Schedule
2025 Schedule
Pennsylvania Folk Gathering is full of great workshops, concerts, singing, and dancing.
2025Schedule
Friday, September 12, 2025
Friday 3:00 – 5:00 pm Pre-Event Intensive Classes
(separate registration required)
A pre-event intensive is a great way to get a jump-start on the weekend. held just before the rest of the festival gets going.
Class size is limited, and a separate registration fee is required.
2025 Intensive Classes
Basics for Beginners – Henry Koretzky
Rhythm Guitar – Richard Sleigh
Fiddle Techniques – Nathan Bishop
Mandolin Techniques – Tom Krumm
Old Time Banjo – Jay Best
Chanting – Lynn Margileth
Songwriter’s Circle – Diana Wagner
Folk Band – Simple Gifts
Pennsylvania Folk Gathering Begins
Friday 4:00 – 5:15 pm
Jamming – Luara Alexander and Peggy Shutes
This will be a fun, relaxed jam for all levels, also a good way to meet other attendees before things get going. All jams this weekend are inclusive, with all welcome and encouraged. Both songs and instrumental tunes will be played, and we’ll try to discourage playing difficult tunes that are hard for others to play or sing along. The goal is to be inclusive, have fun, relax, and enjoy making music with others.
5:30 to 6:30 pm Dinner
Meals are provided for those who pre-paid.
7:00 pm Staff Concert
You’ll meet and hear all of the instructors.
After the Concert
(starts 15 minutes after the concert ends)
Beginners’ Jam – Simple Gifts
Singing Jam – Cathy Petrissans & Diana Wagner
Celtic & Old Time Jam – Tom Krumm & Nathan Bishop
Blues Jam – Richard Sleigh & Jay Best
Start Your Own Jam
Friday 10:30 pm
Night Owl Jam – No Faculty Leader
Young People’s Gathering – Laura Alexander
Saturday, September 13, 2025
7:30 to 8:30 am Breakfast
Meals are provided for those who pre-paid.
8:15 am Greetings & Introduction
9:00 to 10:00 am
Songs of Joan Baez – Cathy Perrissans
How to Jam– Simple Gifts
Easy Old Time Tunes – Henry Koretzky
Belcher’s Reel– Dani Hawkins
Tunes with Flats – Tom Krumm
Mini-Lessons – Jay Best
10:15 to 11:15 am
Try a Mountain Dulcimer – Peggy Shutes
Singing Duets – Cathy Petrissans & Diana Wagner
How to Learn Melodies by Ear – Jay Best & Laura Alexander
Easy Contradance Tunes – Nathan Bishop
Pennsylvania Tunes – Henry Koretzky
Balfok Tunes – Dani Hawkins
Mini-Lessons – Karen Hirshon
11:30 am Group Photo
Meet outside the lodge. Bring your instrument and a smile! If it’s raining, we’ll postpone until Sunday right before lunch.
12:00 to 1:00 pm Lunch
1:15 to 2:15 pm
Honoring Pennsylvania Heritage Jerry Zolten – Lynn Margileth
An important initiative of the Pennsylvania Folk Gathering is to examine the musical traditions of Pennsylvania–to gain a better understanding of what Pennsylvania music is and to preserve and perpetuate this musical heritage. Each year we identify a musician with a unique musical background and perspective, invite them to the festival so that all can learn from them, and honor them as a Pennsylvania Heritage Musician. This year, we honor Jerry Zolten.
Singing Jam – Henry Koretzky
Instrumental Jam – Jay Best & Laura Alexander
Hiking – Ginny Mutti
2:30 to 3:30 pm
Try an Ukulele – Holly Foy
Singing Old Favorites – Jay Best
Awesome Easy Tunes – Tom Krumm
Contradance Band Practice – Nathan Bishop
From Stage Fright to Stage Craft – Diana Wagner
Jamming with PA Heritage Musician Jerry Zolten – Lynn Margileth
Mini-Lessons – Linda Littleton
3:45 to 4:45 pm
Singing for Beginners – Peggy Shutes
A Capella Songs and Rounds – Diana Wagner
Easy Irish Tunes– Laura Alexander & Holly Foy
Experimental Music – Tom Krumm
Clogging – Cathy Petrissans
All Styles Jam – Richard Sleigh
Mini-Lessons – Henry Koretzky
5:00 to 6:00 pm Dinner
7:00 pm Concert
Simple Gifts & Midnight on the Water
After the Concert
Contradance – Bob Nicholson, caller, Nathan Bishop, band leader
Singing Jam – Richard Sleigh & Cathy Petrissans
Instrumental Jam – Laura Alexander
Start Your Own Jam
After the Dance
Night Owl Jam – No Faculty Leader
Sunday, September 14, 2025
8:00 to 9:00 am Breakfast
9:15 to 10:15 am
Easy Swedish Tunes – Dani Hawkins
Playing Blues Standards – Henry Koretzky & Richard Sleigh
Legacy of Samuel Bayard (discussion) – Jerry Zolten
Mini-Lessons – Jay Best
Mini-Lessons – Tom Krumm
10:30 to 11:30 am
Try a Melodica – Cathy Petrissans
Three-Chord Songs – Jay Best & Diana Wagner
Easy Pennsylvania Tunes – Simple Gifts
Swing Tunes – Jerry Zolten & Richard Sleigh
Irish Tunes – Nathan Bishop
Mini-Lessons – Henry Koretzky
Mini-Lessons – Peggy Shutes
11:45 am to 12:45 pm
Try a Hammered Dulcimer – Linda Little & Holly Foy
Pennsylvania Songs: Colerain Collection – Lynn Margileth
Easy Waltzes – Laura Alexander & Karen Hirshon
Minor Key Tunes – Dani Hawkins
Performance Band – Nathan Bishop & Tom Krumn
Music Theory for Folk Musicians – Bill Arden
Mini-Lessons – Richard Sleigh
1:00 to 2:00 pm Lunch
1:30 to 3:00 pm
The Last Jam – Midnight on the Water
* Schedule subject to change