Meet the Board

Kate Sheie – President

My first exposure to old-timey music was a Pete Seeger record I played over and over as a five-year-old, but it wasn’t until I saw Foghorn Stringband open for Richmond Fontaine at the Blackbird in 2002 that I had that “eureka!” moment and was hooked. A few years as a spectator and square dancer gave way to occasionally playing guitar with Michael Ismerio at his Alberta Street Pub session (also where I met my partner Stephanie Noll!), and then at Caitilin and Barb’s Waypost jam. Michael hooked me into the Old-Time Gathering Committee in 2010, and then onto the Bubbaville Board a couple of years later, where I’ve been happy to serve ever since. These days I chase my five-year old boys around, and once in a while I get to play guitar and fiddle with my old-time band Maris Otter.

Dan Leif – Vice President

I was first exposed to Appalachian old time music not long after moving to Portland in 2008. My interest and involvement has grown, thanks in large part to the Portland String Band Class and the annual Gathering as well as summer festivals, local jam sessions, and the tolerant ears of roommates, partners and pets. I play banjo and guitar in Old Barn Preservation Society and put together the “Gathered” compilation album.

Suzanne Savell – Treasurer

I am from the mountains of East Tennessee and have spent most of my life involved in traditional Appalachian culture and music. I worked as the director of the Traditional Music Project at Appalshop, a non-profit media, arts and education center based in Southeast Kentucky. It was the best job I’ve ever had, organizing and supporting the traditional Appalachian music, storytelling and dance community through cultural arts education programs, festivals and workshops across Appalachia’s coal mining communities. This work connected me with Portland Old Time Music Gathering, and eventually I ended up moving out to Portland in 2008. Musically, culturally and geographically, I feel a deep connection between the Pacific Northwest and my Appalachian homeland. My other major passion is the environment, and my “day job” is working as the Development Director at Crag Law Center, a non-profit that provides legal aid to the environment to community and conservation groups across the Pacific Northwest. I have also worked as an Arts Integration Facilitator for The Right Brain Initiative and the Development Director at Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp for Girls. I enjoy exploring the wilds of the Pacific Northwest and bicycling or walking around Portland, gardening, cooking and playing banjo.

Jinny Macrae – Secretary

I’ve lived in Portland for about 40 years (I’m originally from northern Washington State) and have always been involved in music.  I’ve been a member of the POTMG organizing committee for about 10 years and I edit Bubbaville’s Portland Old Time Music email Newsletter and the monthly online calendar.  I joined the Bubbaville Board of Directors in 2015 and I’m excited to expand my participation in the Old Time community as a board member.

Sophie Vitells Enloe 

I’ve lived in Portland since I was 10, and grew up studying classical piano and violin. I first heard old time music on my 16th birthday, when a friend took me to hear stringband music at the Red and Black Café in SE Portland. From that day on I was hooked. I’ve been enthusiastically attending old time festivals, concerts, and square dances ever since, as well as performing, recording, and teaching fiddle music. I’ve played with a number of bands over the years, including the Government Issue Orchestra, the Macrae Sisters, and Hopping Jenny. I’ve also developed a deep love of teaching, and have co-taught the Portland Stringband Class with Maggie and Patrick Lind since 2005. I currently teach private violin and fiddle lessons to both kids and adults, and co-teach Portland Fiddle Camp for kids with Kate O’Brien.

This community of old time musicians, dancers, and enthusiasts has been such a wonderful and important part of my life for many years now, and it’s an honor to be able to give back a little by serving on the Bubbaville board.

Martha Taylor

I’m a banjo player. I started with Scruggs style, but when I moved to Portland in 2005 and joined Maggie, Patrick and Sophie’s String Band Class I learned claw hammer. It is now my favorite style. My husband, George, plays primarily mandolin and Cajun accordion, though he’s been known to pick up a fiddle. We discovered the Old Time Gathering in 2006 and have been going every year since. I’m now retired, but until retirement I worked for Legal Aid and, later, for the Small Business Legal Clinic of Lewis and Clark Law School as a lawyer specializing in nonprofit and small business law. I joined the Bubbaville Board of Directors in 2017.

Cameron DeWhitt

I am an old time musician in Portland, Oregon. I play banjo and sing in Tall Poppy String Band, produce a clawhammer instructional series at pitchforkbanjo.com, and host the Get Up in the Cool podcast, a weekly old time music show featuring conversations and musical collaborations with traditional musicians.