WCR 2023 Teachers and Performers

Erin Mae is a freelance folk musician and mountain dulcimer teacher who has carved her own path every step of the way. She has a degree from South Plains College in Commercial Music, where she was the first student to study mountain dulcimer. She continues today to be a leader of innovation and education in her musical community. Erin Mae’s passion is to empower and equip others to find their own creative expression in the world.

The music of Kendra Ward and Bob Bence has its roots deep in the mountains of Appalachia and it possesses a universal appeal that the duo has shared with audiences around the world for over 30 years.

Kendra is a musician, teacher, author and composer with a lifetime of experience in traditional Appalachian arts. She has played the dulcimer since the age of four, learning primarily from her Father and her Grandmother, but also from her constant exposure to the fiddlers, banjo players, dancers and other traditional artists who live in the Appalachian hills she has always called home.

Bob is an award-winning musician who possesses a uniquely bold and powerful guitar style, and a twisted sense of humor. His professional credits include not only festivals and concert halls, but also comedy clubs and improv stages! Bob doesn't work the comedy clubs any more, but audiences still enjoy his spontaneous wit in concert with Kendra, and at the numerous "emceeing" gigs he gets!

Together Kendra Ward and Bob Bence have earned a reputation as one of the most entertaining and influential traditional music duos in the nation. They have released ten CDs and are the authors of a number of DVDs and instructional books.

Grandpa's Neighbors is a mother-daughters group from Bennington, OK  Their music is best described as acoustic gospel, reminiscent of the music you would hear in old country churches.  A blend of hymns, as well as some new and original songs, encourages those who listen to draw closer to God and let their whole life bring honor to Him.  

Come and enjoy their wonderful harmony, their talent on multiple instruments, and the comradery amongst themselves.  They will be performing Saturday evening during the concert and will also be under the jam tent Saturday afternoon where you are welcome to join them in some old gospel hymns.   

Charles Whitmer is a former middle school band director in Texas. He taught music in the public schools from 1982 to 2016 with 31 of those years having been teaching middle school band in the Texas public schools as well as having taught 4 years as a general music teacher at the elementary level. He also formerly taught music for the Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS) at the US Army's Camp Zama in Japan as well as he taught band for the Santa Fe Public Schools in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

He has a Bachelor of Music Degree in Education (1980) and a Master of Curriculum & Instruction (music education) Degree (1989) both from the University of Houston. He is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association and the Association of Texas Small School Bands. 

Mr. Whitmer was also featured on an album produced locally as a solo soprano saxophonist on the album, "Psalms, Hymns, & Spiritual Songs" in 2009 produced by Mr. Dennis Mease of The Woodlands, Texas.

He currently has 700+ traditional songs in print arranged for autoharp for which he is known internationally. 

In 2008 he was inducted into the Autoharp Hall of Fame. He is a current staff member of The Autoharp Quarterly as a sheet music editor and was also a long-time staff member for i.a.d. Publications, a former international quarterly magazine for autoharp enthusiasts. 

Meet Christopher, Joel, Nicholas, and Luke!  

The Vanderveer Brothers String Band is a driving and energetic old-time string band from the Fort Worth/Dallas metroplex that specializes in giving performances for many different kinds of events. Being extremely versatile, the brothers have enthused audiences of 10-15 to groups of 600+ with their rousing performances.

The brothers, each being multi-instrumentalists, play a wide range of instruments, including hammered dulcimer, guitar, banjo, fiddle, piano/keyboard, mandolin, mountain dulcimer, bones, pennywhistle, jaw harp, and harmonicas! Featuring the only brothers ever to win the Lone Star State Hammered Dulcimer Competition, they combine musical excellence and unquestionable fun into an unforgettable experience!

Sweet Song String Band was founded in 1978 with Dana Hamilton and David Lindsey on hammered dulcimer and Judy Hamilton and Annette Lindsey on mountain dulcimers.  Dana chimes in with banjo and guitar now and Judy usually plays the bouzouki (an octave lower mandolin) during performances.  When Annette figured out her piano background could be put to use playing backup piano the band's sound found its voice they were looking for and the band took off as one of the most sought after old-time string bands in the US, especially with Dana adding his amazing talent as an old-time barn dance caller.  They performed at the Texas Folklife Festival from 1981-2002, Six Flags over Texas Heritage Festival for 17 years, multiple barn dances and reenactment venues, and many festivals over the US.  2019 saw them in Ireland touring County Kerry!

Sweet Song String Band's motto has always been "when it quits being fun, that's when we will quit playing!"  Well, it has never quit being fun for them!  So join them for a rip-roaring good time!