Shari Ame (Corvallis) is a traditional fiddler, teacher, and contra dance musician. She plays and teaches in many styles, including Irish, Appalachian, French Canadian, Klezmer, and the vibrant American fusion that happens in the world of contra dancing.
Bio
Starting on the violin in public school at age 9, Shari was deeply influenced by her introduction to traditional folk music and dance at Lark In the Morning, a week-long summer camp in the northern California redwoods. There, at age 14, she started to play Irish fiddle and began contra dancing. She played throughout her time at Reed College in a weekly Irish session, and when she settled in Corvallis she started a weekly Celtic session that has been running now for over 20 years (currently at the Old World Deli). Since 2001, Shari has been teaching traditional fiddling in Irish, Appalachian Old-Time, and several other styles. In her lessons, she emphasizes learning by ear, helping people of all ages develop the skills to listen and play traditional music with others. She has been teaching at the Troubadour Music Center in Corvallis since 2009.Shari is a regular in Oregon’s thriving contra dance scene, and has played in several bands, including Three Fingered Jack, Broken Top, Treehouse, The Overtones, The Underdogs, the Errant Whistlers, and the Errant Twizzlers. She is the main organizer for the Corvallis Folklore Society’s twice-monthly contra dances. As a 2022 Traditional Arts Apprenticeship awardee, Shari apprenticed with John Meade, learning traditional Appalachian tunes in the oral tradition.
