STAFF

Meet the GTF Team!

L to R: Sara Duce, Eve Wodarcyk, Cameryn Baum, Tristyn Baum, & Taylor Morris

FOUNDING CO-DIRECTORS

Taylor Morris

Hailed by a class of 2nd graders as “wreely nice and kind” and “the coolest man on erth,” Arizona native Taylor Morris enjoys blurring the line between violin and fiddle. Strongly believing we can learn more about the world through collaboration with others, he actively pursues musical projects in different genres. Currently, he is part of Tricia & Taylor, a genre-bending violin/fiddle duo with concert violinist Tricia Park, and a member of The Sound Accord, a string sextet that creates vibrant arrangements of folk music. After studying classical violin at Arizona State University with Dr. Katie McLin, he spent four years touring with Barrage, a world-music violin troupe based out of Canada. His travels, both with Barrage and personally, have led to performances in 48 states and 13 countries with musicians from a multitude of backgrounds, including Mike Block, Hanneke Cassel, Brittany Haas, Natalie Haas, Jeremy Kittel, Lauren Rioux, and the Tetra String Quartet. 

Offstage, Taylor obtained a master's in education from Harvard University and is a passionate advocate for arts education. Since 2000, Taylor's teaching has taken him into classrooms around the country, from kindergartens to colleges, including as a continuing Guest Lecturer at Arizona State University. During the school year, he is a committed private teacher with a dynamic studio of violinists and fiddlers. Through his teaching, Taylor is ultimately on a mission to help students and educators alike experience the thrill of taking musical ownership and finding their own meaningful ways to make music. To learn more about Taylor and his other pursuits, visit his website.
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Sara Duce

After watching high school students perform at a grade school assembly while in 2nd grade, SARA DUCE was smitten with the violin and vowed to play it one day. When the opportunity came to choose an instrument, the viola chose her instead.

​Sara graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor's Degree in music education from Arizona State University (Go Devils!) while studying viola under Patricia Cosand and the late Dr. William Magers. She also holds a Master’s Degree in music education from Northern Arizona University. 

Now in her 21st year as orchestra director at Greenfield Junior High in Gilbert, AZ, Sara loves working with young string students and helping them to grow and develop as musicians and as people. While orchestra director is her “full time” passion, she also finds great joy in sharing her love of folk music with many talented high school musicians as a founding co-director of the Gilbert Town Fiddlers. Sara encourages students to play many styles of music and experiment with their approaches to music-making.

Sara has worked with fiddlers of all ages at various local fiddle camps and workshops. She is committed to sharing fiddle with other educators, including through a workshop sponsored by ASTA-Arizona and a presentation at the National ASTA Convention, the latter with the Gilbert Town Fiddlers. Sara currently plays violin with Sunflower Strings, subs with various local quartets on both violin and viola and works as a freelance fiddler and instructor.

​Gilbert Town Fiddlers was co-founded in 2012 by Taylor Morris, Sara Duce, & Martha Hughes (emeritus).

Cameryn Baum | High School Teaching Assistant

​Cameryn Baum is a cellist of many styles, specializing in classical, folk, and pop genres. Cameryn has had many amazing opportunities to play on stage with world-renowned musicians such as Ursula Oppens, Brooklyn Rider, Jubilant Sykes, and Michael Bublé, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra! Throughout the year, Cameryn also performs in weddings, musicals, church services, and more. While performing has always been a huge part of her musical career, Cameryn's passion lies in teaching. Cameryn has been teaching since 2015: private lessons, group classes, and folk workshops. Cameryn has also been a 4th grade teacher since 2020, and absolutely loves bringing joy and curiosity to her students. She is overjoyed to be working with the members of GTF alongside Taylor Morris and Sara Duce in the 2022-23 season.

Tristyn Baum | Middle School Teaching Assistant

Tristyn Baum, Gilbert Town Fiddlers alumni (2015-2018), is excited to be on staff for the new Middle School program! She recently graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University with her Bachelors in Music Therapy and is working toward becoming a board-certified music therapist. In the spring Tristyn will begin a full-time music therapy internship, providing care for a wide variety of populations. 

Tristyn has been playing violin since the 2nd grade and practicing fiddle for over seven years. Gilbert Town Fiddlers kicked off her fiddle experience back in 2015. She credits this program for helping her rediscover her love of music and showing her a new way to blend classical violin and fiddle. Tristyn is passionate about promoting creative music education as she provides violin coaching for a local high school orchestra. In her spare time, Tristyn can be found taking on countless DIY projects, endless crafts, and listening to her favorite band Big Time Rush. 

Eve Wodarcyk | Outreach & Media Coordinator

Eve Wodarcyk is a fiddler/violinist in her sophomore year at Arizona State University, where she is pursuing degrees in digital marketing and music. She is currently the social media intern for Silkroad, a nonprofit organization founded by Yo-Yo Ma and led by Artistic Director Rhiannon Giddens, where she combines her passions to use art to create a more diverse and inclusive world. She loves to take on side gigs, and recently performed Into the Woods with Inspire Theatre Company and Chaps! with the Hale Centre Theatre. Eve loves to paint, take photos, and arrange music with the Willow String Quartet. After being a part of GTF as a student, she is excited to be on the staff of such an amazing program!