! It was on Facebook before I even knew it. There are similar themeslove, acceptance, and rejection.. She was also given the honor of playing the Grand . Along the way, a minor was added in 2005. Despite busy weekends touring to places like Branson, Missouri; Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; and Nashvilles famed Station Inn, Porchaks academic work continues. May 16 1932-July 5 2019Recorded on The Vox (Custom Sho. She frequently makes obscure literary references, and even enjoys literary criticism. Find an instrument for your child or donate one of yours. Im passionate about teaching, and would love to teach at the university She is the daughter of Roger and Jan Porchak and is from Woodstock, Ontario, Canada. Aynsley has been my twin-fiddle buddy going back to when she first started at ETSU. Porchak finished her bachelor of arts degree with a double major in Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Country Music Studies and English and immediately began work on a master of arts in Appalachian Studies. In this thesis, I demonstrate how analysis through literary criticism can provide a commentary on Appalachian song. jazz program, and (there were) lots of classical programs, but nothing like bluegrass It doesn't always work out that way, but when it does, it's generally, Aynsley Porchak, a recent graduate of the ETSU Bluegrass, Country & Old Time Music program has won the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Championship, just one year after winning the US competition last year. Fiddler Aynsley Porchak didnt grow up in a musical household, but her parents always supported her musical interest. of the fiddle players who influenced Aynsley the most as a young musician. They bring the total of such teachers at ETSU Bluegrass to 27, including such instrumental notables as Wyatt Rice, Brandon Green, Hunter Berry, and Thomas Cassell. Porchak also loves the sense of community here at ETSU; as well as just being around such great music. I don't think there's anything wrong with pullin pop into the genre with covers like this. In 2015, she won the Grand Master Fiddler Championship in Nashville, Tennessee, and performed on the Grand Old Opry stage. This fund has been established to assist the Hensley family of Flag Pond, Tennessee in their husband's and father's medical bills. Patch was also recorded as the title track of a Grammy Award-winning album by another minds when she was a toddler in Canada. She was introduced to bluegrass in her early teens, and quickly fell in love with the music. Online access to music lessons with our favorite musicians. Receive updates about CBA events and news. Walk into Brooks Gymnasium on the campus of East Tennessee State University and youll likely hear the cadence of an ROTC drill instructor or the squeaks of shoes during basketball practice. East Tennessee State University graduate student Aynsley Porchak recently pulled off a huge feat when she won the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Championship. In 2012, after years of lessons, Porchak traveled with her family to Nashville to participate in the Grand Masters Fiddle Championship. Championship. Lessons, links, and essays to help you enjoy playing and practicing even more. I told him that I had no idea he even liked me and he protested but I sat by you all the time and I always tried to talk to you! Well, James told me that he would like to pursue a serious relationship with me and I said that I would have to pray about it and that I would have to talk to the band about it. Playing via Spotify Playing via YouTube. She frequently makes obscure literary references, and even enjoys literary criticism. The rest is history. Aynsley Porchak (2018) (of Carolina Blue) - Instrumentalist of the Year. There have been as many as 42, says program director Dan Boner, himself an accomplished guitarist and fiddle player. seafood place and this man came up to our table, saying, Excuse me, I hope you Now, there are some 60 students majoring in Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Country Music Studies, along with 35 who are minoring. She also received the 2018 IBMA Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year award. This was right after the O Brother, Where Art Thou? phenomenon, and programs like ours were exploding, Boner says. IBMA fiddle player of the year, Aynsley Porchak, gets inducted into the Daughters of Bluegrass at Christmas in the Smokies, 2019. Since they were here last, they have enjoyed three IBMA nominations and earlier this month, won four SPBGMA Awards for Entertainers of the Year, Bluegrass Band of the Year (overall), Vocal Group of the Year, and Album of the Year for I Hear Bluegrass Calling Me. But that wasn't all. I get a great deal of satisfaction when I see the light go on in students eyes, when they first understand something and accomplish a tune that they didnt think they could play before.. Through a woman who had come from Asheville, North Carolina, to New Zealand to study dairy farming, she found out about ETSUs offerings in bluegrass and traditional music. Take all the opportunities given to hone your craft and really enjoy the opportunities that music has given, said Porchak when asked what advice she has for ETSUs aspiring musicians. Formed in 2020 by Aynsley Porchak (fiddle), Lincoln Hensley (banjo), John Meador (guitar), Gracie Meador (bass) and Tim Laughlin (mandolin). ), doctor of audiology (Au.D. put her in the car seat and drive around the country block playing music. been graduated for three years, trying to find a program I wanted. Takes the music extremely traditional Bluegrass . Im still in shock, said Porchak, I could have never dreamed I could have been the first [to win both awards].. Read Aynsley Porchak's bio and find out more about Aynsley Porchak's songs, albums, and chart history. that said, WHAT?!?!? of Jerry Douglas, Shawn Camp, ETSU alumnus Barry Bales, Charlie Cushman and Johnny She is a connoisseur of tea. of Bluegrass, Old Time and Country Music Studies in ETSUs Department of Appalachian Aynsley spends her time off the road as a private fiddle instructor, session musician, and author. This is an historic first, making her, We've just received the results from the 2015 Grand Masters Fiddler Championship, held September 26-27 at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. Aynsley Porchak Fiddle. Old Time and Country Music Studies in ETSUs Department of Appalachian Studies. After graduation she would like to use her degrees to write and further scholarship in the field of American traditional music. After all, shed already appeared