Neil is one of a handful of chromatic harmonica masters who have followed the great Toots Thielemans. He has been a guest artist in performances from Canada to Belgium, received a standing ovation at the storied Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society and raves at the Bill Evans festival in Vancouver. He is an award winning jazz interpreter on piano and harmonica, a Seydel Harmonica endorser, and is active in teaching and presenting in the virtual and real harmonica world. “Love the piano and harmonica. My favorite harmonica Player at the moment” Toots Thielemans (2014).

After Rev. Albert retired from the ministry, he took up harpsmithing and has been refurbishing harmonicas for about 10 years under the name AlbertHarp. He is now the go-to harpsmith for the Amish who mostly play Auto Valve Harps which are no longer made by Hohner. On any given Sunday morning, he plays 3-4 instruments with a church band, involving 5-string banjo, harmonicas, melodica, voice or autoharp. He sells about 50 harmonicas per month, both new and refurbished, primarily on eBay. “I’m not a customizer,” says Greg, “but I can make a used harp sound like new.” He lives in Rockford, Illinois with his wife and dog and has attended the SPAH convention every year for several years.

Inspired by the magical sounds that emanated from his Father’s harmonica, Charlie Barath bought his first Marine Band as a teenager and never looked back.

Beginning as primarily a traditional straight-harp player, he soon discovered through experimentation that this wonderful instrument was well suited for playing a wide range of musical styles. When he first realized a strong attraction to the rhythms and grooves of Blues music, Charlie was determined to learn to play the harp in this style as well. Though it wasn’t always an easy journey – I was convinced those cats were playing a different instrument because mine sure didn’t sound like that! – he eventually got to a level of proficiency that continues to keep him busy and in demand in his home market of Western Pennsylvania as well as other regions of the Eastern United States.

Charlie focuses mainly on the diatonic harmonica and plays mostly in a very traditional style utilizing various tongue blocking techniques. He has also developed his vocal prowess and can be found fronting his own bands as well as working as a highly sought-after side man.

In addition to performing, teaching harmonica is another activity that Charlie loves. Whether in group settings or individually, equipping aspiring harmonica players to sound as good as possible is a priority of his. He taught the harmonica classes at Calliope House of Pittsburgh, PA for several years in the early 2000s. Other teaching opportunities found him as a featured instructor at events such as Harmonicollege in Huntington, WV, Jerry Fierro’s Paradise Coast Harmonica Workshop in Florida, and Todd Parrott’s Carolina Harpfest. Charlie has also donated time helping out at The Pinetop Perkins Foundation Masterclasses in Clarksdale, MS. He’s been a frequent contributor at the annual SPAH conventions as a Seminar Presenter not to mention the Filisko Teach-In at SPAH.

You can also add some harmonica competitions to the list, having taken first place at the West Virginia State Harmonica Championships in 2012 and the Ohio State Harmonica Championships in 2013. He also earned a couple trips to the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN as a solo performer in recent years.

After several decades as a professional carpenter, Charlie has been performing and teaching harmonica full time since early 2017.

“And to think it all got started when I would sneak my old man’s Echo Harp out of his desk drawer.”

Downbeat Magazine proclaimed Chris Bauer “is an excellent harmonica player…with a free sense of swing and joy.” Residing in northern Connecticut, Chris performs popular jazz standards on the chromatic harmonica with a repertoire from upbeat bop tunes to cool Latin numbers to soulful ballads. Playing harmonica for over 50 years, his performance and recording experiences are diverse including jazz gigs, harmonica trios, church worship bands, production library tracks, even recording “Mack the Knife” with a reggae band! He performs and gives harmonica technique seminars at many festivals around the country. His CD “In A Yuletide Groove” has been featured on numerous jazz radio stations around the country, and was declared as “a solidly delightful mainstream take on holiday classics that makes you smile from start to finish”, by Chris Spector of Midwest Record.

Born and raised on New York’s Long Island, Chris was surrounded by the harmonica since his chord playing father, Bob Bauer, had a harmonica trio of his own called the Harmonikings. He started playing at age nine and began appearing with his father’s trio by thirteen. At sixteen, Chris placed third in a worldwide harmonica competition and in 1987, placed fourth in a field of 27 chromatic harmonica soloists at the International Harmonica Federation competition. In both competitions, he was the highest placed American chromatic harmonica player. Since then, Chris has performed at many venues including B.B. Kings in NY (guest artist with Dickey Betts), Shanghai Jazz in Madison NJ, and also the harmonica role in the play “Big River.”

