HOST

Eric has been playing violin since age 5, when he learned to play using the Suzuki method. He studied classical music through high school and college. All the while, he had a love for fiddle music and teachers who  supported the passion by providing a wide variety of music, from bluegrass to ragtime. His fiddle forays included the formation of bluegrass bands in high school and college, where he practiced familiar fiddle tunes and tried his hand at gathering, arranging, and singing songs from a variety of American musical traditions.

In 2010, Eric joined his long time friends and musical partners, The Steel Wheels, as the Americana roots band hit the road. In 2013, after playing in bluegrass and folk music festivals across the country, the band co-founded Red Wing Roots Music Festival, which they host every year. The festival has been a way to connect with local organizations and  build a community around traditional music. In an effort to bridge his classical roots with his love of old-time and bluegrass music, Eric reached out to his former Suzuki program, Shenandoah Valley Preparatory Music. They partnered to form a fiddle workshop, which has grown into Red Wing Academy.

DIRECTOR

Megan is originally from southwest Virginia where she grew up as a Suzuki violin student beginning at the age of 4.  She began Suzuki teacher training while in college at EMU and has been teaching ever since.  In 2010, she started Tiller Strings Violin Shop, which specializes in selling, renting, and repairing stringed instruments and accessories in downtown Harrisonburg, VA.

In addition to teaching private and group classes to students of all ages, Megan works closely with public schools to advocate for stringed instrument classes to be taught alongside traditional band programs. Megan also has particular interest in old-time fiddle music, and she has a passion for providing this outlet to students who come from all backgrounds. In 2015 she helped launch the first Red Wing Fiddle Workshop with The Steel Wheels and in 2017 became director of the expanded Red Wing Academy.

Megan is actively involved in her local music scene as well as all across the country, on staff at music festivals like Bonnaroo, Red Wing Roots, Pickathon and Green Mountain.

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

Kelly Wiedemann Jaén, a native of the Shenandoah Valley, began her musical training with the Suzuki violin method in EMU’s Preparatory Music Program at age 4. Thanks to the program’s curriculum, she developed a love of both classical and fiddle music from an early age and sees these two worlds mixing beautifully in string playing. Kelly’s passion is cultivating spaces for music of all styles and helping her students become curious lifelong learners and well rounded musicians. Along with violin, Kelly sings and plays viola, piano, mandolin, and percussion. She also enjoys writing arrangements, orchestrations, and compositions.

Kelly has a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Washington Adventist University in Maryland (formerly Columbia Union College) and a Masters in Music Education from James Madison University. She is currently the Associate Music Director at Shenandoah Valley Academy, teaching Strings, Orchestra, and Sophomore English. Kelly teaches privately, is a sought after string clinician, and has performed and conducted throughout North and South America and Europe. Outside of the classroom, she plays with the Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra, and enjoys adventuring with her husband, Marcel, and his two sons.

INSTRUCTOR

Trent Wagler is a touring musician with the Americana band, The Steel Wheels. Since 2010, the band has released six studio albums and toured internationally and across the US, building a community of fans and friends. In addition to being lead singer, and playing guitar and banjo for The Steel Wheels, Trent’s songwriting has earned The Steel Wheels numerous Independent Music Awards (IMAs) and top 40 radio play on the Folk/Americana charts. Trent’s songs have also been featured on American Songwriter, Billboard, Paste, and NPR music among others. In 2013, Trent helped start the Red Wing Roots Music Festival in Mt. Solon, VA to cultivate and celebrate music culture in the Shenandoah Valley

INSTRUCTOR

Sharon began playing the violin in fifth grade in the public school strings program in her native Lititz, PA. While being grateful for the opportunity to learn the violin, even as a young student she felt there had to be a better way to learn music. She discovered that better way while observing public school Suzuki classes during her college years in Lynchburg, VA. As soon as she graduated from college, she began pursuing Suzuki training in a variety of settings throughout the United States.

Sharon developed a Suzuki string and orchestra program in a large private school in Baltimore, MD for eleven years before moving to the Shenandoah Valley to join the faculty of the EMU Preparatory Music Program. She enjoys teaching violin and viola to children and adults of all ages. As a Suzuki Teacher Trainer, she is passionate about mentoring young teachers.

