Ten pairs have been selected to participate in the 2024-25 West Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program. The program celebrates and supports traditional artists in passing on cultural knowledge, stories and techniques to their apprentices. This time-tested model of one-to-one study allows dedicated apprentices to learn from recognized experts in their traditional art forms and better understand their communities and history. Hosted biennially since 2016, the program has increased in size over four rounds. These 10 pairs from across the Mountain State are carrying on important traditions in old-time music, fiber arts, storytelling and more.
The ten participating pairs are as follows: Tim Bing (Cabell County) will teach clawhammer banjo playing to his apprentice, Edwin McCoy (Monroe County). Margaret Bruning and her apprentice, Nevada Tribble (both of Randolph County), will practice weaving and fiber art traditions. Richard Eddy will teach his apprentice, Katie McCoy (both of Monongalia County), how to repair fiddles. Bill Hairston (Kanawha County) will share storytelling techniques with his apprentice, Aristotle Jones (Monongalia County). Ginny Hawker (Randolph County) will study traditional unaccompanied Primitive Baptist hymn singing with her apprentice, Mary Linscheid (Monongalia County). Dural Miller will teach urban farming to his apprentice, Linesha Frith (both of Kanawha County). Nancy Nelson will train her apprentice and nephew, Kenneth “KD” Jones (both of Kanawha County), to make family candy recipes. Taylor Runner and his apprentice, Annick Odom (both of Monongalia County), will practice square dance calling. Ben Townsend (Hampshire County) will work with his apprentice, Bodhi Gibbons-Guinn (Allegany County, Md.), on old-time fiddle styles and repertoire. Judy Van Gundy will share traditional Appalachian white oak basketry techniques with her apprentice, Andrea Brandon-Hennig (both of Randolph County).
The West Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program is made possible with a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and is managed by the West Virginia Folklife Program, a project of the West Virginia Humanities Council. Follow @wvfolklife on social media, and visit wvfolklife.org to learn more about the West Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program. Learn more about the West Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program at https://wvfolklife.org/folklife-apprenticeship-program/. For more information on the West Virginia Folklife Program, visit wvfolklife.org and http://wvhumanities.org/programs/westvirginia-folklife-program/ or contact Jennie Williams at williams@wvhumanities.org or 304-346- 8500.
The West Virginia Humanities Council, an independent nonpartisan nonprofit, is the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Council is supported by the NEH, the State of West Virginia and contributions from the private sector. The purposes of the West Virginia Humanities Council are educational, and its mission is to support a vigorous program in the humanities statewide in West Virginia.
