The Pinewoods Band

OUR FABULOUS CAMP MUSICIANS

Dancers, we're in for a treat! Three members of the popular Pinewoods Folk Dance Camp Band will be providing live folk dance music at August Camp parties and selected teaching sessions.

Tom Pixton, Ralph Iverson and Patrick Yacono have been playing together for more than 20 years, both on their own and with the band. They’ll be bringing the high spirit and wit for which Pinewoods is known—plus a ginormous repertoire of folk dance favorites!

TOM PIXTON
Accordion, Vocals

​Tom is one of Boston’s most active International, Balkan and Scottish folk dance musicians.  A Brandeis University graduate with a degree in music, he has worked with many highly accomplished dance teachers and musicians as accordionist, pianist, band leader, music arranger and more. As a soloist with Pinewoods, Tom has provided dance music for camps and workshops in the United States, Canada and Japan. He has also provided music leadership for the Boston branch of the Royal Scottish Dance Society and the Folk Arts Center of New England. 

RALPH IVERSON
Violin, Gadulka, Tambura, Kaval, Penny Whistle

Ralph has been playing International folk dance music since 1985. He's been a member of many folk dance music groups, including Mandala Folk Dance Ensemble (orchestra director), Cambridge Folk Orchestra, Pinewoods Band, Pajdashi, Rakija, Zdravets, and Zornitsa. Ralph also plays violin with the New England Philharmonic and the MIT Gilbert & Sullivan Players. He recently submitted a winning composition for gadulka and accompaniment to a "7/8" competition in Bulgaria.

PATRICK YACONO 
Clarinet, Kaval, Gajda, Vocals 

A familiar figure in Boston's international folk dance scene, Patrick plays with the Cambridge Folk Orchestra, the Pinewoods Band, Rakiya, Shining Moon, Zdravets, Zornitsa and other bands. He also performs in other U.S. cities as well as Canada and Bulgaria. Patrick teaches the instrumental section of the International Music Club, a group that meets under the auspices of the Folk Arts Center of New England to play for folk dances. He earned his doctorate in Collaborative Piano from Boston University, writing his thesis on the songs of Bulgarian composer Marin Goleminov. Patrick performs frequently with the New England Philharmonic as a piano accompanist and principal keyboard player.