About Me:
Katie Jane
I grew up in the Bay Area, California, where I studied classical violin under the acclaimed teacher Nance Mitchell, and then under the world touring gypsy violinist Greg Mazmanian. As a young musician I was the concert mistress of Sequoia Middle School, Ygnacio Valley High School, Young People's Youth Orchestra, Young Artists Symphony Orchestra, Cazadero Music Camp, and Stanislaus Music Camp.
In 2008 I attended the University of Nevada, Reno, with a music scholarship where I played first violin in the symphony orchestra under the baton of Dr. Jason Altieri. While at university, I performed up and down the west coast with the classically driven Silver Strings Quartet and the traditional Irish band Whisky Before Breakfast.
In 2014 I moved to Portland, Oregon to pursue music as my full time career. Since then I have toured the world playing music at over 400 concerts and venues with a variety of bands and artists. All that experience further distilled my love for Celtic fiddle music, and helped shape my current performance and teaching focus.
Today I perform and tour as the Katie Jane Band with my incredibly talented partner, Adam Easley, on guitar, mandolin, and twin fiddle. Together we play fiery hot traditional and original fiddle tunes in a style much like Liz Carroll or Alasdair Fraser, but with our own high energy bluesy twist. We've recorded two albums, Stanton Street Sessions (2019) and Welsh Fiddle Tunes (2019). To learn more about my music and performances visit www.katiejaneband.com!
In addition to performing together, Adam and I also started a musical outreach program called Hands On Music where we take old or damaged instruments and give them a new life with fun painted themes and inviting colorful lights. These special instruments we take to school assemblies, music festivals, and family friendly events all over the Northwest so kids of all ages can try playing an instrument for the first time! Our "Magical Music Petting Zoo" has been such huge part of our passion and goal to share the love of music making with future generations. To learn more visit www.handsonmusicevents.com!
When not performing and touring with our musical outreach program, I teach students of all ages and backgrounds at our home studio in NE Portland and online. I teach a variety of musical genres from classical to Irish fiddle to Klezmer to bluegrass. I also teach two group classes- an Irish fiddle class where students learn completely by ear and an ensemble class where students get the opportunity to play and perform in a small group setting.
About Me:
Adam Easley
Adam Easley's musical journey began at the age of 12 in Albuquerque, NM, in school guitar class. Before long he realized that he had a great love for playing music and in high school started playing violin and joined the orchestra while also playing guitar in jazz band and several rock bands.
He then went on to the Conservatory of Music at UOP to study classical music, at which point he started learning about Irish fiddle music. He was chosen to give a lecture on Irish music in the conservatory's music of the world's people class. He ended up studying jazz at SF State where he was introduced to many styles of music and performed with Hafez Modirzideh in the Creative World Ensemble. Since then he has expanded his ability as a multi-instrumentalist to include mandolin, piano, guitar, fiddle, and percussion.
Adam has taught violin and guitar for over 20 years. Check out his business, Guitar Lessons PDX and learn more about his exciting lessons and classes in the Portland, OR, area.