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Northern Week at The Ashokan Center

Northern Week 2026
Sun, Jul 19 - Sat, Jul 25



Jay Ungar & Molly Mason host this full week of music and dance from New England, Québec, Sweden, England, and France. It’s a fun and friendly learning vacation with classes in singing, dancing, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, piano, bass, and practical music theory, along with jams, song swaps, band labs, and themed evening dance parties with great live music. Musicians and dancers of all levels and backgrounds are welcome.

Staff List (more details below)
PINE TREE FLYERS (Katie McNally, Emily Troll, Benjamin Foss, Neil Pearlman), VOX HUNTERS (Armand Aromin, Benedict Gagliardi), Audrey Jaber, Rachel Bell, Jacqueline Schwab, Will Mentor, John Krumm, Éric Favreau, Sabin Jacques, Nicolas Babineau, Tim Ball, Max Newman, Stuart Kenney, Andrea Hoag, Andrea Larson, Laura Hummel, Sally Rogers & Howie Bursen, Tom Krumm, Charlie Pilzer and Jay Ungar & Molly Mason! 

“The staff were all very friendly and helpful. The site was beautiful and I really enjoyed the welcoming atmosphere.”

 

Pricing

Supporter ($1,065.00)
Includes a donation toward Ashokan’s programs & scholarships. Thank you for your Support!

Standard Registration ($915.00)
Not sure which to choose? Please choose this ticket.

Economy ($765.00)
Need financial assistance? Choose this ticket.

Youth (ages 5-25) ($615.00)
Youth attendees select this ticket!

Under 5 ($0.00)
Children under 5 attend for free!


See if you qualify for our
PAY-IT-FORWARD scholarship

Lodging Options
Staying Off-site | $0.00
Live nearby or commuting to and from Ashokan from a hotel, Air BnB, or friend's house?
Camping | $0.00
Camping areas include rec field (with bathhouse) upper pasture, and more. BYO camping gear. No open fires.
Sharing a Private Room purchased by someone else | $0.00
Ashokan doesn't assign roommates or split room costs at our end, but you're encouraged to coordinate sharing any private room.
Bunk in Men's Longhouse | $300.00
Twin-sized bunk in large shared room with large shared bathroom. Maximum capacity 24 people in 12 bunkbeds. BYO bedding, towels, toiletries
Bunk in Women's Longhouse | $300.00
Twin-sized bunk in large shared room with large shared bathroom. Maximum capacity 24 people in 12 bunkbeds. BYO bedding, towels, toiletries
Bunk in All Gender Longhouse | $300.00
Twin-sized bunk in large shared room with large shared bathroom. Maximum capacity 24 people in 12 bunkbeds. BYO bedding, towels, toiletries
Trillium Private Cabin | $900.00
Small private cabin with two twin beds, sleeps up to 2 people. Shared bathrooms nearby.

**See Additional Info**



CAMP WAITLIST & PRIVATE LODGING WAITLIST (This option is for you if the blue "Click to register button" is disabled or your preferred lodging choice is greyed out in the form.)

JAY UNGAR & MOLLY MASON

Jay & Molly teach a Waltz and Slow Tunes ensemble class for all instruments at a wide range of levels. Tom Krumm assists working with Jay to teach harmonies and stylistic nuances for fiddles, mandolins and other melody instruments. Molly works with guitarists and other backup players to develop the chordal and rhythmic accompaniment. Molly will also lead a backup guitar class and Jay plans to offer mini-lessons during the week.
SALLY ROGERS & HOWIE BURSEN

Starting from a 1981 Greenwich Village coffeehouse encounter, Sally Rogers and Howie Bursen have built a strong folk reputation throughout North America together and as solo artists. A songwriter and children’s educator, Sally's songs “Love Will Guide Us” and “Circle of the Sun” are now anthems for rituals of passage and protest. Howie is known for his warm baritone voice, devilish sense of humor, red-hot banjo wizardry and inventive guitar arrangements. Both love to teach and share their vast knowledge of traditional music.
WILL MENTOR

A contra and square dance caller from Northern Vermont, Will is known for his clear teaching, upbeat wit, and relaxed stage presence. He loves to choreograph evenings with a variety of dances and tempos that at times surprise and always delight. Will's callers workshops follow his guiding principle, “It’s about the dancers!”
JOHN KRUMM

John has played a key role in music and dancing at Ashokan since our first Fiddle & Dance Workshop in 1980.  He has delved deeply into why we humans sing and dance together and has an abiding interest in making music and dancing accessible and fun for all.
NICOLAS BABINEAU

