Ashokan musicians bring folk traditions to the next generation
On Friday, November 7, we had the joy of visiting Bennett Elementary School for an energetic, heart-warming folk music concert that brought students to their feet. The room was full of smiles, movement, and music as nearly every child clapped, swayed, snapped, and sang along.
Our Ashokan musicians — Joe Newberry, Peter Davis, Mike Merenda, and Ruth Ungar Merenda — led students through a lively, interactive set that blended performance, history, humor, and hands-on participation. For many of the young listeners, it was their very first introduction to traditional American folk music.
From the moment the first notes rang out, the students were fully engaged. They jumped right into call-and-response singing, learned to keep rhythm together, and watched with curiosity as our musicians demonstrated instruments like the banjo, fiddle, clarinet, guitar, and more.
Between songs, Joe, Peter, Mike, and Ruth shared stories about where this music comes from — how tunes have traveled through families and communities for generations, shaped by voices like Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, and kept alive today through gatherings, jam circles, and places like Ashokan.
The concert was more than a performance; it was a living lesson in cultural heritage, creativity, and the power of music to connect us across time and experience. The students’ enthusiasm was contagious, and their curiosity reminded us why this work matters so deeply.
We’re grateful to the Onteora Central School District and the wonderful team at Bennett Elementary School for welcoming us into their community and for their commitment to arts education. Sharing this music with young people — and seeing them light up as they make it their own — is one of the most meaningful parts of our mission.
We can’t wait to come back and make more music together!