The historic Edwards Opera House (Edwards, New York)

“Musical soul mates. They swap music and stories and have a grand old time.”

— VARICK CHITTENDEN, FOLKLORIST, TRADITIONAL ARTS IN UPSTATE NEW YORK (TAUNY)

Fiddlers Gretchen Koehler & Don Woodcock (In-Sil Yoo photo)

FIDDLERS DON WOODCOCK & GRETCHEN KOEHLER

"The North Country" of Northern New York is home to two of the top fiddlers in the Northeast. For two decades, champion fiddlers Don Woodcock & Gretchen Koehler have traveled the region playing the Old Time jigs, reels, waltzes and polkas that have been enjoyed by fiddle fans for generations. Woodcock and Koehler treat their audiences to an impressive repertoire of (mostly) familiar tunes and fun stories that take listeners back in time. First meeting almost 40 years ago at a New England Fiddle contest, they have a long shared history, knowledge and love of fiddle music that always brings audiences to their feet. Don&GretchenWebpage

Gretchen Koehler first made her mark as a young contest fiddler throughout the Eastern US and Canada, winning contests in 7 states and 3 provinces. She is at ease playing a wide range of fiddle styles, from Old Time to Celtic to Quebecois, and is a sought after workshop clinician, in addition to teaching at her private fiddle studio in Potsdam. In 2012 she was inducted into the New York State Fiddlers' Hall of Fame in Osceola, NY and is TAUNY's 2014 Heritage Award recipient for her work to preserve old customs.

Don Woodcock is a master fiddler and three-time New York State fiddle champion. He learned his craft by observing the playing of his father, Howard. In 1987 he was inducted into The New York State Fiddlers’ Hall of Fame and is a 1997 TAUNY (Traditional Arts in Upstate New York) Heritage Award winner. His deep North Country roots made him an important resource for TAUNY’s award winning project Songs to Keep which was aired on PBS.

“Don & Gretchen are always the favorite performers in our series. ”

— Linda Batt, Organizer-Meetinghouse Museum Series, Dekalb, New York

Guest hosts on bluegrass program, String Fever on North Country Public Radio with Barb Heller. — Guest hosts on bluegrass program, *String Fever* on North Country Public Radio with Barb Heller.

In addition to their own recordings, together they have recorded an album of Old Time fiddle tunes in three part harmony called The Fiddlers’ Three with Gretchen’s sister, Rebecca Koehler.