Fiddles

Marek Eneti played several instruments as a child growing up in Poland, thanks to his father who was a trumpeter. Young Marek discovered his love for the violin and had great fun using the instrument to create rock music. He also fell in love with synthesizers as a teenager, which gave him the ability to compose his own music. He attended Louisiana State University to study composition and played in many symphony orchestras in and around the Dallas area. Whenever he had the chance, he would also gig playing rock and jazz on his violin. In 2013 he was asked to join the Light Crust

Lily Henley delivered a captivating, sold-out performance at NAMM’s Museum of Making Music in May 2025, showcasing many of her original songs alongside violinist Duncan Wickel. The duo enchanted the audience with selections from their album of Sephardic Jewish ballads—music rooted in the Ladino language and influenced by the rich cultural traditions of Spanish, Arabic, and Turkish communities. Lily’s deep connection to this centuries-old heritage is evident in her passionate reinterpretations and thoughtful lyrical additions, which breathe new life into songs of both joy and sorro

Dan Levenson wrote the book on banjo playing, in fact six books. His love of old time music and his great talents as a musician have made him a well known and respected player, teacher and historian. For decades he has traveled the country with banjo and fiddle in hand to present the rich history of Appalachian music to audiences old and young. Dan’s Mel Bay publications include “Buzzard Banjo,” “Clawhammer Banjo From Scratch” and “Old-Time Festival Tunes for Clawhammer Banjo.”  

Eamon McLoughlin grew up in England where his father had a band, which later developed into a family Country style band that included Eamon and his two sisters. He attended college in Austin, Texas, where he played in several local bands before moving to Nashville. He has since been activetouring and recording with the likes of Asylum St. Spankers, Kelly Willis, The Greencards (for which he was a founding member), Josh Turner, Ashley Monroe as well as Toby Keith, The Band Perry and Mary Chapin Carpenter.

Sondra Blanchard comes to music through theatre. She has worked in regional theatre and internationally as an actor, coach, writer, and director. Over the past 10 years, she has specialized in creating original work that often includes live music. She especially enjoyed creative collaborations with her musician husband, Shawn Cupolo. Shawn worked at HB Woodsongs for 14 years, which is where Sondra and Shawn met. They bought HB Woodsongs in 2017, and it was Shawn's passion until his death at the end of 2021. Sondra has taken over as sole owner, carrying forward the Woodsongs legacy

Buddy Spicher started playing the fiddle for $10 a night at local square dances, but also played some rhythm guitar to accompany his brother at performances. During his NAMM Oral History interview, Buddy tells of how he acquired his first violin, by trading his brother a Coca Cola for his brother’s fiddle. Buddy also reflects on his work with the Nashville A-Team, recording with Kitty Wells, and Elvis.

Joe Spivey is a much-in-demand fiddle player in Nashville who has recorded and toured with Shania Twain, The Blackhawks, Dolly Parton and John Anderson, among others. He grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana, and was glued to the Gospel and Blues radio stations in the area. While still in high school and until he was 21, Joe became a radio program director and engineer, which led to his becoming the Musical Director of the Louisiana Hayride. The famous radio program, which debuted country and early rock pioneers, began in 1948 with its first run ending in 1964. The program was revived

Rick Thacker is one of five kids in his family, all of which became multi instrumentalists. Rick pursued violin and viola beginning with the Suzuki Method when he was just three years old. The process of learning these instruments was not easy for him, however, when he began lessons with a new teacher when he was 13, a teacher who played along with Rick, something clicked. He learned all he could about his instruments and the learning process, becoming a teacher himself just three years later. He was giving private lessons and teaching at his church when he began thinking about th

Eleanor Whitmore is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and one-half of the duo, The Mastersons, alongside Chris Masterson. Beyond her work with The Mastersons, Eleanor is also a longtime member of Steve Earle’s band, the Dukes, and she has contributed to projects with Regina Specktor and Angus and Julia Stone. Prior to her time onstage at NAMM’s Museum of Making Music, Eleanor shared her insights and tips for those looking to find a career in the music industry, including pathways beyond that of a touring musician.     

Duncan Wickel is a dynamic and versatile string instrumentalist, known for his mastery of the fiddle, cello, and viola—each of which he has artfully adapted across a wide range of musical genres. Raised in a musically rich household, Duncan gained early insight into the mechanics of instruments through his father, a skilled repair technician at a local music store. Inspired by his aunt to pick up the violin, he performed with the Asheville Symphony by age 14 and soon launched a career as an in-demand session musician. A passionate admirer of Irish music, Duncan realized a dream wh

Bailey Zahurancik was introduced to the world of Bluegrass at an early age, thanks to her uncle, a passionate fan of the genre who gifted her a fiddle when she was just two years old. As Bailey grew, so did her musical prowess and her deep-seated passion for creating music. She attended performing arts schools for both junior and senior high, where she received classical training that further honed her skills. Touring with a fiddle troupe, Bailey developed a unique sound by blending various musical styles, a sound that seamlessly integrated into the group her friends had formed, T