Mission Statement and commitment to Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion, Board of Directors, Meeting Calendar, Meeting Minutes, Elections, The team that runs the organization and its events, Our famous festivals, camps, and online events, Contribute your time, energy and creativity. Read Aynsley Porchak's bio and find out more about Aynsley Porchak's songs, albums, and chart history. Aynsley began playing fiddle at the age of 9. Through a woman who had come from Asheville, North Carolina, to New Zealand to study dairy farming, she found out about ETSUs offerings in bluegrass and traditional music. Morehead State University in Kentucky offers a traditional music program, directed by Raymond McLain, formerly with ETSU. can with my music, just keep learning because you can always learn and just continue ), doctor of audiology (Au.D. She graduated in 2017 with an additional bachelors degree in English, and completed her masters degree in Appalachian Studies in 2020. One year, while she and her parents were in Nashville for the Grand Master contest, 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. For this video performance Not only would I like to teach that someday, I would love to be able to use my English 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 eventually led to the Grand Master Championship and the Tennessee State Fiddle Im so excited and honored to be a part of a program I have admired so much since I became aware of it, and the brilliant graduates that have come through it, to join the ranks of successful professionals in the roots music world, not to mention the world class faculty. that said, WHAT?!?!? I told him that I had no idea he even liked me and he protested but I sat by you all the time and I always tried to talk to you! Well, James told me that he would like to pursue a serious relationship with me and I said that I would have to pray about it and that I would have to talk to the band about it. Well you get all sorts of creative solutions, as we. All rights reserved. Madly, crazy in love withBLUEGRASS!! All rights reserved. She also played in 2016 on the Grand Ole Opry. . 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. It taught me that I could foster the music of our region not only for employment but also to work for change and to educate a new generation about the historical and cultural significance of Appalachian music.. . They are: Bobby Powell, guitar; Timmy Jones, mandolin; Reese Combs, bass; James McDowell, banjo (who looks like a young Don Stover); and Aynsley Porchak, fiddle (wearing a 'pillbox' hat that reminded Dr Janie of those ladies used to wear to church). In case you haven't noticed, we're in love around here. Dan Eubanks, bassist with Special Consensus, and Aynsley Porchak. While literary analysis of both sacred and secular song lyrics is an approach that is largely overlooked in this region's traditional music, it nonetheless provides insightful perspective on the art form itself. Aynsley is also an experienced contest fiddler. After visiting the campus, Aynsley enrolled at ETSU in the fall of 2013, and she still In this thesis, I demonstrate how analysis through literary criticism can provide a commentary on Appalachian song. After touring with New Zealand singer Tex Morton, described by Trenwith as a hypnotist, whip-cracker, and sharpshooter, the band linked up with Slim Dusty, a legendary Australian country singer as popular Down Under, Trenwith says, as Johnny Cash was in the States. The future holds many possibilities for Aynsley. When they found out that it was the fiddle that I liked, they took me to watch some of the fiddle competitions close to my home, and I fell in love with the music I heard. 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. After this amazing achievement, Porchak plans to focus on earning her graduate degree. Ted Hensley was admitted to the Johnson City Medical Center on February 3rd with six esophageal varices pouring blood into his system. In 2018, Aynsley joined the . 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. It gives us a venue to showcase our students to the public. Owner Ed Snodderly, who teaches dobro and guitar at ETSU, fittingly calls it a listening room. A devoted student of Kenny Baker, Porchak set out to record and post a video of her, We've enthused several times about Aynsley Porchak, the talented young fiddler with Carolina Blue. Porchak finished her bachelor of arts degree with a double major in Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Country Music Studies and English and immediately began work on a master of arts in Appalachian Studies. 2022, Lincoln Mash (guitar) and Tyler Griffith (bass) joined the band. 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? But it was good ear training, listening to what people were singing and trying to match it on guitar.. Aynsley Porchak plays Fiddle Patch, which, she says, is everything that I like She is also an experienced contest fiddler, winning the Grand Master Fiddler Championship in 2015 in Nashville, and in 2017 the Canadian Grand Master Fiddle Champion, making her the first person to win both competitions.Visit https://neomha.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/CarryOn_ResourceGuide_Episode-6_AynsleyPorchak.pdf for a resource guide to accompany this program. Music really does mean a lot to me. Aynsley spends her time off the road as a private fiddle instructor, session musician, and author. He earned a degree in Vocal Music Education at ETSU before the university started awarding degrees in Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Country Music Studies. In addition to playing fiddle professionally He was a huge influence on us, says Trenwith. Below is an exclusive East Tennessean interview with Porchak, in which she describes her time at ETSU and journey as a musician. In memory of NC banjo player Hoyt Herbert who passed on this day in 2019. Ive enjoyed getting to know Dan these past several years working at festivals across the country. So close to the university, we have this amazing place where so many influential musicians have played, says Porchak. He continued She accepted Paul Trenwiths invitation to join the Hamilton County Bluegrass Band as well as his marriage proposal. Eubanks, who holds a masters degree in Jazz Studies fromWebster University in St. Louis, MO, says that it is an honor to join such a stellar team. At a banjo pickers convention in New Zealand, Trenwith and her band met American folk singer Mike Seeger. Find an instrument for your child or donate one of yours. East Tennessee State University All Rights Reserved. I truly feel like it has changed my life for the better. Click here if youre interested in buying an ad. Practice, play, and perform at the Father's Day Festival. Fiddler Aynsley Porchak didnt grow up in a musical household, but her parents always supported her musical interest. Bluegrass, Old Time and Country Music Studies program, Jake Workman releases 20 Flatpick Standards, Vol. It brings ETSU great pride to congratulate such an accomplished student. Though, from a young age, Porchak dreamed of a competing in bluegrass; she never imagined it would actually come true. Aynsley Porchak, from Woodstock, Ontario, This past summer Aynsley Porchak, the super talented fiddler with Carolina Blue, came up with a great idea for a social media promotion. In 2018, Porchak won the International Bluegrass Music Associations Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year award, for up-and-coming artists. August 28, 2017 | by John Lawless. He introduced himself as Dan Boner, Director of the Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Country Music Studies Program at East Tennessee State University.. As a girl in Wellington, New Zealand, she would gather with her family around the piano while her father, Gordon Bain, played old songs like Its a Long Way to Tipperary. When she was eight, she started taking classical violin lessons. This week's (and last weekend's) adventures were one for the books!! 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. Lessons, links, and essays to help you enjoy playing and practicing even more. concert later this month when the Bluegrass Pride Band will open for The Earls of Porchak also loves the sense of community here at ETSU; as well as just being around such great music. ), doctor of public health (Dr.P.H. She also received the 2018 IBMA Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year award. There are similar themeslove, acceptance, and rejection.. Not only did it come true, but Porchak quickly proved her tremendous musical talent by winning both the American and Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Championships. Submit stories for publication/editorial guidelines. Aynsley Porchak. In 2012, after years of lessons, Porchak traveled with her family to Nashville to participate in the Grand Masters Fiddle Championship. One of those is Aynsley Porchak. I was an only child and a homeschooled student, so I had my qualms about coming to As Johnson City lies at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, the perfect location of the Tri-Cities allows bluegrass music to expand its deep roots, yet true bluegrass is not determined by the location; but rather, the heart of the artist. Warren (Feb. 19, 7:30 p.m., Culp Auditorium, www.etsu.edu/martin). Aynsley began playing fiddle at the age of 9. level. I don't think there's anything wrong with pullin pop into the genre with covers like this. 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