President

Carolyn Eyerly – carolyneyerly5@gmail.com or 703-898-8451

Eyerly has been a dynamic lead singer in the Washington, D.C. area since 2011. Carolyn was awarded the 2022 WAMMIE for the D.C. area’s Best Bluegrass Artist when she released her gospel CD, The Sunny Side of Life, on the Patuxent Music label.

Carolyn grew up in Northern Virginia listening to Southern Rock and Bluegrass music. As a graduate of the National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts, Carolyn anticipated returning to acting after her children had grown, but found bluegrass music to be an overwhelming draw. Carolyn is in two local bands and enjoys gigging & jamming whenever possible!

Carolyn is thrilled to be serving as President of the DC Bluegrass Union. She served as Membership Director since 2018 Carolyn is a graduate of IBMA’s Class of 2024 Leadership Bluegrass program.

Every third Tuesday of each month, Carolyn leads a small ensemble singing comfort songs to the homeless in Fairfax, VA. Additional singers are always welcome!

Vice President and Artist Liason

Shannon Leigh Reynolds – sborg10@yahoo.com

Shannon grew up in Georgia and discovered bluegrass and classic country in college. They were the sounds she had been searching for! Naturally, coming to the DC area stoked her love of bluegrass more, and she took up the banjo, switching to guitar to focus more on her vocals and songwriting. Shannon has played in several bluegrass bands, in the DC and Maryland areas, including Charm City Limits and Peace Run Band. She released her debut album, Triple Shot, in 2023 which won the 2024 Wammie Award for Best Folk/Bluegrass Artist Album. She fronts her own band, Shannon Leigh and The Good Bygones and can be seen all around the DC area.

Communications Director

Valerie O’Keeffe

Secretary

Kevin Slick – slick@kevinslick.com

Kevin Slick grew up in central Pennsylvania, in the town of State College where Penn State University is located. Kevin’s father played Bluegrass records around the house while he was growing up and they went to see bands like Flatt and Scruggs at Sunset Park. It wasn’t until Kevin was in college that he seriously got into Bluegrass, Folk, and Roots music. This immersion was furthered by sharing a house with members of the band Whetstone Run which included folks like Marshall Wilborn, Lynn Morris and Chris Jones. Since then, Kevin has hosted a radio show, written, recorded and played music, and also worked as a photographer. Kevin is very active with IBMA. Kevin moved to Virginia in 2024.

Education Director

Annie Savage – savagefiddler@gmail.com

Dr. Annie Savage is a lifetime bluegrass performer and educator. Annie began playing fiddle professionally at 8. She was the founding fiddler player for Jeff Scroggins and Colorado and has shared the stage with folks from Ricky Scaggs to Aretha Franklin. In addition to a love of late-night sitting around a fire -fiddle in hand- Annie studied at the Interlochen Arts Academy, Oberlin Conservatory, and Boston Conservatory at the Berklee College of Music. She has since enjoyed a performance career spanning bluegrass, country, rock, and digital music.

As an educator, Annie makes jamming fun with her enthusiasm, sense of humor, and unwavering belief in music for all and music for life. Annie is the co-director of the International Bluegrass Association’s Education Committee and the recipient of the 2020 IBMA Mentor of the Year award. She is currently a professor of string education at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA.

When she isn’t at JMU, she enjoys time with family, in nature, and playing with her fiery band, The Savage Hearts.