We had a lot happening at Centrum this summer, and in case you missed the news, fiddler Suzy Thompson was named Centrum’s new Artistic Director of the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, succeeding outgoing Artistic Director Dirk Powell.

Steeped in many fiddle styles, including old-time, Cajun, and blues, Thompson has been a Fiddle Tunes faculty member multiple times, and has also taught and been a featured performer for Centrum’s Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival.

In addition to her active teaching and performing schedule, Thompson is the founder and currently serves as the Artistic Director of the Berkeley Old-Time Music Convention in Berkeley, California where she resides.  Thompson has begun her duties at Centrum, working with program manager Peter McCracken to select artists and curate the Fiddle Tunes festival experience, now in its 34th year.

“We are thrilled to have Suzy join our artistic staff, said Centrum Executive Director John MacElwee. “She has been an active part of the Centrum workshop experience for many years and is revered as both a performer and a teacher. I have known of her talent—as a fiddler, guitarist and a singer—for nearly thirty years, and also of her passion for exploring and understanding the context of the fiddle in American music. She is indeed a worthy successor to Dirk Powell, who greatly helped to shape this important festival over the last five years.”

Learn more, and get a sneak peak at 2011 Fiddle Tunes faculty over at our Fiddle Tunes site.