Chris has often performed at SPAH as a jazz soloist, in a harmonica trio, and with the SPAH Big Band. He is also one of the chromatic harmonica tutors in Joe Filisko’s Teach-In.

Richard had his first stage performance in a children’s choir in 1965. After winning multiple awards in high school for vocals and trombone, he majored in Theater in college and went on to performing on and Off-Broadway and at regional theaters around the country, including three shows at the Kennedy Center, with two at the Opera House. After moving to Chicago in 1994, he was a paid chorister at St. James Episcopal Cathedral for 10 years, and a trombonist/vocalist for a 12-piece big band. Vision loss caused him to quit the choir and trombone. So he sold the horn, bought a set of Hohner Special 20s, and began studying with Howard Levy. While sitting in with bands at the Green Mill, Martyrs, the Drake Hotel, and other venues in Chicago, he found out Joe Filisko was teaching at the Old Town School of Folk Music and, with Howards blessing, switched instructors, went from Special 20s to Hohner Crossovers, and, helped found The Lay-Down Ramblers, a 5-piece band that plays eclectic Americana, including original tunes.

Since 1991, Richard has studied voice with, Jack Waddell, whose students include Broadway veterans Jessica Vosk, who sold out Carnegie Hall in early 2022 and is currently starring on Broadway as Elphaba in “Wicked,” Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Brandon Victor Dixon, who played Judas in the live TV production of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” starring John Legend.

Called the “Leading America Harmonica Virtuoso” by the New York Times, ROBERT BONFIGLIO has dazzled audiences at Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, the Gewandhaus, Teatro Colón, Teatro Massimo, Teatro Amazonas, Kennedy Center, Boston Symphony Hall, Lincoln Center and throughout the world.

He performed the World Premiere of the Henry Cowell Harmonica Concerto with the Brooklyn Philharmonic. BONFIGLIO has been a Concerto Soloist with over 200 orchestras around the world including the Minnesota Orchestra, John Williams and the Boston Pops, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the Luxembourg Philharmonic, the Leipzig MDR Symphony, the Hong Kong Philharmonic, Puerto Rico Symphony, the Madrid RTVE Orchestra,  the Estonia National Symphony, Edmonton Symphony, Rotterdam Philharmonic,  the Mexico City Philharmonic, as well as the Milwaukee Symphony, Boston Symphony, Utah Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl.  His first RCA recording of the Villa-Lobos Harmonica Concerto, he has performed this Concerto over 420 times .

Robert Bonfiglio got his Masters degree in Composition from Manhattan School of Music. He studied composition with Aaron Copland. Robert studied harmonica with Cham-ber Huang and was coached for 12 years by Andrew Lolya, the first flute of the New York City Ballet.

Website: http://robert-bonfiglio.com/

ROBERT BONFIGLIO is the Founding Director of the GRAND CANYON MUSIC FESTIVAL.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbvYPr1vb2c

In the hands of harmonica master Grant Dermody the harp rumbles like a freight train, sidles up like a soul singer, purrs like an electric cat, rings out in a rhythmic dance. Pair it up with his voice, a strikingly honest vocal approach that resonates in the direct center of your chest, and the intrigue just increases.

The swamps of Louisiana, the wide open skies of Montana — all that’s deep and sweet and awe-inspiring about Americana and its musical roots — reside there. There’s simply nothing like the growling grace that emanates from Grant Dermody.

Joe Filisko and Eric Noden are an internationally acclaimed roots duo from Chicago, Illinois. They have been performing and recording music together for 20 years. Their original blues songs, train imitations and harmony singing are reminiscent of the 1920’s and 30’s when acoustic music was prevalent. Joe and Eric use their virtuosity and song writing skills to illustrate nearly forgotten styles of American Music.

• Known not only for his soulful singing and harmonica playing, John is equally at home with a guitar or behind the drums while featuring his harmonica skills.

Harmonica John performs classic rock, blues, Marley and Motown, Americana, plus some cool original songs

Career highlights include performances with Joe Walsh, Bobby Blue Bland, Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers, and the Farmers to name a few. John is a top harmonica teacher in San Diego and has developed an easy to understand “positions” lesson.

John is also one of the founding members of the San Diego Spring Harp Fest, held annually on the Saturday of Easter weekend. Recently attained non-profit status, John is seeking corporate sponsors to help advance the Spring Harp Fest mission.

Brenda Freed has lived, performed and taught privately in the Texas Hill Country since 1991. Originally from rural Iowa, she has been singing publicly all of her life. She began singing in church as a young soloist, where she also developed a keen ear for singing harmony.

