MELISSA RUNNING (Silver Spring, MD) started playing piano for dancing in 1999, when she was recruited to play for the Swarthmore College folk dance class. She's been playing for English and Scottish country dancing ever since, with some forays into contra here and there. She dances all of those styles and Scandinavian, couple dancing, international, longsword, garland, English clog, whatever else is on... and works to support her dance habit. She has recently taken up the nyckelharpa.
JANE D. ROBERTS (Lansdowne, PA) earned a Bachelor of Music degree on double bass and was content playing for orchestra concerts, rock gigs, and musicals until one long, hot summer when she discovered both the cello and folk dance. What began as strong interest blossomed into passion after attending a Scottish music workshop given by Susie Petrov. Jane has sought enlightenment from mentors such as Susie Petrov, Natalie Haas, Abby Newton, and Dave Wielser. She currently plays for dance classes, workshops, social dances, and balls and can be found dancing when she's not playing. Jane works as an Intellectual Property paralegal to support her music habit.
NORA SMITH (Lansdowne, PA) began playing fiddle for dances while studying Haverford College and has been hooked ever since. She plays mostly Scottish, Irish, and New England contra dance tunes with a smattering of Old-time and English. Always enthusiastic and up for fun she is mostly likely to be found playing for dances, on the dance floor, or playing at various late-night sessions. When not engaging in music or dance related activities, Nora is working towards her MLIS degree from Drexel University.
JOSH BURDICK (Lansdowne, PA) began studying violin and piano at an early age at the Peabody Preparatory School . He spent his summers studying ear-training and composition at The Walden School, where he was introduced to contra dance. At Swarthmore College Josh was, and still is, a member of the Folk Club where he plays for contra and Scottish and English country dance. By day, Josh studies computational biology; by night, he plays for dances in the Philadelphia area and beyond.