Ken Pollard's Bio

About Ken Pollard

I became interested in folk music as a child while listening to my parents' LPs of Peter, Paul, & Mary, the Brothers Four, and the New Christy Minstrels. Much to the distress of my family, neighbors, and anyone else in hearing range, my taste evolved (or devolved) into old-time fiddle and banjo music.

I earned a B.S. and an M.S. in physics from the University of Utah and a Ph.D. in bioengineering from the University of Washington, but left the lab and returned to the fiddle. I have attended violin-making workshops taught by Boyd Poulsen and a set-up & tonal adjustment workshop taught by Paul Schuback.

Running the Owyhee Mountain Fiddle Shop since 1996, I have combined my love of music, woodworking, and understanding of scientific principles into violin repair.

When I'm not at the workbench, I can often be found at local Contra and Scottish Country dances. I am the fiddle player for The Bru, a Boise-area Scottish folk band.

Excerpted from the Idaho Press-Tribune, June 14, 2007 | Back to Top

LOCAL VIOLIN MAKER RECEIVES GRANT

NAMPA -- Ken Pollard of Nampa recently received a grant from the Idaho Commission on the Arts to attend a violin-making workshop this summer in California.

Pollard has run the Owyhee Mountain Fiddle Shop since 1996, specializing in the repair of violin-family instruments. This will be his second year attending the violin-making workshop taught by Boyd Poulsen in Eureka, Calif.

The grant was awarded as part of a competitive process. In its award letter, the judges wrote: “The single most important factor in the selection process was the quality of the work displayed in your (Mr. Pollard’s) application.” At the workshop, participants are taught methods of classical Italian violin construction, as well as set-up techniques to optimize instrument tone.

Pollard was awarded a grant to attend a Scottish Fiddlers workshop in 2005. He fiddles for the Thistle & Ghillies, Treasure Valley’s Scottish Country Dance club, as well as for local contra dances and historical events.

Mr. Pollard can be reached at his shop, (208) 466-3633.