Sharon has been inspired by the skills and creativity of the teachers of the Red Wing Academy. She is excited to continue collaborating with the Steel Wheels as they develop this new venture!es here

INSTRUCTOR

Sean Hoffman has been teaching and playing fiddle for many years.  He grew up playing bluegrass with his family in Indiana and studied Irish music with New York-based fiddler Brian Conway.  He plays with many bands in his home state, most notably Debutants, Bobcat Opossum, and Soltre.  He is fascinated by the relationship between Irish music and old-time dance music, those not so distant cousins separated by an ocean and re-imagined in the hills and hollers of the New World.

Sean is also co-director of Debutants Hoot Camp and Folky Fish Jam Camp as well as teaching extensively at other camps, festivals, and workshops for students of a wide variety of age and experience level.

INSTRUCTOR

Zachary is a current member of the professional Roanoke symphony, adjunct violin professor at Bridgewater college, and owner and operator of his business, Windsor Melodies, which provides services across the Shenandoah valley including private violin lessons, weddings, and other various events in need of a string player. From 2011 till 2015, Zachary studied music at the Shenandoah conservatory and obtained his bachelor’s. He continued his studies from 2018 till 2020, obtaining his master’s in music from James Madison University. Zachary loves teaching at the Red Wing Academy and has been doing so since summer of 2018.

INSTRUCTOR

For most of the last 20 years Jeremy Darrow has toured the world and recorded with a wide variety of roots, bluegrass, and indy artists. He loves to draw influence from anywhere that he can and thrives on collaboration and musical spontaneity. Jeremy plays bass in The Steel Wheels and is an occasional member of Among The Oak And Ash and local Nashville favorites Broken Champion. He has appeared on NPR’s All Things Considered, The Grand Ole Opry and countless festival and club stages.

INSTRUCTOR

Eric Hochstetler grew up playing classical music in school and church, and then discovered bluegrass while at Goshen College. Since then, he spends most of his free time figuring out how to play all kinds of music, and getting others interested in it as well. He maintains an active private studio teaching mostly piano and guitar by ear. He also loves jamming with his professional musician neighbors, and staying active in the area’s old time music community. Eric lives in Durham, North Carolina with his wife, three kids, and dog Charlie.

INSTRUCTOR

Born in Bellefontaine, Ohio, Adam sings, plucks and strums a variety of instruments including guitar, banjo and tenor guitar. He has played with several old-timey and/or celtic groups over the years such as Goldmine Pickers, Soltre, The Murphy Bedheads and The Goat’s Beards. “My favorite part of music is experiencing the sounds.”

INSTRUCTOR

Christa Hoover is a Suzuki teacher and violinist in Harrisonburg, VA. Originally from south central PA, Hoover started violin at a young age. She studied with Lee Joiner at Wheaton College in IL before spending a year in Bolivia and Honduras and then moving to the Shenandoah Valley. She plays and teaches violin in a variety of contexts, primarily lessons through the Preparatory Music Program, after-school violin with Harrisonburg City Public Schools, and at church. Hoover loves teaching the RWA campers to add their bit to a folk/band soundscape.

INSTRUCTOR

Devon is a songwriter and music teacher living in Charlottesville.  She teaches songwriting, guitar, ukulele, and rock band at The Front Porch music school.  In the summer of 2026, Devon helped launch People’s Songs, an organization of musicians dedicated to adapting, distributing, and performing songs for liberation.  She’s been married to producer Paul Curreri for 20 years and the two live with their funny daughter Ray and good dog Tim in Fry’s Spring.  Devon was raised on eco-villages near Kingston, Ontario and Louisa, VA.  She loves the Beatles and can tie her shoes really fast.

INSTRUCTOR

John Hostetter is a Harrisonburg native who grew up enamored with Mennonite four-part harmony, the bluegrass of the Shenandoah Valley, and blues-based rock. John studied songwriting and guitar at Berklee College of Music, and has played in a variety of touring acts from Massachusetts, Arizona, Texas and Virginia. John has taught middle school English for 12 years, and enjoys exploring poetry and songwriting with young people.

INSTRUCTOR

Ellen Coplin crawled over to the piano as a toddler and hasn’t been able to shake the music habit since! She grew up in Northwest Ohio playing piano and cello and graduated from Taylor University with a bachelors in music composition. Touring and performing with the Americana duo Bobcat Opossum, the newgrass band Debutants, and Irish group Soltre' takes her all over the US from festival stages to folk clubs. Ellen is the Co-Director of the Folky Fish Jam Camp in St. James, MO and Debutant's Hoot Camp in Fort Wayne, IN.

