After 15 years at the helm, Mike Holmes has stepped down from the directorship of Music Camps North, who have hosted both Banjo Camp North and Mandolin & Fiddle Camp North in Massachusetts this past decade and a half. Hundreds of New England residents have studied old time and bluegrass music at Mike’s camps, and found fun and fellowship among the staff and instructors chosen to assist over the years.
While Holmes is retiring from active participation, the Camps will continue on under the supervision of Mike Kropp and Richard Pertz. The two have purchased the business from Holmes, and will host their first edition of Banjo Camp North in May of 2015. Phil Zimmerman will retain his position as Music Director.
Mike Holmes has a long history in the folk music of the United States. His Mugwumps Instrument Herald, which started in 1971 when he was living in Washington, DC as little more than a printed list of where folk and ethnic instruments could be purchased, eventually graduated into a regular periodical with both information about collecting fretted stringed instruments, and multiple pages of classified ads from buyers and sellers. The magazine no longer publishes, but remains online at mugwumps.com.
He has also been buying, selling and repairing stringed instruments since he was first attracted to the music in the 1950s. Over the years, Mike’s passion came to focus on banjos and music from the post-US Civil War era, and the style of playing known as minstrel banjo.
Banjo Camp North is known for offering instruction in a wide variety of banjo styles.
Full details about future music camps can be found online.