After two years at St. Olaf College, she transferred to the University of Iowa where she earned a BA in Music Education and Music Therapy in 1980. That same year, she started teaching K-12 vocal and general music classes in rural Iowa. In 1982, she left to pioneer the music therapy program at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC) in Iowa City, Iowa. While working as a music therapist, she earned a Master’s Degree in Music Education/Music Therapy (emphasis in counseling). Throughout her University of Iowa college and employment years she played and sang in bands, original and cover material.

Since 1991, Brenda has run a private music teaching business, teaching voice, vocal harmony, piano and guitar. To supplement her teaching, and for self-study, Brenda has published two instructional recordings: Effortless Singing (2007) and Effortless Harmony Singing (2010), both 2-CD sets, available for purchase or download on popular sites.

In addition to her current 1-1 online lessons, Brenda has taught across North America at workshops, festivals and conferences. She is available to teach Effortless Singing and Harmony Singing Workshops as a conference presenter, panelist and mentor anywhere.

Ross Garren is a harmonica player, keyboardist, composer and record producer living in Southern California. In addition to a steady output of original music with many incredible collaborators, he’s recorded harmonica for/alongside notable artists/composers/performers/heroes including Beyonce, Bon Iver, Kesha, Ben Folds, Bruce Hornsby, Robbie Robertson, Brad Mehldau, Daniel Lanois, Lupe Fiasco, Moses Sumney, Noah Cyrus, 6lack, Pomplamoose, Nataly Dawn, Rita Coolidge, Keb’ Mo’, Jim Keltner, Hans Zimmer, Marco Beltrami, Bear McCreary, Lyle Workman and Alf Clausen.

John Hall’s love for the harmonica started in 1969 when he was 5 years old and his grandpa gave him one. A music loving family made it easy to stick with the instrument allowing him to play it at church and family reunions.  On a summer’s evening in 1990, he walked by the Slippery Noodle in Indianapolis and heard a harmonica player wailing the blues; it was love at first sound! In January 1996, he founded Bushman Music Works, home of Bushman Harmonicas.  He set up as an exhibitor at his first SPAH convention in Romulus, Michigan in August, 1998.  

John’s ever growing love of music fueled his enthusiasm for the business, and led him to found the Bean Blossom Blues Fest in 1999. Hall ran the festival for 15 years which gave him the rich experience of working with some of the best harmonica players in the world. This experience shaped the destiny of Bushman Harmonicas – he learned what harmonica players wanted and needed out of their instruments.

In addition to his Bushman Harmonicas, John is the USA distributor for Kongsheng and JDR harmonicas as well. In 2024, Bushman launched the Bushman Game Changer, and in 2025, the Bushman Knittlinger. Both models have set sales records, and proven to be much-needed and much-loved instruments by harmonica players all around the world.

Michael started playing in bands in high school, mostly on guitar, but with the 60’s folk resurgence, turned to the harmonica and traditional folk and blues. He kept up the guitar, even had a lesson with local musician Jerry Garcia, but also had harp lessons later in life with Mark Hummel and Paris Slim. Many years and bands later, Michael became a teacher as well as a player, and has played with some great cats on blues cruises, Big Blues Benders, recording sessions, and blues and jazz jam sessions. Based in Santa Fe, NM, he’s now in two bands, plays in the house band on jam nights, and has a blues radio show on KSFR, Santa Fe Public Radio….(play lots of SPAH artists, too!) He loves sitting in and knows how NOT to be a jerk while playing! Endorsed by Seydel Harmonicas for 5 years, this will be his 4th time presenting at SPAH.

Chris was born in Asia, in the late 80’s with congenital arthrogryposis (AMC), affecting all 4 limbs. Was adopted, and moved to/ grew up primarily in the midwestern and northern US since I was 5, before attending college and working in TX.

By profession, I am an engineer by day, and a freelance musician by night. As a musician, I solely play harmonica, regularly rotating among a few local bands in different genres around the Dallas-Ft Worth area. My primary interests are focused around music and martial arts. I have been playing harmonica since Jr. high as well, and have been playing professionally since about 2020.

Lately, I have added 3d printing to my skill set as a means to create adaptations that otherwise do not exist, including my harmonica “bullet chamber” adapter which I use at gigs. I also create custom cases for harmonica, which involve 3d printing the interior dividers based on the size of harps and gear requested. Looking forward to creating more gear that is useful for myself and fellow musicians.

