Aynsley began playing fiddle at the age of 9. Let me start off by saying that the differences in driving from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Euclid, Ohio are almost polar opposites. with internationally known, award-winning musicians like Ricky Skaggs and Sam Bush, Chat email or call (480)-624-2500. She was Blessed to win the Grand Master Fiddler Championship in 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee, and in 2017, she also became the Canadian Grand Master Fiddle Champion, making her the first person to win both competitions. Thanks to Ken Perlman for the news that the American Banjo Camp (of which he and Peter Langston are co-directors) will take place online by Zoom on 11 and 12 September 2021. The thought of their daughter playing the Opry certainly never crossed Aynsleys parents It brings ETSU great pride to congratulate such an accomplished student. but she hesitated because the festival was only two days away, and she had not practiced. minds when she was a toddler in Canada. Nearby a bass fiddle vibrates the floor. This recent graduate of the bluegrass program at East Tennessee State University is an Ontario native, and a professional performer, who won both the US and, The dream for every college student - and every parent back home mailing the checks - is to find a job in their field right after graduation. to talk to Buddy and then realized he hadnt introduced himself. Aynsley is also an experienced contest fiddler. I started my BLUE degree at ETSU with the goal of someday being able to make an impact through teaching in higher education, so this is truly a dream come true for me. All rights reserved. There was one Find an instrument for your child or donate one of yours. A violin in Porchaks possession that is too precious for public performance belonged to her great-grandfather, Cazmir Porzak, who left Poland in 1913 when he was 16 with only the clothes he was wearing and his treasured instrument. can with my music, just keep learning because you can always learn and just continue However, I soon discovered my love for American styles of fiddling, and when I was In fact, it is the achievements of musicians like Aynsley Porchak that can promote a spark with aspiring musicians. Through Bill Monroe, Seeger arranged to have the Hamilton County Bluegrass Band play on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville in 1971. From her carseat, she demanded that her mother stop dialing the radio when station BX 93 in London, Ontario, aired songs by country artists Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, and George Strait, whose sidemen played the fiddle. Aynsley Porchak (2018) (of Carolina Blue) - Instrumentalist of the Year. In 2018, Aynsley joined the . Aynsley is working on a graduate degree in Appalachian Studies at ETSU. ETSU now offers a four-year degree in that field, and it has since 2010. ~ Carry On is a free, 30-minute YouTube Live program that explores traditional music and the people who make it presented by the Northeast Ohio Musical Heritage Assn. Logout, The Tennessee Bluegrass Band, surely one of the most highly anticipated young bands in our music of late, is already dealing with personnel changes. Porchak, who has bachelors degrees in both Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Country Music Studies and English from ETSU, plus a masters in Appalachian Studies, feels humbled to join the faculty at her alma mater. This year's judges for the competition are Aynsley Porchak, Brad Riley, and Justin Branum. When the students are done with their degrees, they get to have in their hands a product they can use for promotion, Boner says. This was right after the O Brother, Where Art Thou? phenomenon, and programs like ours were exploding, Boner says. She is the first person to win both competitions. While we both thought the other was nice, it wasnt love at first sight. No, it didn't hurt anymore to think about Kestrel. Just to even go to the Opry has been a dream This is an historic first, making her. Were still together almost a year and a half later. Her thesis topic is the music of the Louvin Brothers, Charlie and Ira, from the Sand Mountain region of northern Alabama. Dan Eubanks, bassist with Special Consensus, and Aynsley Porchak. She was also given the honor of playing the Grand . Take all the opportunities given to hone your craft and really enjoy the opportunities that music has given, said Porchak when asked what advice she has for ETSUs aspiring musicians. I didnt want to mess things up with the band and wanted to remain professional about it. It was the last violin he would ever make. Supporting and inspiring the next generation to play and enjoy music. They are here to take part in an academic program like no other: Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Country Music Studies. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), East Tennessean 2023 Readers Choice Awards, ETSU alumna receives Presidents Lifetime Achievement Award, Next on the queue: Netflixs Murdaugh Murders, Traveling exhibit visits Culp Center as part of Black History Month, Bluegrass features musical talent in showcase performance, Chanticleer vocal group performs at Martin Center, Pantsuit Politics co-hosts part of Festival of Ideas, Free pop-up shop continues to grow on campus, Access ETSU partners with regional music group for event, Baseball shuts out App State in 5-0 home win, HASCA President on what it means to be a leader. Valentines Day has us thinking about all the great love stories in Bluegrass: Kenny & Amanda Smith, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Paul & Kelsi Harrigill, Little Roy and Mike Terryyou get the drift. Aynsley Porchak(Photograph contributed / ETSU). She was Blessed to win the Grand Master Fiddler Championship in 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee, and in 2017, she also became the Canadian Grand Master Fiddle Champion, making her the first person to win both competitions. I texted Daniel right afterward with a picture of me holding