Natalya Zoe Weinstein, Program Leader
Natalya Zoe Weinstein is an accomplished fiddler and teacher in many styles of music including bluegrass, old-time and klezmer. She has an MA in Appalachian Studies from Appalachian State University and has been an instructor at Warren Wilson College since 2017. At WWC, Natalya coordinates the Traditional Music Program where she teaches courses on Appalachian Music history, applied fiddle and leads the klezmer ensemble. She also performs with her husband John Cloyd Miller in the award-winning duo, Zoe & Cloyd. The pair have appeared at the Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival in Westport as well as Bluegrass Omagh in Northern Ireland. They have fallen in love with the country and its music and are so excited to share this passion with the Mountain Institute participants.
John Cloyd Miller, Program Leader
John Cloyd Miller has been an instructor at Warren Wilson College since 2013, teaching applied traditional music classes and songwriting. He is a multiple award-winning artist that has traveled all across the country and abroad performing with several bands including his current ensemble, Zoe & Cloyd, that he co-leads with his wife, Natalya Zoe Weinstein. In addition to music, John has a degree in Cultural Anthropology from Appalachian State and a deep interest in all things prehistory and archeology. One of the things he loves about Ireland is how the distant past is so visible and venerated and still very much a part of the present identity of the country. This will be the couple's fourth trip to the Emerald Isle and they are excited to experience music and megaliths with you!
Marley Fischer, Co-Leader and Program Coordinator
Marley Fischer is the Director of Alumni and Donor Engagement at Warren Wilson College and a graduate of the WWC Class of 2017. She has a longstanding love of Irish music and history, and is a hobbyist fiddler with a passion for food and traditional craft. An ardent traveler and experienced tour leader, Marley has spent extensive time exploring Europe and the Americas, including six weeks in Ireland and a year living in Spain. She delights in the community aspect of group travel and looks forward to experiencing Ireland alongside new travel companions.