Music Director

Cary Fridley

Cary holds a master’s degree in Music Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and currently resides in Asheville, NC. She continues to perform solo ballads and string band shows with The Cary Fridley Band. Cary teaches guitar, banjo and singing, and leads workshops in old-time music for schools and summer programs.  Cary is a skilled performer and educator dedicated to improving the world through music performance and creative community music education.

Accompanist

Joel Ragan

Joel Ragan is a multi-instrumentalist who began taking piano lessons at the age of nine. Throughout his life he has developed a love for music in many styles. He has lived in the Asheville area since he started attending UNCA in 2012, where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Jazz and Contemporary Music (although his main focus was classical piano.) At school, aside from piano lessons, he also enjoyed playing guitar in the blue grass ensemble and singing in multiple choirs. Today, Joel finds joy in singing with the Asheville Choral Society and being heavily involved in the local and regional music scene while playing in multiple bands.