar recordings, including her most recent CD, Forbidden Tango, are available on Apple Music and Amazon, along with two albums with High Hills Bluegrass Band. Laura has taught guitar at CCMC, Northwest Women’s Music Celebration, Women Making Music (WOMAMU), and Georgia Strait Guitar Workshop, and loves nothing more than helping others to share the music that is within them!

Over the last decade, Jamie Stillway has quietly been making her mark in the world of fingerstyle guitar. She has become an in-demand instructor, having taught at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival, the Swannanoa Gathering, and Peghead Nation’s online Advanced Fingerstyle Workshop. A transcription of one of Stillway’s compositions was recently published in Acoustic Guitar magazine, and she has become a contributing author for the magazine. “One of the best fingerstyle guitarists around today,” says Fretboard Journal.

Chic Street Man is a uniquely talented artist with an international following. His music transcends cultural and attitudinal barriers, bringing home his message of harmony and ethnic diversity through acoustic bluesy ballads, funky rhythms, and jazzy upbeat originals. Chic is also a celebrated communications facilitator and has presented for many organizations, including The Young Presidents Organization (YPO) in Austria, Switzerland, Australia, and the U.S. His “Freedom of Expression” workshop uses the stage to empower participants to strengthen their ability to connect with others. Learn more at www.chicstreetman.com.

René Worst, an internationally known bass player, has established himself as one of the most influential and leading jazz voices in North America for several decades. He attended the UBC School of Music and Douglas College jazz program, and was voted Bassist of the Year by the BC CARAS Tribute to West Coast Music for the four years that the awards were given. René was co-leader of the now-legendary fusion band Skywalk, which has six CDs to their credit. He has toured Canada with jazz legends Chet Baker, Gene Bertoncini, and Joe Pass. On the international scene, he has toured the former Soviet Union with Paul Horn. He is also the bassist with Brazilian band Novo Tempo and multi-disciplinary ensemble Crossing Borders; both bands have toured extensively throughout the U.S. and Canada. He is a virtuoso on both string and electric bass. René has recorded and performed with numerous jazz greats, including Jack Sheldon, Tommy Banks, Herb Ellis, Freddie Hubbard, Ernestine Anderson, John Faddis, and Don Thompson, to name a few, and has recorded and produced seven CDs for musical partner Jennifer Scott, one of the top jazz artists in Canada, including the highly acclaimed Emotional Girl. He has also been featured as a session player on recordings by Jennifer Love Hewitt, David Bowie, Aerosmith, and Poison, to name a few. René has released a duo album with pianist Miles Black called Two; it has received much critical acclaim. René’s studio work include jingles, album projects, and movie scores. As a noted producer, René has helmed recordings for Sandy Foster, Megan Fanning, Skywalk, and Crossing Borders. This year, René released the Jennifer Scott CDs Live at Samson Winery and Music for Bigs and Smalls as bassist and producer, and was featured on new releases by Ed Johnson and Hans Staymer. He also released a second duo CD, El Escorial, with pianist Miles Black.