Save the Date! The 2026 Old Time Fiddle Workshop & Contest Weekend is June 4-6, 2026. Updated details coming in 2026!
Evie Andrus
Fiddle Instructor & Contest Judge
Evie Andrus has been performing since she was 6 years old. Her family band, Family Ties, toured around ND and Canada throughout her high school years. Andrus is a graduate of the East TN State University Bluegrass, Old Time and County Music Program. She just received a Masters of Music, Musicology at University of Tennessee Knoxville. She has worked as a performer at the Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Feud as well as performing with other acts such as Foreigner, Il Divo and appearing on HBO’s “The Outsiders”. Andrus is a co-founder and President of the East TN Bluegrass Association. Andrus released an album of original tunes in May 2022, Evie’s Great Adventure.
Caitlin Baker
Fiddle Instructor & Contest Judge
While growing up in Grand Rapids, Manitoba, Caitlin Baker began playing the fiddle at the age of four. Having recently completed a Bachelor’s degree in Music (Violin Performance) and a minor in Gender & Women’s Studies from Brandon University, Caitlin is now based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. With her love for a wide variety of musical genres, Caitlin plays everything from Old Time fiddle tunes to Rock and Country, and enjoys immersing herself in styles new to her. Lately, Caitlin has been enjoying playing with and recording fiddle and vocal tracks for a number of Manitoban artists. In 2024, Cailtin played fiddle on Mitchell Makoons’ debut album Lady Boots, from which two singles reached number one on the international Indigenous Music Countdown. In the past few years, she has performed at a number of music festivals with several different bands including at Dauphin’s Countryfest, Harvest Moon Music Festival, Harvest Sun Music Festival, Gentlefest, and many others.
In addition to performing, Caitlin is also an educator who loves teaching her private students in Winnipeg, Manitoba, as well as instructing at a variety of music workshops and camps throughout the year, such as the International Music Camp, Frontier School Division’s Fiddle Jamborees, and Clear Lake Fiddle Camp. When she isn’t making music, you’ll probably find Caitlin reading a book, camping, or playing crib!
Shelby Huston
Fiddle Instructor & Contest Judge
Shelby Huston began playing the violin under the direction of Jim Tengesdal in Minot, North Dakota. She has been playing the violin for 15 years and represents herself as an accomplished musician. She has won awards and star ratings, including several “best in room” awards, at regional and state competitions for her classical playing. Shelby received her Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Music Education degree from Concordia College Moorhead, Minnesota in 2021 under the violin instruction of Dr. Sonja Bosca-Harasim. Shelby demonstrated her leadership skills and classical musicianship at Concordia, holding the position of concertmaster of the Concordia Orchestra in 2020 and 2021. Continuing her education at Concordia College, Shelby received her Master of Music in Music Education degree in 2023. She has been the Director of Orchestras at West Fargo Horace High School in North Dakota since 2021. Shelby was a mentor for young musicians in the North Star Chamber Camp at Concordia College in 2018, where she coached a string ensemble. She is an active member of the Fargo Moorhead Symphony Orchestra and instructs private violin students in her spare time. Shelby is a competitive old-time fiddle player with many accomplishments. From winning the International Music Camp Old-Time Fiddle Contest Championship three times to winning the Minnesota State Old-Time Fiddle Championship and winning several contests in between, Shelby has proven herself as a fiddler. She has taught the beginner fiddle class and has been an adjudicator of the Old-Time Fiddle Contest at the International Music Camp Old-Time Fiddle Workshop since 2022. She has performed her fiddle music at the Norsk Hostfest for several years, one of which including a performance alongside the musicians and comedians, Williams and Ree. She performs her fiddle music at banquets, annual meetings, and weddings. In the time that permits, Shelby volunteers her music at churches and nursing homes in North Dakota.
John Andrus
Banjo Instructor
John Andrus is a retired educator and bluegrass banjo player from Valley City, ND. In 1988 he was one of the founding members of the Western North Dakota Bluegrass and Old Time Music Association, an organization that has evolved into the Bluegrass Association of North Dakota (B.A.N.D.). John currently serves as President of B.A.N.D., which is dedicated to preserving and promoting bluegrass music in the region. For several years, John managed the Missouri River Bluegrass Festival at Cross Ranch State Park, ND which began in 1991 and he continues to participate as a volunteer. In 2007, John was recognized by his bluegrass musician peers as The Father of Bluegrass Music in North Dakota.
John has performed with several bluegrass and bluegrass-gospel bands over the years. With his children and a couple friends, the Family Ties Bluegrass Band performed in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Canada in the 1990’s. His current group is Flatt Mountain Drive, which performs in the Bismarck area.
John’s approach to teaching bluegrass music has changed recently to include more emphasis on learning back-up skills early, allowing learners to participate in jam sessions ASAP. Jamming with like-minded musicians is a powerful motivator for players at any level.
In 2022, John has put together a nine-session Introduction to Bluegrass Music class which recently ran for two-hours each month prior to the B.A.N.D. monthly jam sessions in Valley City. John has continued instruction to early players by hosting a one-hour beginning bluegrass jam/class monthly in Valley City. He has added highlights from that instruction to his on-going banjo teaching.
John is currently participating the North Dakota Council on the Arts Folk & Traditional Arts Apprenticeship as a mentor to a young North Dakota banjo student. He will again be teaching five-string banjo at the International Peace Garden Old Time Fiddlers workshop in June.
Steve Burket
Guitar Instructor
Photo & Bio Coming Soon!
Daniel Koulack
Bass & Mandolin Instructor
Daniel Koulack whose music includes broad range of genres, is a multi-instrumentalist specializing in clawhammer (or frailing) style banjo and string bass.
Daniel leads his own band, The Knappen Street AllStar Band, is one half of the Duo Fiddle and Banjo with fiddler Karrnnel, and has collaborated with great musicians in a variety of groups and musical styles including Klezmer: Finjan, Black Sea Station, From Both Ends Of The Earth, Western Swing: Woody Holler, Soukous: Trio Afrique.
Daniel works regularly and on an ongoing basis with several artists on their respective projects, most notably Metis Songwriter Ted Longbottom, and forward leaning old -time fiddler Karrnnel. In addition he has had the opportunity to work on a more casual basis with many wonderful musicians including Canadian fiddling icons Gordon Stobbe, Patti Kosturuck, and Calvin Volrath. Daniel is active as a composer, arranger and producer whose music has been used to underscore theater, film and television.
Daniel is also proud to be a part of the Frontier Fiddle program (2000 – Present). This program has been a part of Manitoba’s Frontier School Division since 1996 and has resulted in a renewal of the fiddle culture in over 30 communities in Northern Manitoba. This program is unique to Manitoba and is highly respected by the Canadian fiddling community.
Daniel’s own music can be heard on his two albums of original instrumental music Clawhammer Your Way To The Top, and Life On A String, both of which were nominated for Juno awards in the Best Roots/Traditional category. Daniel and Karrnnel’s2015 release Fiddle & Banjo; Tunes From The North, Songs From The South has garnered critical claim and been included on top roots music lists in both the United Sates and the U.K. Daniel’s third album of original music Frailing To Succeed is due to be released in December 2016.
Mat Reimer
Contest Accompanist
Photo & Bio Coming Soon!