Peter Hogaboam is a harmonicist and multi-instrumentalist from the Chicago area. He studied music education at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and conducted wind and string ensembles in public schools for 10 years. Focusing on harmonica since 2007, his interests include chromaticism on the diatonic, Richter-tuned chromatic harmonicas, musical use of overbends, and expanding the harmonica’s role in any genre of popular music.

Lonnie Joe was born and raised in the Lubbock, Texas area, well known for its musical influences from artists like Buddy Holly, Mac Davis, Bob Wills, and Waylon Jennings. His musical interests caught fire in his early college years when he started playing guitar and soon added harmonica as a second instrument. He started learning the songs of Bob Dylan, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, the Beatles and Charlie McCoy. He started playing guitar and using a Harmonica rack and singing as he learned new material from Rock, Country, Blues, Gospel, and Bluegrass artists.

His life experiences from jobs such as farming, truck driving, harvesting crops, teaching junior high mathematics, and owning a music store have contributed to his career of performing, songwriting, recording, teaching, merchandising and managing all the areas of his music business.
Howell spent 20 years in Nashville playing on recording sessions, writing songs, playing in bands, creating instructional videos, and writing instructional books on how to play harmonica. Four of those years were spent earning a degree in Commercial Music from Belmont University.
Howell’s harmonica style is described as diatonic Blues harp applied to Country. Many of his country and bluegrass songs use a “country tuned” harmonica played in the “Cross harp” position.

Howell’s track record includes four CDs, three Harmonica instructional DVDs, and 2 books written for Mel Bay Publications. He currently performs on a regular basis as a single act, or with his own group The Hot Texas Band. He teaches harmonica. fiddle, and guitar at his music store in Levelland TX.

Lonnie Joe’s CDs books, and DVDs are available on his store’s website: texasmusicsupply.com and his songs can be streamed at: lonniejoehowell.hearnow.com

J.A. Jansen, hailing from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, is a versatile musicologist and dedicated music teacher in primary education. He studied jazz guitar at the conservatory and also teaches harmonica.

Jansen wrote a master’s thesis on authenticity in blues, highlighting his deep knowledge of the genre.

His time living in the USA broadened his musical horizons and gave him the opportunity to perform on stage with renowned artists such as Red Simpson, The Nightcats, and Diunna Greenleaf. His versatility and experience make him an inspiring force in the music world.

David Kachalon is a musician, songwriter, visual artist, and Harmonica Instructor. He teaches Blues Harmonica at the Old Town School Of Folk Music in Chicago Illinois. He also runs the Continuing Education Harmonica Program at both the College of DuPage and Harper College. You can, in addition, find him at the online music school, Tunelark.com, and recently he has begun as a contributing member at Harmonica.com. He teaches the Filisko Method, and is fully authorized to use all Filisko Teaching Materials. In addition, he helps as a SPAH Seminar Coordinator. David is also the person behind the SPAH Instagram account Official_Spah63. He also helps as a Contributor and Content Facilitator for the SPAH magazine, Harmonica Happenings.

David starting out playing in bands during high school, and has played in such groups as  Spanish Blues Band Azul De Noche, the multi tournament winning Jug band Strictly Jug Nuts, the Muscovy Ducks Cajun Harmonica Enable and the Three Kings Harp trio. He also has an acoustic duo project called Hal and Dave, but mainly spends his time fronting The Frozen Ground Blues Band. They play covers of Chicago blues standards, as well as some original songs around the Chicagoland area. David chooses to play exclusively with only the Hohner Marine Band Crossover and Thunderbird harmonicas.

Davidkachalon.com

https://frozengroundbluesband.com

Cod.edu

https://www.harpercollege.edu

Tunelark.com

Keith Mitchell is the host of the Gospel Harmonica Facebook Group with over 3,000 members.
With a career at Apple computer and a PhD in educational technology, Dr Mitchell is known for his passion in sharing how technology can expedite learning of all kinds including the mastery
of the harmonica.

Dave Moore is a singer-songwriter, who plays guitar, button accordion, and harmonica. He was influenced by country blues and conjunto music. Dave lives in Iowa City, records for Red House Records, and was a frequent performer on “A Prairie Home Companion”. He has toured throughout the United States and Canada. The harmonica was his first instrument, and he continues to play it, mostly on a neck rack.

Bill has been playing chromatic harmonicas since the 1960’s. In 2008 he joined the Windy City Harmonica Trio with Bud Boblink and Ron Agnew and performed with them until Ron’s passing. He learned harmonica repair techniques from Ed Mossner and specializes in chromatics, basses and chords.

