Friday, December 30 ● 6 pm
WTJU 91.1 FM/Streaming at wtju.net
In advance of their performance at this year's First Night Virginia, Janet Muse and Mike Dunn will stop by Sunset Road this Friday for conversation and live performance. They are bound to play a few off their 2011 release, Sunday in Greenwood.
Mike Dunn and Janet Muse are equally comfortable in the worlds of folk and classical music. Mike and Janet have performed together for the past several years, and each has extensive experience playing for contra, English and Scottish dances. They have also played for weddings and other special events.
Mike began playing violin at the age of nine, studying for many years with Ilse Mann in Raleigh, NC, He attended Duke University on an AJ Fletcher music scholarship, studying viola with George Taylor. For the past several years, his focus has been on Celtic and dance music.
He has been on staff at the Charlottesville Fall Dance Festival (VA), and at Scottish Weekend (WV).
He has also performed several times at First Night Virginia, and Monticello. In addition, he played viola for many years with the Sugar Ridge Quartet.
Janet began studying classical piano at the age of five.
She has played in contra dance bands over the past 25 years, including the nationally known group, Caledonia. As part of Caledonia, she headlined Feet Retreat, Spring Dance Romance, Charlotte Dance Gypsies Weekend (NC), and Chesapeake Dance Weekend (MD). She has also been on staff at Augusta Heritage Arts Irish Week (WV), Charlottesville Fall Dance Festival (VA), and several all-night dances.
Janet has also performed at the Prism Coffeehouse (VA) and First Night Virginia. She has been a choir and solo accompanist, church organist, orchestra violinist, and accordionist for Morris teams.
First Night began in Boston in 1976 as a way to bring neighboring communities together in celebration, while providing an alternative way of ushering in the New Year. Charlottesville’s First Night Virginia was only second in the nation to begin the tradition of First Night in 1983, and has since served as a model for the more than 130 First Night celebrations worldwide. Over the years, hundreds of thousands of people have attended this fun-filled celebration of the arts on Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall. From fire dancers to rock n’ roll, ballet to jugglers, there’s something for everybody.
First Night began in Boston in 1976 as a way to bring neighboring communities together in celebration, while providing an alternative way of ushering in the New Year. Charlottesville’s First Night Virginia was only second in the nation to begin the tradition of First Night in 1983, and has since served as a model for the more than 130 First Night celebrations worldwide. Over the years, hundreds of thousands of people have attended this fun-filled celebration of the arts on Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall. From fire dancers to rock n’ roll, ballet to jugglers, there’s something for everybody.
Submitted by Peter Jones, WTJU Folk
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