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. His current groups are the Monroe Doctrine Bluegrass Band, which performs regularly at the Vault Coffee Shop and Arts Center in Valley City and 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 added highlights from that instruction to his on-going banjo teaching.
Daniel Koulack
Guitar & Bass Instructor
Photo & Bio Coming Soon!
Mat Reimer
Contest Accompanist
Photo & Bio Coming Soon!