Recent Gigs and Other Events Below \| Back to top
26 April 2008	Boise Music Week, Julia Davis Park bandshell, Boise. Bru gig (Tim, Dana).
19 April 2008	Race to Robie Creek “Run Your Kilt Off” finish line party. Composite Celtic Band.
29 March 2008	Celtic Concert, Jewett Auditorium, College of Idaho, Caldwell. Bru gig (Tim, Dana, Bill)
07 March 2008	Regular First Friday Old-time Square Dance, Idaho Folklore Society. Boise.
23 February 2008	Community Dance, Denise Sukkar and Monica callers. Bru gig. Cascade, Idaho.
23 February 2008	“Thinking Day” Girl Scout event -- contra dance. , Denise Sukkar and Monica callers. Bru gig. McCall, Idaho.
02 February 2008	“Little Town on the Prairie” party, Eagle Library. Pa’s old-timey tunes & Virginia Reel. With Monica. Eagle, Idaho.
15 December 2007	Regular 3rd Saturday contra dance, Boise Contra Dance Society. w/Tim, Dana, & Bill. Denise Sukkar, Gary Nafziger-Meiser, Karen Strickler (callers). Boise.
30 November 2007	Scottish American Society of Canyon County Winter Banquet. Ceilidh performances.
15 November 2007	Thistle & Ghillies Scottish Country Dancers St. Andrews Dance & Ceilidh. Plantation Country Club, Boise.
29 September 2007	Museum Comes to Life, Boise. With Bill Elmer.
17 September 2007	Halfway to St. Patrick's Day, Performance Session, Ha'Penny Bridge Irish Pub & Grill, Boise
23 June 2007	Traditional Christian Folk Dancers Summer Ball, Bru gig, Boise.
16 June 2007	Regular 3rd Saturday contra dance, Boise Contra Dance Society. Bru gig. Denise Sukkar and Gary Nafziger- Meiser (callers).
16 June 2007	Traditional Christian Folk Dancers Summer Ball Rehearsal, solo fiddle, Boise.
April - May 2007	Fiddled for 7-week Scottish Country Dance class, Meridian. Monica Pollard and Cheri Nelson, instructors.
03 May 2007	First Thursday at the Idaho Historical Museum, Julia Davis Park, Boise, with Monica Pollard and Bill Elmer.
22 Jan - 12 March 2007	Fiddled for 8-week Scottish Country Dance class, Meridian. Monica Pollard and Cheri Nelson, instructors
24 February 2007	Yee-Haw, Celebrating the West, benefit dinner & auction for the renovation and improvement of Pioneer Village, Idaho Historical Museum, with Monica Pollard and Bill Elmer.
10 February 2007	Contra Dance at Cascade, Idaho. Bru gig, w/Jon. Gary Nafziger-Meiser, caller.
30 December 2006	Fiddled at wedding of Kathy and Lonnie, Salt Lake City, Utah
25 November 2006	Thistle & Ghillies St. Andrew's Night dance and ceilidh, Plantation Country Club. Bru gig. Monica Pollard and Cheri Nelson, dance instructors.
04 November 2006	Contra Dance at Cascade, Idaho. Bru gig. Gary Nafziger-Meiser, caller
27 October 2006	Contra dance after awards ceremony for Western Literature Conference hosted by BSU. Grove Hotel, Boise. Bru gig, Denise Sukkar, caller.
25 Sept - 11 Dec 2006	Fiddled for 10-week Scottish Country Dance class, Meridian. Monica Pollard and Cheri Nelson, instructors
16 September 2006	Nampa Farmer's Market. Bru gig, with Sleekit Beasties pipe band.
26 August 2006	Kendra & Dan wedding reception, private residence, Meridian. Bru gig.
30 July 2006	DeWinkle wedding reception at Sawtooth Winery, Nampa. Bru gig.
14 July 2006	Sat in with band at contra dance, Humboldt Folklife Fesitval, Veterans Hall, Arcata, California.
24 June 2006	Traditional Christian Folk Dancers Summer Ball, Bru gig, Boise.
17 June 2006	Traditional Christian Folk Dancers Summer Ball Rehearsal, solo fiddle, approx 116 dancers, Boise.
10 June 2006	Regular 2nd Saturday contra dance, Boise Contra Dance Society. The Bru (Dana Severts on piano), with Celtic Fire (Stephanie Jeffs and Jon Jacobson). Denise Sukkar and Gary Nafziger-Meiser (callers).
15 May 2006	Lewis & Clark Garden Dedication Ceremony, Idaho Botanical Garden. Period tunes, with Monica Pollard on deer-rib bones and Bill Elmer on banjo.
29 April 2006	Attended Spring Music and Dance Festival. Music workshops by Laura Light, George Paul, and Jacqueline Schwab. La Grande, Oregon.
20 April 2006	Global Village Kick-off Dinner, Four Rivers Cultural Center, Ontario, Oregon. With Rhonda Cramer on bodhran and Monica teaching a SCD dance to audience members.
01 April 2006	Scottish American Society of Canyon County, National Tartan Day Ceilidh, Albertson College of Idaho. Fiddled a bit, Rhonda Cramer on bodhran, and Monica taught a dance.
11 March 2006	Regular 2nd Saturday contra dance, Pocatello, ID, with Cindi on piano. Brenda Goodwin, caller.
17 December 2005	Fiddled at Solstice party, T&G, BCDS, Nampa, ID
10 December 2005	Regular 2nd Saturday contra dance, Boise Contra Dance Society. Mackinnon's Bru, with Bill Elmer (mandolin), Kelby Sommer (fiddle), Rachel Campbell (fiddle), and Monica Pollard (straws). Denise Sukkar and Gary Nafziger-Meiser (callers).
03 December 2005	Snake River Alliance Peace Fair, Basque Center, Boise. Contra dance, with Cindi on piano and Denise Sukkar, caller.
23 November 2005	Caleb Forrey wedding reception, contra dance. Rose Room, downtown Boise. Mackinnon's Bru peformance.
12 Sept - 19 Dec. 2005	Fiddled for 12-week Scottish Country Dance class, held at Locust Grove Grange Hall; instructors: Mairi Hand, Cheri Nelson, Monica Pollard.
11 July - 29 August 2005	Fiddled for 8-week Scottish Country Dance class, held at Locust Grove Grange Hall; instructors: Mairi Hand, Cheri Nelson, Monica Bielke.
25 June 2005	Summer Solstice (4th Saturday contra dance) House Party, Kathryn Zaiss home, Parma, Idaho. “Such as were able to shake a foot amused themselves in dancing...” With Rachel Campbell, fiddle, and Monica Bielke, straws.
