Name: Fiddling with Traditions in Lake Placid, NY
Start: 2026-05-01T19:00:00-04:00
Location: Lake Placid High School

Fiddling with Traditions in Lake Placid, NY

The Lake Placid community schools presents A “Fiddling With Traditions” concert with fiddler/tunesmith Gretchen Koehler will take place on May 1, at the Lake Placid MHS in Lake Placid, NY. 7:00-8:30.
This concert is free and open to the public.
Fiddler Gretchen Koehler and jazz pianist Daniel Kelly blend the raw energy of dance fiddling with the lyricism and improvisation of jazz. "Masterful," writes Fiddler Magazine of the duo's dynamic sound.
For nearly two years, fiddler and tunesmith Gretchen Koehler immersed herself in the world of Northern New York State folk arts. She interviewed a variety of artists to learn about their traditions, study their hands and aesthetic of their work environment, and adapted these ideas to her family's music tradition. From these sessions came an exciting new fiddle suite, "Fiddling With Traditions."
Fiddling With Traditions is a fun, imaginative, muti-media concert that features fiddler/tunesmith Gretchen Koehler & pianist Daniel Kelly sharing original fiddle tunes that evoke everything from sweeping paint strokes, to intricate stitching, to the fiery forging of American folk traditions. From heart pumping musical arrangements to peaceful panoramas, their expressive soundscapes capture the spirit of rug braiding, blacksmithing, ice harvesting, quilting, silversmithing, paper making, knitting, baking, painting, maple sugaring, beekeeping and wood working. Audiences of all ages will enjoy this captivating musical adventure enhanced by a backdrop of gorgeous film and photography.
Gretchen Koehler is a champion fiddler with an atlas of musical styles at her fingertips. Her left hand has an Irish brogue, her bow arm provides a distinct American Old Time drive while her feet hammer out accompaniment on the floorboards in typical Quebecois style. An early standout in the American and Canadian fiddle contest circuit, TIME Magazine identified Koehler as “astonishingly good.” In 2012 she was inducted into the North American Fiddlers’ Hall of Fame (NY State rep.) www.gretchenkoehlermusic.com
Daniel Kelly is an award-winning pianist and composer. Blending jazz, classical and folk music into a signature sound, Kelly has been called “stunningly original.” He has performed with jazz legends Michael Brecker, hip-hop star Lauryn Hill, modern classical giants the Bang on a Can All-Stars and toured throughout Southeast Asia and India as a part of the US State department-sponsored Jazz Ambassador program.