Todd Hallawell

Todd Hallawell is a classically trained guitarist who, for many years, has produced and engineered music for the Soundset Recordings label where he is co-owner.  He has recorded and produced internationally known solo artists, as well as full orchestras.  Encouraged by his clients, wife, and friends to return to performing, Todd began entering competitions.  In 1997, he won several in a row, most notably the Southwest Regional Fingerstyle Championship in Tucson, Arizona, and the prestigious National Fingerpicking Championship at Winfield, Kansas.  In addition to having been a clinician for Lowden Guitars, he has become a regular performer at the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society (CAAS) in Nashville, as well as other music festivals in the U.S. and abroad.  Todd’s exceptional musical range has become well known throughout the music world and his compositions have been selected for both film and theatrical presentations. His CDs “Before My Time” and "From Nashville & Back" have won critical acclaim.

Todd holds a Bachelor of Music degree in performance from Sacramento State University and has continued his education with graduate studies at Arizona State University.   In 1992 he was awarded a full one-year vocational scholarship from Rotary International serving as a "Good Will Ambassador" to Great Britain.  There, he studied guitar with Gordon Crosskey (Royal Northern College of Music), composition with John Duarte in London, and recording engineering with Keith Andrews of Amazon Recording Studios (now Parr Street Studios) in Liverpool.  On his return, he founded Soundset Recordings with Frank Koonce, (Guitar Professor at ASU) and has subsequently produced more than 50 recording projects. 

Robin Kessinger

To say that Robin Kessinger is one of the country's leading flatpick guitarists would be quite an understatement.  Everyone knows that he won the National Flatpicking Championship, in Winfield Kansas, but few know of all the State Flatpicking Championships walked away with.  And most of them multiple times!  He holds titles in Ohio, Kentucky, Georgia, West Virginia,  Best of Tri State (OH, KY & WV) and other contests too numerous to mention.  If you haven't heard Robin perform, you are in for a real treat. As a writer for the Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine wrote: “When Robin Kessinger performs, you can hear the ghosts of generations past joining in to help blend the notes from his guitar into the familiar strains of old-time-tunes.” 

Robin grew up with a rich Appalachian heritage surrounded by generations of musicians. His Father, Bob Kessinger was an accomplished mandolin player who taught Robin many tunes. World-renowned fiddler and recording artist, Clark Kessinger, (his uncle) and family friend Robert Rutland (Georgia Slim) both contributed to Robin's formative years as a musician.  But it has always been the music of Appalachia itself that Robin found irresistible.  So much so, that he has dedicated much of his life to passing on his heritage to others and preserving the music that is so much a part of our American history.

Robin continues to headline many festivals and judges up-and-coming flat-pick artists in contests around the country. He has been featured on PBS and BBC television specials and NPR radio shows. In addition to his performance schedule Robin is on staff at several events including Steve Kaufman's Flatpicking Camp since 1996, Augusta Heritage Workshops in Elkins, WV since 1983, and at the Allegheny Echoes Workshop near Marlinton, WV since 1997.
ome and enjoy a upclose and personal lesson with one of the greatest guitarist of all time. At this workshop you will be taught and play alongside Tommy as he walks you through his unique style. This is great after watching him perform, you can ask him about the performances from the night before.

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