INSTRUCTOR

Brian Incheck is the current Orchestra Director at Thomas Harrison Middle School and Harrisonburg High School. Under his direction, the orchestra program at both schools have doubled over the past 5 years. His orchestras have performed a large variety of music from classical to jazz to electronic music. His orchestras have consistently received Superior Ratings at Performance Festivals and Concert Assessments. 

As a classical bassist, Brian received his Bachelor of Music from James Madison University. He has performed with the Waynesboro Symphony and Rockbridge Symphony Orchestra. As a jazz bassist, he has performed with the Silver Tones Swing Band, Just Jazzin', Moonlight Jazz Orchestra, and various small ensembles. 

INSTRUCTOR

Bethany Jubilee joins us from the Eastern Shore of Maryland.  Originally from the Shenandoah Valley, her early training was from the preparatory program at EMU.  She has a B.A. in Sociology and music minor from Lee University.  Although her formal training is primarily in classical music, Bethany is in love with a wide variety of styles especially Irish Celtic music.  She loves playing music with others especially on her worship team at her church.  One of her greatest joys is sharing her love for music with others, through teaching, playing and jamming with others.​

INSTRUCTOR​

Perry Blosser is a multi-instrumentalist and instructor in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Once a six-year-old Suzuki student, today he is an active performer and collaborator on the fiddle and mandolin, most recently with Rebecca Porter and the Rhinestone Roses, The Ridge Ramblers, Ebony Nicole, The Rain Pickers, The Soil and the Seed Project, and others in the Shenandoah Valley region. When he is not on stage or in the studio you can find Perry at fiddle conventions and old-time jams with friends.

INSTRUCTOR

James Barnes has played and taught banjo and guitar for over two decades, and has performed in numerous bands playing bluegrass, old-time, and “anything-goes”. He loves teaching and playing folk music, while also mixing the traditional music with other styles to see what is possible. James will be teaching banjo electives and mini-lessons at Red Wing Academy.

INSTRUCTOR​

Megan was born and raised in the Shenandoah Valley. She began taking piano lessons at age 8 then thanks to her grandmother, found a love for the violin and hasn’t put it down since. 

While playing for private events and weddings all over Virginia, she also has over 30 violin students, to whom she teaches Suzuki with a splash of her own method. “Teaching and playing the violin brings me absolute joy and I can’t imagine doing anything else”.

Fun fact: I play left handed!

INSTRUCTOR

Janie Rothfield is a power-house American fiddler, clawhammer banjo and guitar player who is widely recognized for her traditional and inventive style, in the pocket rhythm, whimsical groove and her award-winning original tunes. She is a full time touring musician playing concerts, workshops, music camps, festivals and dances around the world and online.   Janie has been performing, recording and teaching music that is rooted in Traditional American Old Time and Celtic Music since her teens, when she started playing with older generation musicians from New England, North Carolina and Quebec.

With over 20 recordings to her credit, Janie has traveled the world with her unique brand of traditional based music teaching and performing in the UK, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Belgium, Australia, Canada and throughout the USA. She currently performs as a solo, with her husband Allan Carr and with the modern folk quartet The JAES. She has been on the teaching staff (fiddle, banjo, guitar, singing) for such trad music camps as Swannanoa Gathering, Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, Great Lakes Music Camp, Music Camps North, Midwest Banjo Camp and more! Janie is also the founder and director of Janie’s Jumpstart Music Camps.

For over 15 years Janie was on the team of teachers for the Great Groove Band (kids band) at the Philadelphia Folk Festival (PA) and Old Songs Festival of Music and Dance (NY) teaching old time tunes and songs to children from ages 4-15!

INSTRUCTOR

With two degrees in Viola Performance from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance, Kathleen Overfield-Zook has had a multifaceted career as a professional musician, pedagogue, entrepreneur, and business owner, with leadership experience in both non-profit and higher education.

Having previously performed with the Grammy-winning chamber orchestra A Far Cry, Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra, New Jersey, Delaware, and Vermont Symphonies, and having held Principal Viola positions with Allentown and Roanoke Symphonies, Kathleen continues to perform with the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra.   