in this Her love of classic cars (she His academic background in bass instruction and professional experience in bluegrass will serve our students well. In case you haven't noticed, we're in love around here. L-R: Jack Tottle, Raymond McLain, and Dan Boner. Her thesis topic is the music of the Louvin Brothers, Charlie and Ira, from the Sand Mountain region of northern Alabama. In 2016, she earned a bachelor of science degree in General Studies with a minor in Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Country Music Studies and is now a full-time member of the faculty. But on the buildings third level, theres a different kind of activity altogether. Were still together almost a year and a half later. Aynsleys parents Including individual instruction courses, total headcount in the program now exceeds 200. More information about bluegrass at ETSU is available online. One of those is Aynsley Porchak. While literary analysis of both sacred and secular song lyrics is an approach that is largely overlooked in this region's traditional music, it nonetheless provides insightful perspective on the art form itself. "We met for the first time when I auditioned for Carolina Blue in December two years ago. collected die-cast cars as a youngster) led to her hobby of photography. Program Director Dan Boner is happy to have both of these folks on staff. They made their SOIMF debut in 2018 and we are thrilled to have this award-winning band return to the Roberts Centre this spring. Mommy, right there! That happened repeatedly, and her parents eventually thought the music. In 2018, Porchak won the International Bluegrass Music Associations Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year award, for up-and-coming artists. about bluegrass. Originally a western swing tune for the steel guitar called The ETSU now offers a four-year degree in that field, and it has since 2010. Two years later, she returned to Nashville and won the U.S. Grand Masters Fiddle Championship. We've helped hundreds of small business create a successful Web presence. Kenny Chesney (seated) during his student days at ETSU. Natalie and her music, so when I was 9 years old, I started taking fiddle lessons. ), doctor of nursing practice (DNP) and doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees on successful . Website design and development by Camellia Digital Agency. Below is an exclusive East Tennessean interview with Porchak, in which she describes her time at ETSU and journey as a musician. ), doctor of public health (Dr.P.H. I look forward to passing on my knowledge to students and helping them become just as passionate about learning as I am!. She also received the 2018 IBMA Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year award. So did the divine right of kings. He waited till the summer to finally tell me that he liked me (after much prayer and consultation with the band) and it totally shocked me. it.. Soon the band was invited to perform on television. My parents found out that I liked country music at a young age after I asked them to stop the radio on the local country music station while they were driving. Website design and development by Camellia Digital Agency. with a double major in bluegrass and English, was actually scheduled to perform with Find a band near you or share your band info with the world! Click here for full pdf versions of the 2022-23 print edition. Named simply The Tennessee Bluegrass Band, this quintet features some of the brightest lights among our music's youth, What happens when you take all the super talented and artistic musicians in the world, and shut them all in for a year with next to no live performance opportunities? She earned a double bachelors in both English and bluegrass from ETSU, and has always possessed a genuine love and talent for music. porchak@mail.etsu.edu; Majors & Minors Cost Estimate Request Info Visit Apply Give. At the end of every semester, ETSU bands perform at a Johnson City institution, The Down Home, which opened in 1976. She applied successfully for a Public Performance Scholarship and enrolled. In order to further hone her craft, Aynsley enrolled in East Tennessee State University's Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music Studies degree program in 2013. It could take me a while, I said, before I knew - it could be days, could be weekscould be monthscould be years! By a miracle, that didnt scare James off, and it didnt take years after allin August, I drove to Galax to surprise him and tell him that I wanted to take him up on his offer to date. Her technical prowess is second to none. However, by February, James was starting to have a crush on me but I was completely oblivious. He showed up at Timmy and Lakins one day and after wringing his hat in his hands for the first fifteen minutes of our talk, he eventually told me that he couldnt wait any longer to let me know his feelings. Aynsley managed to secure a couple of lessons with legendary session fiddler Buddy I've never been more excited about . Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Roots Music 304 Brooks Memorial Hall | PO Box 70435 Johnson City, TN 37614 (Get Directions) Phone: 423-439-7072; Department of Appalachian Studies. . Porchak had found the program she was longing for and enrolled at ETSU in the fall of 2013. Happy Valentine's Day! While literary analysis of both sacred and secular song lyrics is an approach that is largely overlooked in this region's traditional music, it nonetheless provides insightful perspective on the art form itself. Aynsley is working on a graduate degree in Appalachian Studies at ETSU. See Our Schedule. Aynsley began playing fiddle at the age of 9. She was introduced to bluegrass through the music of Kenny Baker and Bobby Hicks, and quickly fell in love with the music. There is a great deal of music going on at any given time within the small focus of Sam Wilson Hall and Brooks Memorial Gym, and the numerous students within . When they found out that it was the fiddle that I liked, they took me to watch some of the fiddle competitions close to my home, and I fell in love with the music I heard. Im so excited and honored to be a part of a program I have admired so much since I became aware of it, and the brilliant graduates that have come through it, to join the ranks of successful professionals in the roots music world, not to mention the world class faculty. Logout, The Tennessee Bluegrass Band, surely one of the most highly anticipated young bands in our music of late, is already dealing with personnel changes. 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