Kimber Ludiker hosts a week of bluegrass instruction and jamming for guitar, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, bass, vocals and songwriting. Learn from inspirational teachers hand-picked to cultivate a magical environment after a long few years of not being able to learn in person! Staff includes: Casey Campbell, Greg Cahill, Vickie Vaughn, Grant Gordy and your host Kimber Ludiker! Plus, jambassador, Tessa Schwartz!
CASEY CAMPBELL – Mandolin
In a remarkably short time, Nashville native Casey Campbell has become one of the most influential young voices in bluegrass mandolin. His performing and recording resume includes playing shows with legends Bryan Sutton, Del McCoury, Mac Wiseman, Jim Lauderdale, David Grier, and many more. He has served as staff at the International Bluegrass Music Association, basically grew up on the Grand Ole Opry Stage, and is now on the road working with Reba McEntire.
GREG CAHILL – Banjo
Chicago born and bred, Greg Cahill has been playing bluegrass banjo since the early 1970s. He co-founded The Special Consensus in Chicago in 1975 and has continued to tour nationally and internationally with the band ever since. In 1984, he created the Traditional American Music (TAM) Program to introduce students of all ages to bluegrass music. Greg is an IBMA-award winning and GRAMMY-nominated, and was inducted into the SPBGMA Preservation Hall of Greats.
VICKIE VAUGHN – Bass & Vocals
Vickie Vaughn started singing when she was knee-high to a grasshopper. At the age of 9, she was hired as a background vocalist at the Kentucky Opry in Draffenville, KY, where she grew to love Classic Country and Bluegrass. At sixteen she challenged herself to learn stand-up bass and after graduating high school she moved to Nashville, TN to study Commercial Voice at Belmont University. Vickie is a member of Della Mae, sings harmony vocals with Patty Loveless, and never runs out of gigs and studio sessions in Nashville.
GRANT GORDY – Guitar
Brooklyn-based guitarist Grant Gordy has been a major voice on the American “acoustic music scene”, and one of the most highly regarded young instrumentalists of his generation. Having held the guitar chair in the legendary David Grisman Quintet for six years, he’s also worked alongside such musical luminaries as Edgar Meyer, Steve Martin, Tony Tischka and Darol Anger (who is his bandmate in supergroup Mr. Sun).
KIMBER LUDIKER – Fiddle and Your Host!
Kimber is a 5th generation fiddle player and two-time Grand National Fiddle Champion. She is the founder of GRAMMY-nominated band Della Mae, who has played all over the world as Ambassadors with the US Department of State spreading peace and understanding through music. The Dellas have also toured as Steve Martin & Martin Short’s band. Kimber is the Director of three music camps (two for kids), is a potter in her spare time, and loves inspiring the next generation of bluegrass pickers in any way she can.
TESSA SCHWARTZ – Jambassador
Tessa Schwartz is a bluegrass fiddler (and multi-instrumentalist) based in Berkeley, CA. Tessa picked up the fiddle at age 5 and currently plays in North Country Blue. In August 2020, the band released their sophomore album, an eight-song EP including two of Tessa’s original compositions. Tessa teaches private lessons and group classes at Manning Music in Berkeley, has taught at Fiddlekids and the CBA Youth Academy, and, in 2018, founded a bluegrass ensemble program at King Middle School.
This protocol meets or exceeds current CDC and NY State Department of Health guidelines and is subject to revision based on changing conditions and changes in those guidelines. We’ll notify registered campers if there are any significant changes before camp begins. We trust our caring community to find the right balance of caution and fun within these parameters, to make safe decisions, and to treat fellow campers with respect.
In Advance:
We request everyone test for COVID-19 in the 24 hours before arrival.
If you test positive, do not attend.
If you’ve recently recovered from COVID and have been symptom free for 5 or more days without the use of fever-reducers, you may attend.
All refund requests due to COVID exposure, or COVID-related concerns will be honored.
On Site:
The Ashokan Center will provide onsite rapid testing upon request.
Anyone who tests positive or develops symptoms consistent with COVID will be asked to leave the event and will be entitled to a refund.
You may pay in full or hold your place with a deposit of 25% per person if registering 4 or more weeks before camp. Full payment is due 4 weeks before camp begins. To cancel your camp registration, email events@ashokancenter.org
• We retain $50 per person for cancellations requested up to 4 weeks before camp begins, and for COVID-related cancellations made at any date.
