Interview with Cellist Ellen Gira: TradFest 2025
- O. Cookie Estrada
- Jan 16
- 7 min read
BlackRock Center for the Arts is thrilled to present a vibrant celebration of Maryland’s rich cultural heritage at the upcoming TradFest on March 29, 2025! This one-day festival is packed with opportunities to immerse yourself in the traditions that define our state through music, art, and dance.
TradFest 2025 offers something for everyone. Stroll through the artisan market, marvel at student performances, and dive into folk music and dance workshops. The festivities also include a free square dance that welcomes everyone to join the fun. The day culminates in an unforgettable double-bill performance featuring two powerhouse acts: Charm City Junction and the dynamic duo Jocelyn Pettit & Ellen Gira.
In anticipation of this incredible event, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Ellen Gira for an exclusive interview. As a highly acclaimed cellist and a pivotal part of the folk music scene, Ellen brings a unique blend of tradition and innovation to every performance. She and Jocelyn Pettit have been captivating audiences worldwide with their soulful, high-energy shows that showcase the beauty and diversity of folk music.
Let's delve into Ellen’s journey as a musician, her creative process, and what Maryland’s rich folk traditions mean to her.
BlackRock Center: Can you tell us a little about yourself and your journey into the world of traditional music? What inspired you to pick up the cello and delve into folk traditions, and how has your musical journey evolved over the years?
EG: I grew up here in Montgomery County, and am lucky to have had so many fantastic opportunities to learn music and the cello throughout my childhood! I began playing the cello in middle school, and shortly thereafter heard Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas perform at Strathmore Music Center in Bethesda. They’re a renowned fiddle-cello duo, and hearing Natalie was so inspiring to me as a young student just getting to know the instrument. While I became more involved in classical music over the years, seeds were planted at that concert that ultimately guided me towards pursuing traditional music while I was studying at the Cleveland Institute of Music (a classical conservatory). From there, I participated in more and more traditional music sessions, studied Scottish music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow, and am now performing and teaching traditional music here in the DC area! It has certainly been special to see this come full circle and to share my love of traditional music in my hometown.
BlackRock Center: What drew you to collaborate with Jocelyn Pettit, and what can audiences expect from your performance together? How do your musical styles complement each other, and what makes your partnership unique?
EG: Jocelyn Pettit is a West Coast Canadian fiddler and step dancer, based in Squamish, BC. She was also studying at the Conservatoire in Scotland, and we met each other through that program. We had a few classes together, and we could already tell there were many musical similarities between our styles. So we met for some tunes, and the rest is history!
Part of the reason our styles fit so well together is that we’ve had similar influences, even though we grew up on opposite ends of North America and in different countries. We both listened to some of the same traditional musicians, for example (Natalie Haas and Hanneke Cassel are two of our favourites!), and we’ve both had classical training, which gives us a similar technical grounding and sound. In addition, we both see traditional music as a “living tradition,” interweaving tunes and songs that have been passed down over generations with contemporary techniques and ideas. We both enjoy exploring repertoire from different musical cultures as well, taking the audience on an international journey with us. Outside of the music, we also have a strong friendship which I think comes through in the music we play! I’m very thankful for the unique partnership we’ve cultivated.
BlackRock Center: Maryland has such a rich cultural heritage. What excites you most about performing at BlackRock Center for the Arts' TradFest?Are there any elements of Maryland’s traditions that resonate with you personally or musically?
EG: Maryland’s cultural heritage is a vibrant patchwork of traditions and cultures, from old-time music and square dancing to traditions brought by immigrants to this area, such as traditional Irish music. I’m excited to celebrate these cultures at the TradFest, and to see the community come together in doing so.
In particular, I’m excited to see the community not just listen to but also experience and participate in traditional music and dance! Square dancing is SO MUCH fun (my favourite form of cardio!), and I can’t wait to see festival attendees experience this wonderful tradition. The caller Janine Smith is excellent and engaging, and will do a fantastic job guiding everyone through these dances- whether it’s your first square dance or your tenth! There will also be two workshop opportunities to explore traditional music and dance: Appalachian flatfooting with Meghan Mette and the traditional Irish tin whistle with Cushla Srour. Both of these workshops are beginner-friendly, and are wonderful opportunities to dip your toes into these art forms.
