Junior Appalachian Musicians Board of Directors and Staff, June 2024
L-R: Mark Freed, Gina Dilg (previous Chair), Richard Whisnant, Cody Bauer (staff), Bryan Ailey, Tyler Hughes, Jim Lloyd (staff), Anthony Edwards, Brett Morris (staff), Kirsten Griffiths, Mallory Blackwood (staff), Max Dean
not pictured: Ivy Sheppard, Tammy Sawyer, Grace Davis; Julie Moore (staff)
Anthony Edwards, Chair, is a Vice President and Senior Credit Risk Officer at Skyline National Bank in Galax, Virginia. He graduated in 2009 from the Bryan School of Business and Economics at UNC-Greensboro with a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance. He is an honors graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at LSU and honor grad of the VBA School of Bank Management hosted at UVA. He served in leadership for over 5 years in regional chamber work and led the start of the “Imagination Library of the Twin Counties”. Anthony has served over 10 years with JAM (Chair 2014-2020; Treasurer 2020 – 2024). When not at the office or Church, you can find him with his sons on a scouting adventure or assisting the soccer team.
Richard Whisnant, Vice Chair, is Gladys Coates Distinguished Professor of Public Law and Government at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Government since 1998. He holds degrees from Harvard University (J.D. cum laude and Masters in Public Policy) and from UNC- Chapel Hill (B.A. in philosophy with highest honors). He was a trustee, chair of the board and corporate secretary of the Conservation Trust for North Carolina from 2001-2010. He loves rivers, mountains and old time music.
Kirsten Griffiths, Secretary, is a resident of Floyd, VA where she is the parent of two young musicians.
Grace Davis, Treasurer, is a resident of Galax, VA with a professional background in financial management and insurance, as well as bluegrass music. Grace has previous leadership and Board of Directors experience with the Wayne Henderson Festival, as well as the Galax JAM program. You can find her playing with bluegrass group Loose Strings, as well as alongside her husband, Jason Davis, with the Dan Tyminski Band.
Mark Freed works at Cultural Resources Director for the Town of Boone; adjunct instructor of Appalachian Music at Appalachian State University; and project director for the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area’s Traditional Artist Directory. Mark is the founding director of the Boone (formerly Watauga) JAM program, and he is a founding director of JAM, Inc. Mark continues to help oversee the Boone JAM program at the Jones House Cultural and Community Center in downtown Boone, where he lives with his wife, kids, and a wall full of banjos. Having moved to western North Carolina to immerse himself in the traditional music of the region, Mark has made the region his home since 2002, and he is passionate about teaching and promoting local musical traditions.
Tammy Sawyer, is a wildlife biologist and environmental educator and been involved with traditional music for over 20 years. An award winning dulcimer and bass player, she formerly worked as an instructor and substitute teacher with the Alleghany JAM program. She is also a founding member of the JAM Board of Directors.
Bryan Ailey is Vice President and Chief Development Officer for People Incorporated of Virginia, a nonprofit community action agency serving individuals and families throughout the state of Virginia. As CDO, he oversees and manages the day-to-day operations of the agency’s affordable housing development, housing management, and capital growth initiatives while serving the agency’s mission to provide opportunities for economically disadvantaged people. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a M.A. in Community and Organizational Leadership from Emory & Henry College. A lifelong resident of southwest Virginia, he is also an active player and participant in the old-time string band traditions of southern Appalachia.
Tyler Hughes is an old time musician, square dance caller, and community advocate from Big Stone Gap, VA. His musical performances have been featured internationally and at home including performances on WSM’s Grand Ole Opry and at the historic Carter Family Fold. He has long been a supporter of youth music education in Appalachia and today serves as a coordinator for Mountain Music School in Big Stone Gap. Tyler believes that music can help every child in the Appalachians reach their full potential.
Max Dean lives in Wythe County, Virginia, with his loving wife, Janie, of 20+ years, along with his beloved two cats. After high school, he enlisted in the US Air Force for 4 years, serving in Europe and Texas, then enrolled at Radford University where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. He spent the next 38 years working in the field of Behavioral Health at various agencies doing everything from direct client services to senior level administrative functions.
Addison Levy (“Addie”) is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and songwriter from the southwest corner of Virginia. She started pursing music at the age of 10 and has not slowed down since then. She has traveled all over the east coast playing bluegrass and traditional Appalachian music, and represents youth of traditional music education.
Ivy S. Sheppard is a lifetime old-time musician having performed with the Roan Mountain Hilltoppers and South Carolina Broadcasters for many years. She is currently general manager of radio station WEHC in Emory, Virginia. Ivy is a major traditional music record collector sharing discoveries on her syndicated radio show, “Born in the Mountain”. She is currently pursuing a Masters degree at American University in Audio Engineering.