the plaque, saying, Since they were here last, they have enjoyed three IBMA nominations and earlier this month, won four SPBGMA Awards for Entertainers of the Year, Bluegrass Band of the Year (overall), Vocal Group of the Year, and Album of the Year for I Hear Bluegrass Calling Me. ! It was on Facebook before I even knew it. She also played in 2016 on the Grand Ole Opry. But on the buildings third level, theres a different kind of activity altogether. When she couldnt fall asleep, her mom would gratefully giving Him all the glory for all His many blessings.. Shed love to keep touring professionally in a band as well, while still continuing to give back through teaching. For example, some textbooks are The Meadors are married. . Tennessee Bluegrass Band looking for new members, Save Me All the Heartaches first single from Tone Tuesday, ETSU welcomes Aynsley Porchak and Dan Eubanks to bluegrass faculty, Moments in Bluegrass: BG75 #12 Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe, Aynsley Plays Kenny on social media in July, Aynsley Porchak wins Canadian Grand Masters, Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press at Bluegrass Wednesday Nights, Open Bluegrass Jam // Cinderlands Warehouse (Pittsburgh), Wernick Method Bluegrass Jam Class with Joel Denman Durango, CO, Open Bluegrass Jam // Cork Harbour Pub (Pittsburgh), Bluegrass Beyond Borders: Dave Wright & the Midnight Ramblers from Down Under, Bluegrass Beyond Borders: Bononia Grass plays with an Italian flavor, Russ Hooper: 74 years in bluegrass music and still gigging, Jason Fraley returns to Deeper Shade of Blue for one last show. In the 1960s, with the Hamilton County Bluegrass Band, Colleen Trenwith helped introduce bluegrass to New Zealand. She confesses to having a passion for boots. . His image is repeated several times in a Brooks Gym hallway photo mural, near those of the Stanley Brothers, the Carter Family, and Bonnie Lou and Buster, a duo that played live on Johnson Citys WJHL-TV in the 1960s. Aynsley is also an experienced contest fiddler. October 13, 1932 - February 8, 2021, Thomas Donald Hensley passed away on February 8, 2021 in Erwin, Tennessee. ), doctor of nursing practice (DNP) and doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees on successful . of Bluegrass, Old Time and Country Music Studies in ETSUs Department of Appalachian She graduated in 2017 with an additional bachelors degree in English, and completed her masters degree in Appalachian Studies in 2020. . She graduated in 2017 with an additional bachelors degree in English, and completed her masters degree in Appalachian Studies in 2020. ", 2023 East Public Relations | www.EastPublicRelations.com. Click here for full pdf versions of the 2022-23 print edition. He introduced himself as Dan Boner, Director of the Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Country Music Studies Program at East Tennessee State University.. The late fiddle great Benny Sims (right) was a friend of the ETSU bluegrass program from almost the beginning, and the university now offers a scholarship in his memory. Carolina the last weekend of September 2015. Some have built on those projects by adding more songs and putting out records., According to Blue Highways Tim Stafford, This program is helping ETSU take the worldwide lead in educational leadership in the field of contemporary music studies.. This week's (and last weekend's) adventures were one for the books!! with a double major in bluegrass and English, was actually scheduled to perform with Porchaks love of the fiddle really began, though, when she was three. Online access to music lessons with our favorite musicians. Magazine every week in your inbox. He continued Find a band near you or share your band info with the world! She is a connoisseur of tea. Aynsley spends her time off the road as a private fiddle instructor, session musician, and author. She gave up her job as a teacher to go on the road, introducing bluegrass music to New Zealand. Two years later, she returned to Nashville and won the U.S. Grand Masters Fiddle Championship. She also received the 2018 IBMA Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year award. New Zealand had one channel in the late 1960s, Trenwith says. I don't think there's anything wrong with pullin pop into the genre with covers like this. It doesn't always work out that way, but when it does, it's generally, Aynsley Porchak, a recent graduate of the ETSU Bluegrass, Country & Old Time Music program has won the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Championship, just one year after winning the US competition last year. and how music, tastefully played, can be both exciting and inspiring. Patch was also recorded as the title track of a Grammy Award-winning album by another huge NBA fan. It signed on at five oclock in the afternoon and signed off at eleven. Everything was down an octave, but I learned every fiddle bit on the record. Aynsley Porchak, a Grand Master Fiddle Champion and ETSU student majoring in Bluegrass, Old Time, Country and Celtic Music as well as English, made her Grand Ole Opry performance debut on Sept. 3, 2016. 2022 SM Living, LLC. Read Aynsley Porchak's bio and find out more about Aynsley Porchak's songs, albums, and chart history. The Bluegrass, Old Time and Country Music Studies program at East Tennessee State University has announced the hiring of two touring professionals in the bluegrass world to positions on their faculty. He continues in that capacity here, managing a strong team of columnists and correspondents. . Word about her musical past spread quickly on campus, and by the time she had achieved sophomore status, she was hired as an adjunct faculty member. a passion for boots. As Jack Tottle points out, Chesney was a novice guitar player when he first stepped onto the ETSU campus. Very cool. the music. High-res versions are in Flickr. During that competition, we were fortunate to have lunch with session musician Buddy Spicher at a tiny little seafood place in Nashville, Porchak remembers. 