• We retain your 25% deposit between 4 and 2 weeks before camp.
• We retain the full registration amount within 2 weeks of camp.
No schedule has been posted yet. Check back soon.
You may choose to pay up front or pay a deposit and balance. Balance payment is due 4 weeks before the event.
Registration includes all activities and meals. Lodging is optional and camping is free.
Children under 5 attend for free (under 3 for Family Camp). Campers under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
All meals are included. You may indicate your dietary restrictions when registering. We make every effort to include a range of allergen-free dishes and to inform diners of meal ingredients.
The Ashokan Center is licensed to serve beer and wine in Esopus Lodge (the main building). The bar is generally open from late afternoon to early evening. Sorry, by law, guests are prohibited from bringing their own alcoholic beverages into this licensed building.
LONGHOUSE BUNKS: Rooms hold up to 24 people and are designated women, men, or all gender. Place your belongings on a top or bottom bunk after you check in to claim it. Pillows are available, please bring your own blankets, sheets, pillowcases, and towels. There are a small number of light blankets for those bunkhouse residents who are unable to bring one of their own. If you will need us to provide one, please let us know well in advance.
PRIVATE ROOMS: There are a limited number of private rooms that must be reserved in advance at extra charge. Pillows are available, please bring your own sheets, pillowcases, and towels. There are light quilts in each private room.
CAMPSITES: Camping is available with access to bathrooms and outdoor showers. Please park by your campsite only if you plan to leave your car in place for the duration of the camp.
If you’re lodging with us please remember to bring a blanket and linens (or sleeping bag), towel, toiletries, soap, flashlight, earplugs (for light sleepers). There are light quilts in each private room and we have a small number of light blankets for bunkhouse residents who can’t bring one of their own. Let us know well in advance if you’ll need one.
Flashlight, recording device, camera (or maybe those are all your phone!)
Comfortable informal clothing for wet and dry weather. Some may also bring dressy, wild or fun clothing as well but that is up to you! There’s no laundry on site so bring enough clothes for the camp.
Please, no pets or drop-in guests.
Incoming mail
Your Name c/o Ashokan Music & Dance
477 Beaverkill Rd,
Olivebridge, NY 12461
Outgoing mail leaves each weekday at 4pm.
Music & Dance Camp Phone (845) 657-8333 x 3
Cell phone reception is available but spotty. Calls may be dropped but texts are reliably received.
High speed Wi-Fi is available in all buildings.
Physical Address:
Ashokan Center, 477 Beaverkill Rd, Olivebridge, NY 12461
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
Take NY State Thruway (1-87) to Kingston exit #19.
From traffic circle take Route 28 West (toward Pine Hill).
In 12 miles (shortly after Mobil & Citgo) turn left onto Reservoir Rd.
Cross the Ashokan Reservoir, turn left at the Tee.
Head down the hill, pass the first left (Rt 28A East) and merge onto 28A West.
Take next left onto Beaverkill Rd.
Follow Beaverkill for about one mile, then turn right into the Ashokan Center driveway and follow the signs.
AIRPORT Albany, NY (ALB) is the closest major airport (about 1.5 hours away). Public transportation is available from the airport to the Kingston bus station, where you can take a taxi to Ashokan. Or contact us at least one month before your program begins for a list of people driving from the Albany area who may be able to give you a ride.
If there are no camp spots or private rooms available above, you may add your name to this waitlist. If space opens up we will contact you.
The Ashokan Center builds community through shared experiences in nature, history, music and art. We have hosted traditional Music & Dance Camps at our 385 acre nature preserve for over 40 years. In 2020 we learned how to host them online and in 2021 we began to reimagine how to gather in person once again.
Come join the Ashokan family to celebrate, learn, connect, deepen your music, make new friends, and brighten your day. Our events are open to all folks, all ages and all orientations.
M&D Need-Based “Pay it Forward” Grant approx 2 months before the event we open applications for 5 free spots (includes tuition, meals & bunk). This offers a learning opportunity to gigging musicians and music, vocal, and dance teachers who will be sharing out their newly learned skills with a wider community. We prioritize new applicants each year. We notify all applicants 1 month before camp begins.
