Photo release - Professional bluegrass musicians play Hesston College contra dance

Professional bluegrass musicians Tim May, Gretchen Priest May and Dave Firestine performed live music for a contra dance at Hesston College Sept. 9.

May is a flatpick guitar player and was Grammy nominated for his solo work on Charlie Daniel’s song “I’ll Fly Away.” He is a former member of the band Crucial Smith and has toured with Patty Loveless and John Cowan. His most recent album, “Carpenter and May,” recorded with violinist Fred Carpenter, hit number one on the folk music charts in 2010.

Priest May specializes in teaching fiddle bowing techniques to classically trained violinists.

Firestine is best known as the leader for the “Carp Camp” fiddle tune jams at the annual Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kan.

May and Priest May also performed bluegrass and traditional Irish tunes chapel forum Sept. 9 and hosted learning workshops Sept. 10 for intermediate and advanced fiddle players and beginning banjo and flatpick guitar players.

Photos by Curtis Denlinger.

(left) Whitney Hickert (Hays, Kan.) and Preston Hornbeck (McKinney, Texas); (center) Rachel Brown (Catoosa, Okla.) and Ben Holland (Archbold, Ohio); (right) Students listen to instructions from caller Jen LeFevre.

(left) Stefanie Ruhs (North Rhine, Germany), Leah Rittenhouse (Mount Pleasant, Pa.) and Dawson Waltner (Freeman, S.D.); (center) Robert Howell (Newton, Kan.) and Lindsey Carter (Alden, Kan.) work on their steps; (right) Kenny Graber (Stryker, Ohio) and Mara Short-Miller (Bellingham, Wash.)