Monica's involvement with folk music began during the folk "revival" of the 60's and has been going strong ever since. She has done a great deal of performing, with special emphasis on teaching, not just entertaining. Monica's repertoire includes hundreds of songs: traditional folk songs, popular songs of the Victorian era, the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s, children's songs, bluegrass, blues...it's a pretty diverse list. She plays guitar, banjo, autoharp, and lots of percussion instruments, like limberjack, bones, bodhran and tambourine.
Since 1986, Monica's major work has been as a presenter of historical/musical programs, called Singing History. These have been presented all over Maine and New England, mostly at schools, but also at historical societies, libraries, museums and for general audiences. Monica has received numerous grants from the Maine Arts Commission, and has been on the Maine Touring Artists and Arts in Education rosters for over twenty years. Her offerings include in-service training for teachers, helping them to utilize existing resources to bring music into the classroom as curriculum enrichment. Singing History is also a wonderful vehicle for adult concerts, whether to celebrate an anniversary or project, or just for fun.
Monica is an engaging and experienced performer. She works in all venues, ranging from concerts for young children to strolls down memory lane for senior citizens, and everything in between. With lots of instruments, stories, enthusiasm and always a few jokes, she shares her musical passions and insights into the "stranger than fiction" stories behind the songs.
Monica lives in Kennebunk, Maine, but grew up in the Hudson River Valley in New York. She became interested in folk music at the age of 12, and has been performing since that time. She also learned quite a few songs from her father, who grew up in Alabama and seemed to remember the words to every novelty tune from the 20s and 30s. Also through her father's influence, she became a great fan of Gilbert and Sullivan at about the age of five, and has had the great pleasure of performing in some of her favorites with local community theater groups.
For 23 years, Monica and her husband, Bill, hosted the Kennebunk Folk Club, a monthly gathering allowing players at all levels of expertise to share songs and friendship. They have two grown children, Gabe and Brenna Rose.