After founding the award-winning Bloom Trio and Event Musicians, LLC, in 2012, Kathleen found her passion for arts entrepreneurship education. This eventually led to her founding Modulating Arts, LLC in 2024, a consulting business that helps performing artists leverage the mindsets and tools of the world's most successful entrepreneurs, but with a deep understanding of the unique challenges performing artists face. 

In her free time, Kathleen is often found cheering on her favorite sports teams or dancing to her favorite bands. Most importantly, she loves spending time with her two kids as they explore their own endeavors!  

INSTRUCTOR

​Randy Wiedemann, from Luray, Virginia, grew up as a Suzuki trained violinist and violist in EMU’s Preparatory Music Program. He started on the violin at age 9 and added the viola at age 13. The Shenandoah Valley Youth Orchestra developed his love of the viola and he served as principal violist for five years.

Randy attended Southern Adventist University in Tennessee and received his Bachelor of Music in Music Education with an instrumental emphasis in viola. He was principal violist with Southern’s Symphony Orchestra for four years. Randy has played in multiple ensembles and chamber groups where he enjoys classical, fiddle, and everything in between. He has taught at summer Suzuki camps and at the Red Wing Fiddle camp since 2015. Randy currently is the Music Director at Columbia Adventist Academy in Washington State. When not busy with the viola, Randy enjoys sports, reading, history, and listening to all types of music.

INSTRUCTOR

Maia has been a part of Red Wing Academy since the beginning and has continued to volunteer after graduating high school in 2022. She will graduate from VCU this spring with her BFA in dance and choreography. Maia is helping out with guitar and teaching folk dance this year at academy!

EMU PREP MUSIC

Erin Weldon, a native of the Shenandoah Valley, accepted the managerial position for the Prep Music Department in 2021.  Here she helps to oversee the private instrumental lessons, she helps to meet the needs of the teachers and families involved in the HCPS after school violin program, and she also works alongside Y-Ping Chen and Kim Souther with the youth symphony and concert orchestra. Mrs. Weldon brings over 5 years of managerial experience as she also manages the Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir. Outside of work, Erin enjoys spending time with her husband, three children, church family and friends.

COMMUNITY LIAISON

Peggy’s family have been involved with Red Wing Academy since its conception. Her daughters, Norah & Lydia, have attended RWA each year and she is married to Eric Brubaker. Peggy brings experience with coordinating volunteers and various non-profit programs and currently works at an elementary school. Peggy is currently enrolled at EMU in the Masters of Education: Trauma and Resilience in Education program. She has enjoyed watching RWA grow and seeing the students’ love and excitement that comes from the music and the community it creates. Peggy looks forward to supporting the staff and students in various ways throughout the week of camp.

CAMP COORDINATOR

Jess Herr lives in Linville, Virginia with her husband, Jay, and daughter, Lia. She is an artist and an art instructor at Fort Defiance High School. Jess has been teaching art for 22 years. She grew up in Weyers Cave, Virginia in a family of musicians. She plays music as a hobby and has been in a few local bands. Jess’ daughter, Lia, has participated in Red Wing Academy since its very first year. Jess enjoys music festivals and believes the best part of Red Wing Roots each year is the performance put on by the students at Red Wing Academy. She loves watching the students at RWA learn and grow so much in such a short time. Jess’ role of Camp Coordinator will include making sure all the students are safe and happy during camp.

ASSOCIATE COORDINATOR

Ben has been a Harrisonburg resident since graduating from Eastern Mennonite University in 2002. He has been a special education teacher in Rockingham County Public Schools for the last 23 years. Spending time with his family, fly fishing, landscaping and spending time in downtown Harrisonburg are just a few of the things that are important to him.  Ben always looks forward to combining his interest in teaching with his love of music. He is excited to help at Red Wing Academy for another year, and looks forward to seeing the students come together and show off their skills at Red Wing Roots!

ADMIN ASSISTANT

Violinist, Kyrie Beiler, Harrisonburg native, is a performer and teacher currently based in Richmond, Virginia. She holds her Bachelor’s degree in violin performance from Shenandoah Conservatory, where she studied under Dr. Akemi Takayama. Kyrie is excited to be pursuing her Master’s in music education at Longy School of Music of Bard College, and is expecting to graduate in fall 2027. She is passionate about making music accessible to everyone around her in a way that meets them where they are. In her teaching, she aims to create a solid foundation of
technique for her students, while cultivating the joy of musical discovery for all ages. Outside of the lesson studio, Kyrie substitute teaches in music classrooms across the Henrico County Public School district. She also actively performs in her area, in participation with the Richmond Philharmonic Orchestra, and through chamber music programs with the KB20Duo and Possum Quartet. Kyrie also records and performs with 2025 WNRN Tiny Desk Winner 4la7la, which fuels her love for performing outside of the classical music setting. Kyrie is delighted to be giving back where her roots began, here at RWA to help others grow their love for music!

