2025 Artists in Residence

This summer we are thrilled to have two talented individuals participating in our Artists-in-Residence program.  They will be showcasing their work in a variety of ways throughout the week.

Jacob Brillhart

Jacob Brillhart aims to build violin family instruments that are both exciting to play and are also objects of sculptural beauty. From his shop in central Vermont, Brillhart builds both violins and violas with carefully selected European wood. It is his goal to make instruments that possess a strong and powerful voice and display intricate and delicate craftsmanship. To achieve this, he shapes every piece entirely by hand. With each stroke of chisel or knife the unique characteristics and subtleties of each piece of wood become revealed. Brillhart also enjoys playing the Cape Breton style fiddle and performs regularly around northern New England with his family trio.

Will Mentor

Will Mentor started calling contra and square dances at the Jefferson county fairgrounds, in Fairfield, Iowa at 8:00pm on January 7, 1995. Since then he has called dances, dance weekends, and weeklong dance camps all over the United States, Canada, the U.K., and Denmark. Now from Northern Vermont, Will is known for his clear teaching, upbeat wit, and relaxed stage presence. He loves to choreograph evenings with a variety of dances and tempos that at times surprise and always delight. All this while keeping intact his guiding principle as a caller: “It’s about the dancers!”

Photography and Videography – Dylan Ladds

As a person of many interests, Dylan often finds a way to merge his various curiosities to produce meaningful documentations of beautiful experiences. He discovered video and photography early in life and they have always been his primary mediums. He has also played music since childhood, but was swallowed – very willingly – into the trad music world in his mid twenties, picking up fiddle and slowly adapting his rock/jazz piano and guitar experience. Naturally, Dylan loves to capture this music both visually and aurally and has collaborated with many traditional/folk musicians and camps in New England and beyond. He is also a sailor and outdoor educator, working primarily with Atlantic Challenge in midcoast Maine. You can follow his work on instagram, @dladds, @doosterfilm, and @atlantic_challenge_usa.