Nicholas Babineau - is a gifted multi-instrumentalist and has performed with groups such as the Yves Lambert Trio, La Bottine Souriante, Réveillons! and Les Portageux. His concise minimalist approach to guitar accompaniment is one of his special skills. Nicolas will teach guitar and play the music of Québec with Sabin Jacques and Éric Favreau.
THE VOX HUNTERS

Hailing from the great state of Rhode Island, Armand Aromin and Benedict Gagliardi are seekers and singers of old songs, cultivators of local music, and chronic multi-instrumentalists. They are  strong tradition-bearers who are dedicated to sharing their infectious enthusiasm for harmony singing and instrumental music with others.
ANDREA HOAG

Andrea is a renowned for her deep expertise in Scandinavian music and brings decades of experience and passion for Swedish fiddle traditions. Her workshops will focus on techniques, ornamentation, and rhythmic nuances that define Swedish fiddle music. Students will explore bowing styles, phrasing, and ensemble playing, fostering a deeper connection to this vibrant folk tradition. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced fiddler, Andrea’s warm, creative teaching style ensures a rewarding and inspiring experience.
ERIC FAVREAU

Éric Favreau comes from a family of traditional musicians. He has spent much time combing through Québécois traditional music archives and making field recordings of living traditional musicians. His playing is skillful and heartfelt and loves to share his deep knowledge Québécois traditional music with students of all levels.
KATIE MCNALLY

Katie McNally was raised near Boston, Massachusetts, immersed in Scottish and Cape Breton music traditions. An acclaimed recording artist, she performs comfortably both on concert stages and in dance halls. She also serves as the artistic director of the Boston States Fiddle Camp and is a dedicated teacher, leading workshops at fiddle camps nationwide and offering private lessons from her home in Portland, Maine.
LAURA HUMMEL

Known for her expertise in Scandinavian folk music, Laura delights in sharing the joy, fun, and richness of these traditions through her Swedish nyckelharpa and Norwegian Hardanger fiddle playing and teaching. Students will explore techniques, repertoire, and traditions of these incredible instruments while honing their skills in a supportive and immersive environment. Whether you're an experienced player or new to the instrument, this is an opportunity not to miss!
ANDREA LARSON

Andrea's passion for Swedish folk music and dance has led to performances across the US and Sweden. In addition to spreading Swedish fiddle tunes and techniques, she has delighted in sharing festival slängpolska as a dance leader. Andrea loves teaching sustainable practice methods to students of all ages. Her approach, developed during a sabbatical year at the Eric Sahlström Institute in Sweden (2012–13), focuses on the body mechanics of Swedish fiddle, note initiation, and the source of rhythmic impulse. Andrea greatly enjoys making music with musicians of all skill levels.
AUDREY JABER

Hailing from Honolulu and now living in California, Audrey cut her folk teeth in the Boston area, attending Berklee College of Music and playing English, New England, Celtic, and Old Time music in a variety of bands in the vibrant New England dance community. Clear communication, love of the music and a great sense of fun are hallmarks of her teaching style.
TIM BALL

Tim is a fiddler, guitarist, producer, and teacher with deep roots in traditional New York, New England, and Irish-American fiddle music. His  clear and generous teaching style draws on more than 20 years performing in Celtic and contra dance bands and a lifetime of playing traditional fiddle music.
MAX NEWMAN

Max Newman is a well-regarded and well-traveled dance musician known for his engaging and attentive accompaniment. His playing draws particularly on New England, Irish, and Quebecois styles. As a teacher, he enjoys grounding traditional styles, exploring melodic inspiration, and finding creative expression. We welcome him back to teach both guitar and mandolin again this year.
TOM KRUMM

Tom's specializes in versatility. Growing up with classical training while also immersed in the world of traditional music at Ashokan and in his home and community. As a result Tom developed a knack and a passion for learning the intricacies of different styles of music. He loves help students find creative ways to cross and mix genres and mine their own musical ideas and backgrounds, especially in the Experi-Mental Band.
BENJAMIN FOSS

Benjamin Foss - Benjamin grew up in southern New England playing for contra dances and building fiddles and banjos out of everything he could find. He loves digging un-played tunes out of the archives and putting them back to work in the dance halls. Benjamin looks forward to teaching guitar and mandolin and playing for dances at Northern Week this year.
SABIN JACQUES