BlackRock Center: TradFest is about celebrating traditions through music, art, and dance. How do you see your music contributing to this celebration? What role do you think music plays in preserving and evolving cultural traditions?
EG: We’re excited to contribute to TradFest as Jocelyn Pettit & Ellen Gira! We will be performing traditional tunes and songs in a manner that draws on both long-established traditions and presents them in new and innovative ways. Our performance combines traditional material with contemporary techniques and arrangement ideas that give our music its unique voice, celebrating this music as a “living tradition.” There’s such an interesting dynamic between continuity and change in traditional music!
BlackRock Center: The evening concert features a double bill with Charm City Junction. Are there any connections or synergies between your performance and theirs that fans should look out for? What do you think makes this lineup particularly special for the audience?
EG: This will be a really fun and unique concert! Both ensembles reflect this “living tradition” through their choice of repertoire and arrangements, interweaving traditional elements with new ideas and voices. Both bands also draw from multiple musical traditions; Charm City Junction draws from Bluegrass, Irish and Old-Time music, while Jocelyn Pettit & Ellen Gira draw from Irish, Scottish, Old-Time, and Canadian music. This concert will feature an array of musical traditions and styles performed by acclaimed ensembles, so this should really be a treat for the audience to hear!
BlackRock Center: The festival also includes workshops, artisan markets, and a square dance. Do you have a favorite part of events like these (beyond performing, of course)? What do you enjoy most about the atmosphere of community festivals like TradFest?
EG: The community! It’s so great to see people come together and experience the joy of traditional music, art, and dance. I always enjoy the inclusivity of these festivals and the way there’s something for everyone, whether it’s enjoying an artisan market, dancing with your friends at a square dance, or listening to a concert. We’ve tried to recreate this here at TradFest, and I'm excited for the community to experience the traditional arts in this way!
BlackRock Center: For someone new to traditional music, what piece of advice or encouragement would you give them to explore this vibrant genre?
EG: It can be tricky to explore a new instrument or style; all of us in the trad community have been there! Traditional musicians and dancers are a welcoming bunch, and there are plenty of opportunities to learn. I would recommend getting in touch with your favourite traditional musician(s) and ask if they offer lessons, or with a local folk/traditional music school if there’s on in your area (like the School of Musical Traditions in Takoma Park, or the Baltimore Irish Music School in Baltimore).
Overall, I would say to just go for it! Attend a jam session, go to a concert, go to a dance! One of the best ways to learn traditional music is through involvement in the community, experiencing the culture and the people in addition to the music itself.
BlackRock Center: What’s next for you after TradFest? Are there any exciting projects, collaborations, or performances on the horizon that you’d like to share with your fans?
EG: Absolutely! Jocelyn and I will be releasing our second album later in the spring, and we can’t wait to share this exciting new music with you! We also have album release tours planned in Canada, the US (coming through MD in September!), and the UK. In addition, we are also releasing a brand new single as part of Atlantic Crossing, an international all-female quartet with our friends in the acclaimed Swedish trad duo Woodlands (fiddler Kristina Leesik and harpist Justyna Krzyżanowska). We’re looking forward to playing shows as Atlantic Crossing on our UK tour!
I’m also excited to be part of a new ensemble, Vandalia! This is an Appalachian roots trio consisting of myself, West Virginia-based fiddler Dakota Karper, and Philadelphia-based guitarist Gabriel Furtado. Together we’ve been exploring the breadth and depth of American string band music, as well as original compositions rooted in this tradition. We’ve also got lots of concerts and tours planned for this coming year (including performing and teaching at the Common Ground on the Hill Traditions Weeks in MD!).
BlackRock Center: Lastly, why should people come to TradFest and experience this incredible celebration of Maryland’s cultural traditions? What do you hope attendees will take away from this festival?
EG: TradFest is going to be a truly unique event! There is something for everyone, whether it’s dancing at a square dance, shopping at the Artisan Market, enjoying music at the evening concert, or learning the art of Appalachian flatfooting! TradFest will provide a plethora of diverse ways to experience and celebrate the traditional arts. I hope that attendees take away a piqued interest in the traditional arts, knowledge of Maryland’s cultural heritage, and a sense of community as we celebrate this together- on top of having fun!
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