The Virginia Luthiers with Wayne Henderson and Presley Barker

For generations, the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia have produced an abundance of extraordinary traditional musicians. The Virginia Luthiers are steeped in those traditions and present an evening of stellar bluegrass and old-time music. As their name suggests, the members of The Virginia Luthiers are also master builders of acoustic instruments.

Jimmy Edmonds was a child prodigy who began playing fiddle at 5-years-old. He placed first in the Old Fiddlers’ Convention fiddle competition eight years in a row, starting at age 10, and also holds down the fiddle spot in the Buck Mountain Band with Uncle Wade Ward on the banjo. His guitars are played by musicians such as Vince Gill and Zack Brown. A National Heritage Award winner, Wayne Henderson is legendary for his hand-crafted instruments and his guitar-picking. His guitars are highly sought after, and he’s traveled the world to share his music. Guitar picker and bass player Gerald Anderson began making mandolins and guitars 29 years ago in Henderson’s shop, and has since crafted more than 200 instruments. Spencer Strickland grew up in a family and community steeped in music, and began playing the mandolin when he was 10 years old. He started his luthier career apprenticing with Gerald Anderson. At age 14, Presley Barker has been playing acoustic guitar for half of his life. Living in the North Carolina mountains and learning from many local musicians, he has emerged as an astonishingly gifted young flat-picker.