PORTLAND FIDDLE CAMP TEACHERS❣️
Camp Founder & Teacher
Kate O’Brien
Hi! I didn’t realize until later that I grew up in a musical family. Everyone took lessons at something. Then cousins/aunts/uncles would come over and we would sing and play music together. It was so normal I figured everyone did it. In 4th grade, I decided to play violin in my elementary school orchestra in Birmingham, Michigan. I vividly remember the night before my first orchestra class when I pulled the full-size (too big for me!) violin from the top shelf of the linen closet and played it under my covers when I was supposed to be asleep! Anyway, that led to private classical studies as well as studies in old time, jazz, improv & bluegrass. Music is never boring and there’s always more to learn! I toured the US and Europe playing with various folk and rock bands. I hold a Degree in Music Theory and Violin Performance and I’ve been a private violin teacher since 2004. I opened Mosaic String Academy in Portland, OR in Jan. 2019.
I ❤️Fiddle Camp
Teacher Betsy Branch
Betsy Branch is a popular Portland fiddle teacher, sharing her love of dance music with students of all ages. She also teaches workshops and plays for dances all around the country. You might see her on stage at a contra dance, English Country Dance, Irish ceili or Scottish Country Dance. She also plays regularly for Irish sessions around Portland. When not playing, she loves creating glass mosaic art and riding her bike. You can find out more at www.fiddlefrau.com
Teacher Colin O’Brien
is a nationally touring independent performer based in Nashville. (He's also Kate's brother!) He has shared bills with artists such as The Infamous String Dusters, Great American Taxi, Trampled By Turtles, Tim O’Brien, Del McCoury, Steve Martin, Sam Bush, Darol Anger and Peter Rowan. Colin has performed at innumerable venues and festivals throughout the United States. Colin loves to engage his audience, young and old alike, and may at any time leave the stage to dance and sing among them; his voice, fingerstyle & slide acoustic 12-string, his fiddle, his banjo and feet still resounding loud and clear through the stage speakers. He is a gifted teacher who imparts knowledge, dedication and FUN. We will miss him this year but look forward to his return next year!
Guest Teacher Kevin Jackson
Kevin Jackson is a Portland native cellist, performer, and educator known for his expressive playing and intuitive teaching style. A founding member of the acclaimed Portland Cello Project, Kevin has performed across the country, blending classical roots with modern, genre-defying collaborations. His musical journey reflects a deep appreciation for tradition alongside a fearless embrace of innovation.
With years of experience teaching in both private and group settings, Kevin teaches cello at Cedarwood Waldorf School and Mosaic String Academy. His teaching philosophy centers on patience, creativity, and nurturing each student’s unique voice—whether they're just beginning or deepening a lifelong practice.
Students can expect a warm, encouraging environment where curiosity is celebrated, fundamentals are honored, and the joy of music is always present.
Sophie began playing violin at the age of eight and grew up nurturing a deep love of violin and fiddle music. With musical interests ranging from classical to Irish to Klezmer, she discovered traditional Appalachian (or old-time) music at the age of 16 and began delving into its archaic and powerful sound. She has performed with old-time, country and folk bands throughout the U.S. and Europe, and taught fiddle workshops at a number of music camps. Sophie currently has a private studio in NE Portland. For more information about her playing and teaching, you can visit her website here.
Camp Director & Teacher Sophie Vitells Enloe
Teacher Jackson Strickland
Hello, my name is Jackson, and I'm in my third year at the University of Oregon studying music.
I'm too old to keep going to fiddle camp, so for the past few years I've been working as a counselor/ teacher, which has been a blast.
I've been playing violin for 15 years now, and have explored a wide range of styles. At camp, I love to teach everything to all ages, and have a lot of fun with letting the group decide where they want to take the song.
Guest Teacher Celeste Johnson
A five-time national fiddle champion, Celeste Johnson has over a decade of teaching experience with folks of all ages and levels. As a teacher, her mission is to pass on traditional fiddling styles with a spirit of community, authenticity, and joy.
In addition to her national titles, Celeste is the current Oregon and Washington state champion, the 2023 RockyGrass fiddle champion, the 2019 Walnut Valley Old Time fiddle champion, a two-time Rocky Mountain Regional champion, and a multiple-time Colorado state champion. Several of her students have won state and national championships themselves.
Raised in the Texas-style fiddling tradition, Celeste's love of fiddling extends far beyond fiddle contests. She performs and teaches within a variety of genres, including Western Swing, traditional swing, hot jazz, country, Bluegrass, and more. When she’s not playing fiddle, Celeste loves to read, travel, and pet cats. You can find her at celestejohnsonmusic.com.
Teacher Mirabai Peart
Originally from Australia, she has been performing professionally for 24 years and has toured nationally and internationally as a string player, backing vocalist and multi-instrumentalist with various projects. She has performed in genres ranging between classical, improvised music, indie folk-rock and folk-inspired original music. Along with her classical training at the Australian Institute of Music and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Mirabai’s music is informed by the deep-dives she has taken into various styles such as jazz, free improvisation, and folk traditions from the Balkans. She continues to study folk traditions as well as composing and performing her own music. Mirabai teaches private lessons in violin/viola in SE Portland.
Teacher Eli Sonnenmair
is a violinist from Portland, who has over a decade of classical training as well as experience playing folk and other genres of music. Eli started playing the violin at the age of six, taking lessons from the incredible Kate O’Brien until in 2013, he began living and traveling around Latin America, studying with Oaxacan violinist Daniel Cruz Espinosa, as well as other local and indigenous musicians.
After returning to Portland, Eli played with the Rose City Youth Orchestra for 2 years. He then began studying with Paloma Griffin Hebert, a former Oregon Symphony violinist and MYS ensemble director, before attending the University of Redlands on a music scholarship. Eli has also played with the PSU pit and string orchestras for the last 3 years, performing in their operas and spring concerts. He has taught at Portland Fiddle Camps for 8 years (and was a camper for every year before that) and is currently getting Suzuki Book 1 certification. Eli teaches private violin lessons at Mosaic String Academy in SE Portland.
When not playing music, Eli can be found with his chocolate lab Xochi, either snuggled up at home or playing fetch at the park.