Sabin Jacques is one of Québec's leading master button accordionists, is also a fun and inspiring teacher. As well as teaching tunes and techniques, Sabin will join up with La Famille LeBlanc to play for dancing and help lead the "Cinq a Six," Northern Week's legendary and very inclusive daily Québécois jam session.
RACHEL BELL

Rachel is known for stretching the boundaries of the piano accordion, whether playing for contra dance, French BalFolk dance, English country dance, or a concert audience. She has a deep respect for centuries old musical traditions and draws on those traditions as a prolific composer of her own new music. Rachel's passion for sharing the music that feeds her soul infuses her teaching with joy.
EMILY TROLL

Emily is known for her rhythmic drive, spontaneous harmonizing, and creative textures. She finds connection, humor and great joy in playing with others… and wants to make that as accessible as possible to those around her. Emily is known as a cheerleader and community-builder as well as a performer and teacher. She'll offer classes for piano accordion and lead an all comers New England band class.

JACQUELINE SCHWAB

If you’re drawn to the expressive, evocative piano music featured in Ken Burns’ PBS documentaries, you’ve already experienced Jacqueline’s artistry. Beyond that, she is a celebrated dance instructor and musician with a passion for teaching and a remarkable ability to understand and support each student’s unique needs. She'll teach both piano and English Country Dance.
NEIL PEARLMAN

Neil has built his career as a pianist around an improvisational approach to Celtic music, deeply shaped by his love of other genres such as folk, funk, and jazz, and guided by an ethos of connection and musical conversation. In addition to touring across North America and Europe with bands and as a solo pianist, Neil greatly enjoys teaching and playing for dancers. We’re delighted to welcome him to Northern Week.

STUART KENNEY

One of the most in demand upright players on the contra circuit, Stuart's musical interests range from New England contradance music to Cajun and Blues. A 13 year member of Wild Asparagus, Stuart flexibility and personality allow him to play with anyone. Although he's toured coast to coast, his musical home is at the Guiding Star Grange in Greenfield, Massachusetts, where he plays for and hosts dances. He enjoys teaching upright bass for dance musicians, and Northern style 5-string banjo.
CHARLIE PILZER

Musician, producer, sound engineer, and event organizer, Charlie brings his passion for Scandinavian, Celtic, and New England traditional music to audiences, listeners, and dancers around the world. When he’s not playing piano and bass, or teaching, he works as a recording and mastering engineer, with over a dozen GRAMMY-nominated projects to his credit, including a GRAMMY-winning restoration of Harry Smith’s Anthology of American Folk Music.
DEL ORLOSKE

Del enjoys sharing his vast knowledge of flora and fauna, along with the human and geological history of Ashokan's 385 historic acres. His engaging manner captivates all ages during his fun and informative walks along our scenic roads and woodland trails.

Additional Info:

Payment/Cancellation/Refund Policy

You may pay in full or hold your place with a deposit of 25% per person if registering 4 or more weeks before camp. Full payment is due 4 weeks before camp begins. To cancel your camp registration, email events@ashokancenter.org

• We retain $50 per person for cancellations requested until 4 weeks before camp begins, and for COVID-related cancellations made at any date.

• We retain your 25% deposit between 4 and until 2 weeks before camp.

• We retain the full registration amount within 2 weeks of camp.

Schedule Overview

SUNDAY

1:00-3:00pm: CAMPER ARRIVAL & CHECK IN
3:00pm: WELCOME GATHERING
4:00pm: MEET THE TEACHERS
6:00pm: DINNER
7:00pm: EVENING DANCE & JAMS
10:00pm: SNACK

MONDAY-FRIDAY

8:30-9:30am: BREAKFAST
9:30-12:30pm: CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
12:00-1:30pm: LUNCH
2:00-5:00pm: CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
5:00-6:00pm: OPEN MIC (Esopus Courtyard)
6:00-7:00pm: DINNER
7:30-10:00pm: EVENING DANCE & JAMS
10:00pm: SNACK & INFORMAL JAMMING

SATURDAY

10:00am: BRUNCH
12:00-2:00pm: FAREWELL GATHERING

Pricing & What's Included!

You may choose to pay up front or pay a deposit and balance. Balance payment is due 4 weeks before the event.

Registration includes all activities and meals. Lodging is optional and camping is free.

Children under 5 attend for free (under 3 for Family Camp). Campers under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Food & Drink

All meals are included. You may indicate your dietary restrictions when registering. We make every effort to include a range of allergen-free dishes and to inform diners of meal ingredients.

The Ashokan Center is licensed to serve beer and wine in Esopus Lodge (the main building). The bar is generally open from late afternoon to early evening. Sorry, by law, guests are prohibited from bringing their own alcoholic beverages into this licensed building.