He has recently revived the Windy City Harmonica Trio with Pete Hogie and Jimmy Craven.

Todd Parrott has been called one of the freshest, most innovative and proficient harmonica players today. “He’s got it all: great chops, killer tone, speed, finesse, and impeccable taste,” says Buddy Greene. “He plays with a sensibility and maturity and never sacrifices musicality for mere technique.” Adam Gussow adds, “I think he’s got the best chance of any harmonica player I’ve seen to cross over and become the public sound and image of what pure-D American blues harmonica is about.” Todd began playing harmonica in January of 1990, after hearing the lively harmonica playing of a guest speaker who visited his church. This inspired him to purchase his first harmonica, and what started as a fascination quickly became a lifelong passion. Today, his soulful harmonica can be heard in churches and at harmonica events, both nationally and internationally, and on many studio recordings. Todd is also a well-respected harmonica instructor, having taught at nearly every major harmonica workshop in the USA, and is a regular teacher and performer at the annual SPAH convention. He is currently a faculty member at the Tomlin Leckie Harmonica School, and organizes his own annual harmonica event, The Carolina Harp Fest, offering harmonica players an additional, fun opportunity to learn, jam, collaborate and develop their skills. Todd is an endorser of Hohner harmonicas.

Zaring “Zip” Robertson is a singer/songwriter from Kentucky, by way of South Florida, and most recently, western North Carolina. Besides solo performing, he cofounded an acoustic Americana and blues band, the Solar Dogs, which regularly performed in Coconut Grove, Florida for 15 years. Zip has additionally worked as a harmonica sideman for many other performers and bands.

Michael Rubin is a harmonica player/teacher from Austin TX.  Charlie Musselwhite says about Rubin, “I think your instructions are the best and when people ask me about learning the harmonica, I tell them about you.”

Rubin has played on Broadway and with such luminaries as Cyril Neville and Ruthie Foster.

This seminar is a blues jam for all levels, any instrument.  Not only will we jam, Rubin will give strategies for succeeding in a jam.

Find information at michaelrubinharmonica.com

Hohner endorsee and harmonica clinician, has been spreading the joy of learning and playing the harmonica for over 25 years. He spent several years on the road with the Hohner Roadshow where he detailed the Hohner line of harmonicas, performed and taught groups of folks around the U.S. how to get started playing the instrument. Ronnie offers online blues harmonica classes and guest artist classes each month via Harmonica123.com

In addition to teaching blues harmonica, Ronnie has been recording and touring with his newest musical project, The Dig 3. His dedication and passion to performing and teaching harmonica shines through in his performances and teaching.

Ronnie was recently featured in the Blues Blast publication. You can learn more about Ronnie by checking out the article here: https://www.bluesblastmagazine.com/issue-16-45-november-10-2022/

Bruce Weinstein, Ph.D. is the professional ethics speaker known as The Ethics Guy®. He writes about ethical leadership for Forbes, with a focus on the ethical challenges posed by artificial intelligence. A proud student of David Barrett, Bruce began studying harmonica during the pandemic and hasn’t looked back Weinstein wrote a Forbes article titled “How The Coolest Musical Instrument Will Enrich Your Leadership”. In his seminar, AI in Songwriting and Music: What We Gain, What We Risk, and What’s Coming Next, he brings together his expertise in ethics and his passion for music to explore the promises and perils of AI in songwriting, recording, and performance.

Adam West is a professional harmonica player and dedicated music educator based in Dayton, Ohio. He has devoted his career to using music as a tool for connection, healing, and self-expression. In addition to working with individual student he has had the honor of collaborating with several nonprofit organizations, including The Boys and Girls Club and the Guitars for Heroes program, where he leads free 12-week group classes in harmonica and guitar.

Adam’s teaching style is hands-on, encouraging, and rooted in the belief that music should be accessible to everyone—regardless of age, background, or experience level. He continues to seek out opportunities to use music to improve lives and strengthen communities wherever he goes.

Adam began playing harmonica in 2008, drawn to the instrument’s visceral connection and expressive power. His development as a player was shaped by relentless practice and a deep commitment to learning. Much of his early success can be attributed to the instructional work of renowned harmonica educators Jason Ricci, Ronnie Shellist, and Adam Gussow, whose lessons and videos were instrumental in his growth. Today, Adam is grateful to continue his musical education under the mentorship of David Kachalon, whose guidance supports his continued evolution as both a teacher and professional musician.