15-19 June 2005	Scottish Dance Masters Conference, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, California. Fiddle Instructor: Keith Smith. Fiddled with group for the Beginners Ball, Santa Rosa class of the RSCDS San Francisco branch. (My participation in this workshop was funded in part by a grant from the Idaho Commission on the Arts.)
11 June 2005	Regular 2nd Saturday contra dance, Boise Contra Dance Society. Celtic Fire & Mackinnon’s Bru.
28 May 2005	Fiddled for Thistle & Ghillies ceilidh, Plantation Country Club, Boise (with Rachel Campbell, fiddle, and Victoria Pollard, piano).
20 May 2005	Advanced Scottish Fiddle Workshop, Instructor: Hanneke Cassel. Idaho Open Fiddle Contest
07 May 2005	Nampa Farmer's Market. Bru performance.
06 May 2005	Dignitaries reception for the opening of Lewis & Clark artifacts display, Idaho Historical Museum, Boise (Bill Elmer, guitar; Monica Bielke, straws).
04 April - 06 June 2005	Fiddled for Monday night Scottish Country Dance class, Meridian. Mairi Hand, instructor.
30 April 2005	Saturday in the Park, Boise Music Week. Bru performance.
12 March 2005	Regular 2nd Saturday contra dance, Boise Contra Dance Society. Mackinnon’s Bru.
25 February 2005	Fiddled for contra dance, Boise North End Neighborhood Association, Lowell School. (Partial Bru & friends)
24 Jan - 14 March 2005	Fiddled for Monday night Scottish Country Dance class, Meridian. Mairi Hand, instructor.
20 February 2005	Reception for baby christening, father: Jeff. Powerhouse, Boise. Mackinnon’s Bru performance.
29 January 2005	Bobby Burns Nicht, Boise State University. Mackinnon’s Bru performance.
28 January 2005	Fiddled for contra dance, Boise North End Neighborhood Association, Lowell School. (Partial Bru & friends, Victoria on piano)
18 December 2004	Fiddled at Solstice party, T&G, BCDS, Nampa, ID
11 December 2004	Regular 2nd Saturday contra dance, Boise Contra Dance Society. Mackinnon’s Bru.
09 December 2004	Canyon County Scottish American Society Ceilidh, Albertson College of Idaho, Caldwell. Informal Bru gig, with the Sleekit Beasties and the Barnacle Boys.
29 Nov - 20 Dec 2004	Fiddled for Monday night Scottish Country Dance class, Boise. Mairi Hand, instructor.
20 November 2004	St. Andrew's Nicht dinner and dance, Plantation Country Club, Boise.
18 November 2004	Fiddled for Thistles and Ghillies demo team, with Cindi and Rhonda, Goldcrest Community Center, Nampa.
27 Sept -- 13 Nov 2004	Fiddled for Monday night Scottish Country Dance class, Boise. Mairi Hand, instructor.
23 October 2004	Mt. Vernon, Oregon, Contra Dance, w/Cindi Elerick on piano, Denise Sukkar caller, Christy Waldner, organizer.
22 October 2004	Fiddled for contra dance, Boise North End Neighborhood Association, Lowell School. (Partial Bru & friends, Victoria on piano)
16 October 2004	Palouse Folklore Society contra dance, Moscow, Idaho (partial Bru: w/Rhonda & Tim, Denise Sukkar calling).
25 September 2004	Boone Presbyterian Church Harvest Picnic, Caldwell, Idaho. Mackinnon’s Bru with the Barnacle Boys; dance and performance. Evening.
25 September 2004	Roving fiddler and fiddled for contra dance demo at Museum Comes to Life, Julia Davis Park, Boise. Day.
24 September 2004	Fiddled for contra dance, Boise North End Neighborhood Association, Lowell School. (Partial Bru & friends)
18 September 2004	Boise Highland Games, Botanical Garden, Boise, Idaho. Mackinnon’s Bru performance and played for T&G demo team.
14 August 2004	Regular 2nd Saturday contra dance, Boise Contra Dance Society. Mackinnon’s Bru (Victoria Pollard on piano).
02 Aug - 13 Sept. 2004	Fiddled for 7-week Scottish Country Dance technique class, Mondays, Broadway Dance Center, Boise. Monica Bielke, instructor.
24 July 2004	5-hour dance, over 150 dancers. Traditional Christrian Dancers, Boise Valley Square Dance Hall. Mackinnon’s Bru.
17 July 2004	3-hour rehearsal, approx 80 dancers. Traditional Christrian Dancers, Boise Valley Square Dance Hall. Mackinnon’s Bru.
14 June - 26 July 2004	Fiddled for 7-week Scottish Country Dance class, Mondays, Broadway Dance Center, Boise. Mairi Hand, instructor
10 July 2004	Regular 2nd Saturday contra dance, Boise Contra Dance Society. Mackinnon’s Bru with Celtic Fire (Victoria Pollard on piano).
26 June 2004	Summer Solstice (4th Saturday contra dance) House Party, Kathryn Zaiss home, Parma, Idaho. With Rhonda.
19 June 2004	Nampa Farmers’ Market. Mackinnon’s Bru performance. (Roger Pollard played ragtime compositions Hop-Step Rag, Rainbow Waltz, & Joplin’s Entertainer and Maple Leaf Rag.)
12 June 2004	American Global Village Celebration, Ontario, Oregon. Mackinnon’s Bru performance
11 June 2004	American Cancer Society — Relay for Life. Western Idaho Fairgrounds, Boise. T&G demo team, Mackinnon’s Bru performance.
28 May 2004	Fiddled for contra dance, Boise North End Neighborhood Association, Lowell School. (Partial Bru & friends, Victoria Pollard on piano)
22 May 2004	Mt. Vernon, Oregon, Contra Dance, Mark Lewis caller, Christy Waldner, organizer (Bru, w/Janet of Burns on hammered dulcimer).
15 May 2004	Bru Performance and Scottish Country Dance. Thistle & Ghillies Ceilidh, Plantation Country Club, Boise
07 May 2004	Idaho Civil War Volunteers encampment. Music and dance. Eagle Island State Park. (Denise Sukkar calling, Rhonda & I providing music.)
30 April 2004	Bru. Graham & Lisa (Pejovich) Wedding party, Pond’s Lodge, Island Park, Idaho.

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