ADMIN ASSISTANT

Andrea was born and raised in Harrisonburg, VA, where she now attends Eastern Mennonite University, studying Elementary Education and History. She also works as the manager at Tiller Strings Violin Shop. Andrea fell in love with music at a young age and began playing the violin in third grade through an after-school program. In high school, she also learned to play the cello for the school orchestra. She has participated in Red Wing Academy since she was young and is now excited to join the staff to help make RWA a fun and safe space for all students!

VOLUNTEER

Miriam is majoring in music and peacebuilding and elementary education at Eastern Mennonite University. She is passionate about music’s ability to be a tool for peacebuilding and hopes to use music to foster and strengthen relationships in her future classroom. Miriam grew up attending Red Wing Academy each summer and continues to enjoy being a part of the RWA community. Today, Miriam plays violin as concertmaster in EMU’s orchestra and teaches private and group violin lessons in the Preparatory Music Program and Harrisonburg City Schools. In her free time, Miriam enjoys hiking, camping, and doing anything outdoors! 

VOLUNTEER

Gram is from Harrisonburg, and a graduate of Harrisonburg High School. He is studying Audio Engineering and trombone at Virginia Tech where he is part of the Marching Virginians, Wind Ensemble, and Percussion Ensemble. Gram has been playing fiddle since the age of 3 with Megan Tiller, and a part of Red Wing Academy since its beginning. His favorite part of RWA has been Create-A-Band where he was able to play music with his friends. Gram looks forward to Red Wing every year. 2026 was his first year on staff, and he is excited to be joining the staff again this year.

VOLUNTEER

Hey! I'm Ringgold Cockey! I'm a banjo player from Tyaskin, Maryland, and a double major in Bluegrass Music and Archeology (with a concentration in underwater archeology!) at Denison University. I've been playing banjo since high school, after being struck with divine inspiration as a cello/bass student at RWA. I currently perform and record with The Folk Villains, The Millstone Project, and the Denison University Bluegrass Travel Band. You can hear my music (both solo and with The Folk Villains) on any streaming platform, and you can see me perform at a variety of festivals and venues this year, including twice at Red Wing Roots! After years as a student. I can't wait for the opportunity to give back to the camp that started me on my bluegrass journey!

VOLUNTEER

Hi I'm Lila, I graduated high school last year and started at CNU this past fall. I'm majoring in Theater Education with a minor in leadership studies. I'm involved in the marching band and the winter guard there. I was at red wing academy for 9 years before graduating this past summer. I love music and and festival so much, they have a special place in my heart.

VOLUNTEER

Rachel and her husband Andrew have worked for the festival since its beginning and Red Wing is an annual family affair. Her kids, Alex and Addy, are festival babies and are ready to return to the Academy for another year of making music together. Rachel has been in education since 2006 and is excited to join the Academy as a volunteer, combining her love for organization, education, and involvement. 

VOLUNTEER

PHOTOGRAPHER

Lara is a photographer who loves to take photos of musical kids.  She lives in Harrisonburg, VA with her kids, Jal and Ella, who look forward to participating in Red Wing Academy every year.  Lara graduated from Eastern Mennonite University in 2001 and is currently finishing her Master of Arts in History thesis which explores Authenticity in American Roots Music.

VIDEOGRAPHER

Caleb is a part-time freelance Videographer residing in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Originally from Millersburg, Ohio he graduated from Eastern Mennonite University in 2016 with degrees in Digital Media and Photography. When not with a camera, Caleb enjoys movies, golfing, and being outdoors

VIDEOGRAPHER

Joaquin is a photography teacher and running coach at Eastern Mennonite School in Harrisonburg. He first picked up a camera in 1997 as a 3rd grader, and never looked back. As a big fan of Red Wing Roots Music Festival, he is thrilled to help document the joy and great memories of fiddle academy as a videographer. His other hobbies include gardening, cycling, and huskies.