FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 16, 2012 - Dahlonega, GA

MASTER CLASSES FOR MUSICIANS, DANCERS SET 

FOR FRIDAY OF BEAR ON THE SQUARE WEEKEND

Master Music Classes for stringed instrument players, singers and yodelers, and dancers are on the Friday pre-festival schedule for the 16th annual Bear on the Square Mountain Festival which will take place in Dahlonega the third weekend in April (Saturday and Sunday, April 21-22).  

The Master Classes will be intensive three-hour long, hands-on classes with master instructors in group sessions. The sessions will be designed for the intermediate musician wishing to improve in such areas as timing, soloing and playing in groups. The classes will be held from 1-4 p.m. at St. Luke's Roman Catholic Church, located across the street from Hancock Park. The cost of a class is $50 for a three-hour class ($45 for current SEBA members and students, and $60 for those who also sign up for a new SEBA E-membership). There is limited seating for each class, so advance reservations are highly recommended to ensure a spot. Online registration is available at www.bearonthesquare.org or registration information can be obtained by calling Joe Matteson at 706-319-2045. 

The SouthEastern Bluegrass Association (SEBA) is again serving as sponsor of the Master Classes.

The classes and instructors for this year will be:

Bluegrass Banjo - Greg Earnest, a well known banjo instructor in the Atlanta area, who plays with the Atlanta-based bluegrass band, The Dappled Grays.

Mandolin - Curtis Jones, an instructor with the Georgia Pick & Bow Program, who is proficient in several stringed instruments, and who has toured and/or recorded with some of the biggest names in music today.

Old-Time Rhythm Guitar - Kenneth Johnson, a member of The Georgia Crackers, who is a much sought-after rhythm guitarist at fiddler contests and conventions.

Bluegrass Fiddle - David Blackmon, highly successful and sought after Athens area musician and teacher with numerous recordings to his credit, who is co-founder of Curley Maple.

Bass Fiddle - Chris Enghauser, one of the premier bassists and teachers of the instrument in Georgia today, who plays with Curley Maple and several symphony orchestras in the state.

Old-Time Fiddle - Mick Kinney of The Georgia Crackers, whose live and recorded performances have been on NRP, Mountain Stage and PBS television.

Old-Time Banjo - Tom Ryan from the Georgia Mudcats, who has been three-time Georgia state champion and has also won the Arkansas championship.

Singing and Yodeling - John Lilly, a singer/songwriter who is a multi-talented acoustic music performer and has traveled and performed overseas and in 48 states.

Flatfoot Dancing - Miss Sharon Moonshine is an award-winning performer and workshop teacher with a deep understanding of traditional Appalachian music and dance.

Bear on the Square Mountain Festival, Inc., which stages the festival each year, is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit cultural arts organization whose mission is to preserve and celebrate the culture of the Southern Appalachians through the presentation of music, traditional craft, and folkways. Tax deductible donations are welcome and can be sent to P.O. Box 338, Dahlonega, GA 30533. More details about the 2012 Bear on the Square Mountain Festival, including information about music performances, the juried artists marketplace, and other activities can be found at www.bearonthesquare.org.