Bill Schilling with Rich & Kathy Small Concert at Folknet’s Mountain Rose

Bill Schilling with Rich & Kathy Small have been performing together as a trio since about 2014 and have been featured in concerts and as workshop presenters at many venues including the Canton Folk Song Society’s Winterfest; the Dulci-More Concert Series and Festival in Salem and Lisbon; Folknet’s Concert Series at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beachwood; Folknet’s Mountain Rose Concert Series in Kent; Folknet’s Music in the Valley at Hale Farm and Village in Bath; the Fort New Salem Dulcimer Festival in Salem, WV; Goodstock in Salem; the Lake Erie Folk Festival in Cleveland; Music Along the River in Harpersfield; Music and Art at Oak Glen in New Cumberland, WV; New Year’s Eve Salem; and others. Their harmony singing of folk-style songs is accompanied by a wide variety of folk-style instruments (guitars, bowed psaltery, autoharps, banjoleles, ukuleles, banjitar, mountain dulcimers, hammered dulcimer, recorders, jug, jug-a-zoo, percussion, and more are possible) and lots of chances for audiences to sing along.

Bill Schilling has been singing and playing various folk instruments (at least 20 with variations of several) for 55 years. He has performed for audiences of all ages in many settings from coast to coast. His high-energy performances may include songs, slide programs, and/or stories selected specifically for your group. His performances often involve members of your group with audience participation songs or activities. Since Bill believes that his music should be inclusive, he is involved in many groups which share music. His “Dulci-More Public Domain Songbooks” (in several variations) are used by clubs around the country.

Rich and Kathy Small have performed regionally at many festivals and events. Their harmony singing of Appalachian Mountain Ballads, Civil War Laments, Lively Audience Sing-a-longs, Original Compositions, and Folk Songs from all eras is accompanied by traditional old time instruments such as the Mountain Dulcimer, Bowed Psaltery, Autoharp, Guitar, Harmonica, and Tenor Banjo. Before re-locating to Canton, they were the performing hosts for The Old-Time Gospel Fest concert series at the Bluebird Amphitheater in Carrollton, Ohio and directed the Arts of Appalachia Music Camp for children in Carroll County, Ohio.

Put on by Folknet at Standing Rock Cultural Arts in Kent, OH on the first Sunday of months in the spring and fall, this concert series has a history of over 50 years in the Kent area. Suggested donation at the door is $15, $12 for Folknet members, and an additional $5 covers all the children in a family with a responsible adult. Information for the series is available at www.folknet.org.