Betsy is a versatile musician who loves to explore multiple genres of music. She got her start at age 5 in classical music, and then in her 20’s fell in love with folk fiddle music. She has wandered her musical way through music from Ireland, Scotland, Appalachia, Quebec, Sweden, England, and New England, to mention a few. She plays regularly for contra and English Country Dances, and also for Irish ceilis and Scottish County Dancing. At times you can find her playing at a local Irish pub. She loves to collaborate with a wide variety of musicians from Portland and beyond.
Her main work is teaching fiddle, and helping both kids and adults to find joy in the instrument and music. For more information on her teaching, see Lessons.
Her musical adventures have also taken her down other interesting paths. From 2006-2022, she was the Associate Music Director for Portland Revels, and has had the opportunity to work with some amazing musicians along the way. Revels has also provided exciting opportunities for her to arrange choral music and overtures for brass quintet. Her musical arrangements can be heard on the Portland Revels CD Down Through the Winters, available on the Revels website.
In summers, she is able to teach around the country, including an annual teaching gig in the mountains of North Carolina at the John C. Campbell Folk School, and at multiple dance camps throughout the country.
She is also a music transcriber and editor. She collaborated on a large book project with Kevin Burke (see Kevin Burke Book Project for more info). Additionally, she is the music editor for The Portland Collection, a series of contra dance tune books, and collaborated with Sue Songer and Clyde Curley on a recording to accompany the books called A Portland Playalong Selection.
Besides fiddle, Betsy also enjoys singing and playing DADGAD guitar. When not playing music, Betsy loves to go for long walks, ride her bike, visit with a friend on her front porch swing, write hand-written letters, and hang out with her husband Mark. Their son Scotty is finding his way in the world as a young adult. She’s a fan of life-long learning, and has taken up creating glass mosaic projects as a side gig. You can see some of her work on the Glass Mosaic tab.
