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ABOUT THE ARTISTS |
The musical ensemble, Black Bear Crossing, is comprised of musicians scattered throughout the rural areas of Lycoming and Snyder counties in northcentral Pennsylvania. Lucy Henry lives near Elimsport, Wendy McCormick lives near Jersey Shore, Phylleri Ball is from the Trout Run area, and Katie Johnston lives in Williamsport. Since the group members must travel back roads in order to hold a practice session, they selected a name which reflects a common thread - the occasional sighting of a black bear enroute to the rehearsal site. A wide variety of instrumentation allows the ensemble to explore many musical expressions. Their repertoire includes tunes found in the Celtic lands of Ireland, Scotland and Wales, selections with an Eastern European flavor, as well as traditional and Old Timey American favorites. Musical styles include jigs, waltzes, aires, hambos, polkas, swing and traditional vocal. Black Bear Crossing performs for organizations, concerts, fairs, contradances, community events and weddings. |
 Lucy Henry taught music in the Williamsport Area School District before her retirement, and has played flute since childhood. She also plays soprano, alto and tenor recorders, penny whistle, the Irish flute and the hammered dulcimer. She is the co-director for the New Horizon Band, a concert band for adults over the age of 50, and sings in many vocal ensembles and community theatre productions. Her husband, Bruce, builds Appalachian mountain dulcimers, and together they are known as performers on these traditional instruments. Wendy McCormick began her musical career as a young child with the request to learn to play the accordion. Her parents bargained with her—a year of piano lessons first, then the squeezebox. That year turned into classical piano training and a college degree as a music therapist. It was after all the thousands of hours of serious keyboard practicing that she discovered the hammered dulcimer, and her exploration of folk music began. Some twenty years later she bought her first Celtic harp and realized that she had finally found the instrument which “speaks to her heart”.
Since Wendy's retirement from teaching special education classes, she has more time to devote to harp performance and teaching, and to volunteering for Susquehanna Hospice. Phylleri Ball, Wendy's sister, brings the contradance energy and experience to the ensemble. She played the piano as a child and took up the banjo during college. Later, while living in Oregon and Colorado, she played keyboard and accordion backup for several contradance bands. After moving to Pennsylvania she introduced Black Bear to the driving rhythms of this style, convincing them to add this element to their repertoire. Phylleri provides percussion rhythms, keyboard, recorder harmonies, and the occasional accordion tune for Black Bear. Phylleri owns Steam Valley Mountain Fiber Farm near Liberty, PA, and she is always busy with the challenges of raising livestock and marketing their fiber. Don't be fooled, BBC has not replaced Katie B., she just got married October 16, 2010. Katie has enjoyed the past 7 years playing with the ladies of Black Bear Crossing. Originally from Harrisburg, PA and a graduate of Susquehanna University, Katie is still enjoying teaching violin, fiddle and viola in the Williamsport area. She is a member of the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra and is also the lead fiddler in her other musical trio: Lux Bridge. Katie continues to perform around the area with her students and on her own with both classical and traditional groups. Her infectious enthusiasm is a delight to all who have an opportunity to share a musical experience with her.The band has released 3 CD’s entitled “Black Bear Crossing . . .” "The Bridge," "The Trail" and their newest CD, released in 2009, “Black Bear Crossing . . .The Sea. ”  |
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