3739 Balboa St. #5090San Francisco, CA 94121-2605(844) BLU-GRASS(844-258-4727), CBA EventsCalendarFeature ArchiveBluegrass Breakdown. Here he is playing with Alison Krauss and ETSU alumnus Barry Bales, then with Krauss and her band, Union Station, in 1991. Aynsley spends her time off the road as a private fiddle instructor, session musician, and author. He was a huge influence on us, says Trenwith. She also looks forward to the Country Current (above), the premier country and bluegrass group of the U.S. Navy. Congratulations to James Mcdowell and Aynsley Porchak on getting engaged yesterday. ETSU student Aynsley Porchak (right) is the only person ever to win both the American and Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Championships. Walk into Brooks Gymnasium on the campus of East Tennessee State University and youll likely hear the cadence of an ROTC drill instructor or the squeaks of shoes during basketball practice. The skilled fiddler hopes to even possibly teach at ETSU in the future. dont mind, but Mr. Spicher, Ive just got to tell you, Im such a fan of your music, TENNESSEE BLUEGRASS BAND From east Tennessee. I feel God has blessed me with the ability to play, and so I want to give back to others through my fiddling, whether that means teaching fiddle lessons, performing on stage and making people smile, or just simply talking to an audience member after a show. Championship. It could take me a while, I said, before I knew - it could be days, could be weekscould be monthscould be years! By a miracle, that didnt scare James off, and it didnt take years after allin August, I drove to Galax to surprise him and tell him that I wanted to take him up on his offer to date. In order to further hone her craft, Aynsley enrolled in East Tennessee State Universitys Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music Studies degree program in 2013. 2, Turnberry introduces Free Strings curriculum program with Annie Savage, Bluegrass Camp Germany cancelled for 2023, Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press at Bluegrass Wednesday Nights, Open Bluegrass Jam // Cinderlands Warehouse (Pittsburgh), Wernick Method Bluegrass Jam Class with Joel Denman Durango, CO, Open Bluegrass Jam // Cork Harbour Pub (Pittsburgh), Bluegrass Beyond Borders: Dave Wright & the Midnight Ramblers from Down Under, Bluegrass Beyond Borders: Bononia Grass plays with an Italian flavor, Russ Hooper: 74 years in bluegrass music and still gigging, Jason Fraley returns to Deeper Shade of Blue for one last show. More information about bluegrass at ETSU is available online. East Tennessee State University conferred over 2,100 degrees and certificates during a Virtual Commencement Ceremony held May 9. In order to further hone her craft, Aynsley enrolled in East Tennessee State Universitys Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music Studies degree program in 2013. This eventually led to the Grand Master Championship and the Tennessee State Fiddle Id been looking for. Aynsley Porchak. He earned a degree in Vocal Music Education at ETSU before the university started awarding degrees in Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Country Music Studies. He apologized and Maybe the newest great love story to emerge, is that of Carolina Blue's James McDowell and Aynsley Porchak, aka "Jaymsley." Home-schooled by her mother Jan, a retired high school English and physical education teacher, Porchak had been looking for a college where she could continue learning traditional music. ETSU wasnt the first higher education institution in America to offer a degree in bluegrass and other traditional music. In 2017, she became the first person to win both the Grand Master Fiddler Championship and the Canadian Grand Master Fiddle Championship. East Tennessee State University All Rights Reserved. Aynsley began playing fiddle at the age of 9. Named simply The Tennessee Bluegrass Band, this quintet features some of the brightest lights among our music's youth, What happens when you take all the super talented and artistic musicians in the world, and shut them all in for a year with next to no live performance opportunities? I don't think there's anything wrong with pullin pop into the genre with covers like this. Playback options Soon the band was invited to perform on television. 2022, Lincoln Mash (guitar) and Tyler Griffith (bass) joined the band. ), doctor of public health (Dr.P.H. Its power seems inescapable. Despite busy weekends touring to places like Branson, Missouri; Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; and Nashvilles famed Station Inn, Porchaks academic work continues. loves it. I wake up in the morning and write on the trip to the venue. Near her home in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada, there was a classical program and a jazz program but no bluegrass. When Carolina Blue co-founder Bobby Powell left the group, he took the name Carolina John had served as primary author and editor for The Bluegrass Blog from its launch in 2006 until being folded into Bluegrass Today in September of 2011. His academic background in bass instruction and professional experience in bluegrass will serve our students well. But bluegrass courses and private instruction quickly changed that. Practice, play, and perform at the Father's Day Festival. Her love of classic cars (she collected die-cast cars as a youngster) led to her hobby of photography. I took it on as a technical exercise.. 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Playback options Soon the band not practiced Thomas Donald Hensley passed away on February 8, 2021, Thomas Hensley. In 1971 of 9 the afternoon and signed off at eleven, introducing bluegrass music to New Zealand one! Program at East Tennessee State University the Louvin Brothers, Charlie and,!, award-winning musicians like Ricky Skaggs and Sam Bush, Chat email call... The only person ever to win both the American and Canadian Grand Masters fiddle Championship Thou! Passed away on February 8, 2021 in Erwin, Tennessee teacher to go the.