Hillary Klug

Hillary Klug has carved out a one-of-a-kind career as America's premier Dancing Fiddler, seamlessly combining award-winning fiddling with traditional Appalachian percussive dance.

A native of Fayetteville, Tennessee, she has become internationally recognized for preserving and sharing America's rich musical heritage through performances, workshops, recordings, and educational programs.

Raised in the heart of Middle Tennessee's old-time music tradition, Hillary spent more than a decade studying fiddle with renowned Tennessee fiddler Jim Wood, learning the regional repertoire and style that have shaped her musicianship. She also apprenticed with National Heritage Fellow Thomas Maupin, becoming a two-time National Buck Dancing Champion and one of today's leading ambassadors for traditional Appalachian dance.

Hillary's dynamic performances have taken her to 17 countries, concert halls, festivals, and orchestras around the world. A video of her simultaneously fiddling and dancing has been viewed more than 64 million times, introducing millions of people to old-time music and dance. She has appeared with the Nashville Symphony, the Minnesota Orchestra, and orchestras in Europe, performed with Cirque du Soleil's Songblazers, and has held featured residencies at Dollywood and Silver Dollar City.

Beyond the stage, Hillary is deeply committed to passing traditional music on to the next generation. She teaches fiddle, dance, and old-time music workshops across the United States and abroad, serves as a master artist in the Tennessee Folklife Master-Apprentice Program, and is the founder of Dance Appalachia, an online educational community dedicated to preserving and teaching traditional Appalachian dance. She is also a recipient of a Tennessee Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship in recognition of her contributions to Tennessee's cultural heritage.

At Kaufman Kamp, Hillary's Old-Time Fiddle classes will explore the heart of the Southern Appalachian fiddle tradition through rhythm, bowing, phrasing, groove, ornamentation, and learning by ear. A special emphasis will be placed on cross-tuning—one of the defining characteristics of Appalachian fiddling. Hillary regularly performs and records using more than 20 different fiddle tunings, from time-honored traditional tunings to several she has developed herself, including her signature five-string tuning (DADAD). Students will discover how alternate tunings transform the instrument's tone, resonance, and possibilities while learning practical techniques for incorporating them into their own playing.

Students will also gain insight into the often-overlooked art of fiddling for dancers. Drawing on decades of experience both as a champion dancer and as a musician for buck dancers, cloggers, square dances, and contra dances, Hillary will demonstrate how a fiddler can shape rhythm, energy, and groove to support dancers and bring traditional dance music to life. Whether you're interested in regional fiddle styles, dance accompaniment, cross-tuning, or simply deepening your old-time musicianship, you'll leave with new tools, tunes, and inspiration to carry home.

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