Scuttlebutt - Feb 6

February 6, 2026

It was over 3 years ago that I called my friend, composer and fellow 6-string violin player Daniel Bernard Roumain, and asked him to write an electric violin concerto for me. And now we are just 2 weeks from the world premiere of America, to US, happening on Feb 20 at the Paramount Theater in Oakland, CA with the Oakland Symphony, Kedrick Armstrong conducting.

I played John Adams' The Dharma at Big Sur with the Oakland Symphony in 2016, so it's thrilling to be performing again with this very forward-thinking organization!

The Oakland Symphony is one of 3 orchestras who co-commissioned this work. The other 2 are the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra and a New York City based orchestra who will be recording it and will soon announce a Carnegie Hall date in the fall.

This is a truly remarkable piece for so many reasons. Click the images below for more.

Hey String players!

If you are an experienced chopper, or just kinda chop a little, are even if you're just thinking about learning how to chop, please take a moment and click on the image below to fill out this short survey crafted by Casey Driessen, Darol Anger and myself.

Don't miss Darol's extraordinary new album Diary of a Fiddler 2!

And if you're looking for the most inspirational week of your musical life, sign up for Casey's Blue Ridge Fiddle Camp this summer. Applications accepted until March 14.

The Strum Bowing Groove Academy is now on Skool! Click the image below to take our free Intro to Strum Bowing course!

Ice ice, baby! Got our power back finally, but still no internet/cable, nearly 2 weeks later. I put together a little video/photo montage--click the image below.