Metamora Performing Arts
2023 Metamora Mandolin Gathering Instructors
Registration is necessary for these workshops, and can be done the day of the event. There is a cost saving if you register early for all day, which includes five workshops and a midday instructor led jam.
Scott Napier has been a Professional Musician since 1996 touting two decades of experience. He is on the faculty of the Kentucky School of Bluegrass and Traditional Music in Hyden, KY.
A native of southeastern Kentucky, Scott Napier picked up a mandolin as a teenager and has hardly set it down since. Scott began his professional career in 1996 as mandolinist with bluegrass legend Larry Sparks. After leaving the Lonesome Ramblers, Scott spent a year touring with International Bluegrass Music Association award-winning female vocalist Dale Ann Bradley and appeared on her 2006 release “Catch Tomorrow.” Around the same time, Scott was also a member of the house band for many episodes of the PBS series Woodsongs Old-Time Radio Hour in Lexington, KY. Scott was then recruited by Grammy award-winning artist Marty Raybon to tour the country as part of Marty’s band, “Full Circle.”
Scott joined The Lost and Found and helped to complete their 2009 album, “Love, Lost and Found” .
Mike Scott of Mike Scott and The Nashville Band asked Scott to join them in 2012 for a twelve-day tour playing bluegrass music in Israel; Scott notes this as a highlight moment of his career, and it remains one of his favorite travel experiences thus far.
In 2014, Scott accepted a full-time teaching position at Hazard Community and Technical College’s Kentucky School of Bluegrass and Traditional Music (KSBTM) in Hyden, KY, where he is still employed today as Associate Professor. At the KSBTM, Scott teaches classes in bluegrass music history, songwriting, and ensemble directing, as well as private lessons on both mandolin and guitar. Working closely with Bobby Osborne through the KSBTM, Scott started the Bobby Osborne Mandolin Roundup in 2017, an annual one-day mandolin camp bringing two-dozen students of all ages from around the country to Hyden for the opportunity to learn personally from Bobby, Scott, and other guest instructors.
In 2018 and 2020 Scott was nominated by the International Bluegrass Music Association for their Mentor of the Year award. In addition to his busy teaching schedule, Scott continues to freelance as a player, filling in with various bands for both in-person appearances and recording projects. He also offers private lessons and continues to write songs almost daily. Scott is endorsed by Gibson mandolins, Weber mandolins, GHS Strings, and BlueChip Picks.
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Lauren Price Napier
Southern Flavor & Tennessee Blues
Scales, Chops, & Double Stops
Music has always had a resounding presence in the lives of twin sisters Lauren Price Napier and Leanna Price. Growing up, both of their parents sang traditional and old-time country songs. As the sisters grew up hearing duet harmony, they naturally became accustomed to singing together themselves. Lauren and Leanna were gifted instruments for their eighth birthday and began taking lessons at age nine, though they didn’t take as strong an interest in bluegrass music specifically, until their mid-high school years. The girls then began attending as many festivals and workshops as possible. Both were recipients of Bill Vernon Memorial Scholarships at the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival in 2014 and attended the annual IBMA conference for the first time that fall. In 2017, Lauren and Leanna each completed their Bachelor degrees in Traditional Music from Morehead State University.
During the spring of 2016, the girls were signed to Rebel Records and subsequently recorded and released an EP that August, thus beginning the pursuit to tour professionally as The Price Sisters. The Price Sisters have now performed at numerous venues and festivals across the United States and were also included in a 10-day tour of The People’s Republic of China in 2015. The sisters released their first full-length album for Rebel, 'A Heart Never Knows,' in spring of 2018.
The Price Sisters were contracted as 2019 artists in residence with the International Bluegrass Music Museum's 'Bluegrass in the Schools' program. During that time, the sisters performed at 24 elementary schools throughout the Owensboro, KY, area. In February The Price Sisters headlined both nights of the historic University of Chicago Folk Festival and conducted an afternoon workshop with emphasis on sibling vocals and blending harmony singing.
Bobbie Jane Lancaster
Medicinal Music
Songwriter Circle
Bobbie Jane Lancaster's mother and father had her take piano lessons, from kindergarten until fourth grade. She'd always had the gift to be able to sing, She attended Vincennes University, held three jobs, and started singing in a coffee shop when she was 19. Later she began performing with other musicians and was introduced to the mandolin, which became her instrument of choice. Bobbie has released several albums and participated in many projects over the years. Most recently she has concentrated on working with Trades of Hope and using her talents in worship and community efforts.
Evan Wilson
Beginner Mandolin 101
Chord Shapes and how they travel
Evan Wilson makes his home in eastern Indiana, where he's been exposed to countless genres and styles of music. Hearing such a wide variety of music throughout his childhood, Evan always knew that there was music in his soul. It wasn’t until 2014 when he realized that old school acoustic music was what he had brewing in him. After just a couple of years of playing guitar, mandolin, singing, and attending the Kentucky School of Bluegrass and Traditional Music, he knew he could do it at a professional level. He began freelancing with great bands including, Mark Poe and the All American Band, Brooke Steele and Endless Highway, Joy River Band, Carl Bentley and Eagle Creek, Vernon McIntyre and The Appalachian Grass, and Wes Miller Band. In the summer of 2018 Evan took the full time position of playing mandolin, singing harmony, and running merchandise sales for Larry Sparks and the Lonesome Ramblers. Since then he has toured the road playing bluegrass’ biggest stages. The Station Inn, Bean Blossom, and the Grand Ole Opry, are some of the highlights. The future for Evan is sure to hold much more music and many possibilities.
