July 6: William Ritter

William plays banjo, fiddle, guitar, and other “string-ed things.” He is particularly interested in old mountain folkways, foodways, humor—eager to swap lies, half-truths, tales, and seeds. William serves as music director for the Happy Valley Fiddlers Convention. William is the founder and owner of Song-to-Seed, which offers programs featuring Appalachian Heirloom Seeds, heirloom songs, and other traditional folkways and foodways.

The Orchard Music Program offers live, traditional music in support of our nonprofit mission to preserve the history, heritage and culture of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Our hope is to educate the public about the Appalachian experience so that these important traditions may be carried forward with future generations.