Lodging

LONGHOUSE BUNKS: Rooms hold up to 24 people and are designated women, men, or all gender. Place your belongings on a top or bottom bunk after you check in to claim it. Pillows are available, please bring your own blankets, sheets, pillowcases, and towels. There are a small number of light blankets for those bunkhouse residents who are unable to bring one of their own. If you will need us to provide one, please let us know well in advance.

PRIVATE ROOMS: There are a limited number of private rooms that must be reserved in advance at extra charge. Pillows are available, please bring your own sheets, pillowcases, and towelsThere are light quilts in each private room.

CAMPSITES: Camping is available with access to bathrooms and outdoor showers. Please park by your campsite only if you plan to leave your car in place for the duration of the camp.

What To Bring

If you’re lodging with us please remember to bring a blanket and linens (or sleeping bag), towel, toiletries, soap, flashlight, earplugs (for light sleepers). There are light quilts in each private room and we have a small number of light blankets for bunkhouse residents who can’t bring one of their own. Let us know well in advance if you’ll need one.

Flashlight, recording device, camera (or maybe those are all your phone!)

Comfortable informal clothing for wet and dry weather. Some may also bring dressy, wild or fun clothing as well but that is up to you! There’s no laundry on site so bring enough clothes for the camp.

What Not To Bring
Please, no pets or drop-in guests.
Mail/Phone/WiFi

Incoming mail

Your Name c/o Ashokan Music & Dance 477 Beaverkill Rd, Olivebridge, NY 12461

Outgoing mail leaves each weekday at 4pm.

Music & Dance Camp Phone (845) 657-8333 x 3

Cell phone reception is available but spotty. Calls may be dropped but texts are reliably received.

High speed Wi-Fi is available in all buildings.

Directions & Transportation

Physical Address: Ashokan Center, 477 Beaverkill Rd, Olivebridge, NY 12461

DRIVING DIRECTIONS   Take NY State Thruway (1-87) to Kingston exit #19. From traffic circle take Route 28 West (toward Pine Hill). In 12 miles (shortly after Mobil & Citgo) turn left onto Reservoir Rd. Cross the Ashokan Reservoir, turn left at the Tee. Head down the hill, pass the first left (Rt 28A East) and merge onto 28A West. Take next left onto Beaverkill Rd. Follow Beaverkill for about one mile, then turn right into the Ashokan Center driveway and follow the signs.

AIRPORT  Albany, NY (ALB) is the closest major airport (about 1.5 hours away). Public transportation is available from the airport to the Kingston bus station, where you can take a taxi to Ashokan. Or contact us at least one month before your program begins for a list of people driving from the Albany area who may be able to give you a ride.

Covid Safety Policy

We remain committed to the well-being of our guests, staff, and broader community. As public health guidance continues to evolve, common respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19 influenza (flu) and RSV are managed similarly.

The Ashokan Center’s policy reflects current CDC and New York State Department of Health guidance and emphasizes personal responsibility, symptom-based decision-making, and community care.

We maintain hand sanitizer stations, promote handwashing, and prioritize good ventilation and clean shared spaces.If you are experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness—including fever (>100), cough, sore throat, and fatigue—you should go home and not participate in group activities.

We continue to monitor public health guidance and will revise this policy as needed.

Refund policy: If you cancel or shorten your stay due to respiratory illness you will be eligible for a prorated refund. We appreciate your cooperation in staying home when ill.

Additional FAQ's

The Ashokan Center builds community through shared experiences in nature, history, music and art. We have hosted traditional Music & Dance Camps at our 385 acre nature preserve for over 40 years. In 2020 we learned how to host them online and in 2021 we began to reimagine how to gather in person once again.

Come join the Ashokan family to celebrate, learn, connect, deepen your music, make new friends, and brighten your day. Our events are open to all folks, all ages and all orientations.

M&D Need-Based “Pay it Forward” SCHOLARSHIPS We are holding 5 deeply discounted spots (includes tuition, meals & bunk) to provide a learning opportunity to gigging musicians and music, vocal, and dance teachers who will be sharing out their newly learned skills with a wider community. We prioritize new applicants each year and notify all applicants within 1 month before camp begins.

NEED HELP?

EMAIL: events@ashokancenter.org
CALL 845-657-8333 x3

Click here for answers to Frequently Asked Questions about camp!

Thank you to the Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation for supporting Ashokan Music & Dance Camps.