Musical Story Chaser

Sarah Jane Nelson is an author, folklorist and multi-instrumentalist who loves to entertain and educate audiences about the music she performs. Her book “Ballad Hunting with Max Hunter: Stories of an Ozark Folk Song Collector” is a publication of the University of Illinois Press, and most recently she published an indepth story on balalaika player Sasha Polinoff in the Voices of New York Folklore. journal. When she’s not writing and researching, she performs old-time fiddle tunes and ballads for contra dances, libraries, festivals and other venues. She is an oral historian and accompanist for the Lowell Banjo & Fiddle Contest which takes place each year in September.