Jana Jae Fiddle Camp and Music Festival Set for Labor Day Weekend

Jana Jae, the first lady of country fiddle, is once again bringing together fiddlers of all ages and skills for a weekend of musical fun.

Every Labor Day weekend, The internationally famed fiddler/violinist hosts the annual Jana Jae Fiddle Camp and Music Festival in Grove. This year’s fiddle camp and music festival is set for Sept. 1, 2 and 3.

A learning experience with master instructors and performers, the Jana Jae Fiddle Camp and Music Festival focuses on improving skills and sharing music while having a whole lot of fun.

“It is pure joy to see how everyone interacts, learning and sharing, playing and progressing,” Jana Jae said. “It has become a big extended family reunion of sorts. This is so intrinsically rewarding, we keep doing it year after year.”

Workshops and master demonstrations, as well as individual and group sessions will be held Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Grove Civic Center, 1702 S. Main. These workshops will provide instruction on a variety of subjects, including tips for better playing, learning to play before an audience and with a group, as well as addressing problems or questions the musicians may have.

More than 20 first-rate instructors, all great players and master teachers in their own right, are joining Jae to demonstrate, teach and perform during the fiddle camp and music festival. They include stellar fiddle, guitar, mandolin, cello and viola coaches.

There will also be special appearances by fiddle groups, master fiddlers and top-contest fiddlers and other performances.

The Jana Jae Fiddle Camp and Music Festival is not just for fiddlers, It is open to all acoustic musicians. A guitar workshop has been added to the schedule. Singer and guitarist Jim Garling and three other outstanding guitarists will lead the workshop. They will share chords, chord patterns and voicings for different styles of music in the workshop.

And, while the beginning, intermediate and advanced musicians hone their skills, the public can sit in on the events and enjoy the music, music and more music.

The events are all open to the public and free of charge. Everyone is welcome to attend the events at the Grove Civic Center during the day, as well as the evening events held at Snider’s Camp.

The Jana Jae Fiddle Camp and Music Festival will feature a variety of musical styles, including bluegrass, swing and more. Organizers say the event is entertaining for all ages, so they invite everyone to bring the whole family out for some great music.

The weekend of musical fun gets started Friday evening at 6 p.m. with a barbecue dinner, kick-off party and jam at Snider’s Camp, 63600 East 320 Road, which is on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, one mile south and a half mile east of Honey Creek Bridge in Grove.

During the party, the renowned Osage Stomp String Band, Festival Fiddlers and Jana Jae Friends and Family will perform.

After a day of workshops and sessions at the Grove Civic Center on Saturday, the fiddle camp and music festival moves back to Snider’s Camp for a lakeside fish fry dinner with all the trimmings at 6 p.m.

The dinner will be followed by an amateur fiddle contest that is open to the public. Groups and individuals are welcome to perform on the Snider’s Camp stage.

There is a $10 charge for dinners on both days.

The Jana Jae Fiddle Camp and Music Festival concludes Sunday evening with an informal pickin’ party at Snider’s Camp. There will be an open stage, as well as jam sessions, and everyone is invited to stay as long as they like.

The First Lady of Country Fiddle

A popular touring artist based out of Oklahoma, Jana Jae’s renowned talent has built a large international following. She has been invited to perform 10 touring concerts in China for the Silk Road International Arts Festival.

Immediately after the Jana Jae Fiddle Camp and Music Festival, Jae will head to China. Joining her in concert will be her sister, Cherie Gans, of California, a pianist and violinist, and Barry Patton, from Winfield, Kansas, who plays rhythm bones. The group will join other bands touring throughout China.

Once Jae returns from China, she will leave for Mexico where she will present two classical concerts, featuring the Darius Milhaud Suite. She will also teach talented, under-privileged students to play the fiddle/violin.

A classically trained musician, Jae grew up in a musical family. Her parents studied at the Juilliard School Music and her grandfather was an accomplished champion fiddler. Jae began studying classical violin at the age of two, using a 1/8-sized instrument.

An award-winning musician, Jae taught music for several years before taking her music on the road. She joined Buck Owens’ Buckaroo band, before becoming a regular performer on the popular television series, “Hee Haw”. She has also appeared with a number of country music greats, including Chet Atkins, Roy Clark, Ray Stevens, The Oakridge Boys, Mel Tillis, Ricky Skaggs and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

Jae continues to delight audiences with her one-of-a-kind style, which blends country fiddling, western swing, bluegrass, pop and the classics.

The Jana Jae Fiddle Camp and Music Festival is a great opportunity to hear this talented musician perform. For more information, visit www.grandlakefestivals.com or call (918) 786-8898.

The fiddle camp and music festival is presented by Grand Lake Festivals, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to brining good family entertainment to the Grand Lake area.