Dear Friends,

 I am writing to tell you about a very special "Pickin’ Pal" of mine. Her name is Emily Hogeback. Emily is one of the most talented and enthusiastic musicians that I have met in my over thirty years of elementary education and music performance.

Emily has been blind since birth. She began playing the violin when she was seven years old. Emily has studied the Suzuki violin method and has performed classical music on the violin all over the Cincinnati area. She has developed a love for bluegrass and country music as well and has become a very fine fiddler.

Emily also "plays the fire" out of a resonator slide-guitar called the Dobro. She started playing it when she was ten years old. She has studied with local bluegrass musicians and has spent countless hours learning the styles of bluegrass greats like Josh Graves and Jerry Douglas. She has committed a "library" of traditional tunes to memory. Emily is also a very creative and tasteful improviser. She’s always ready to throw in a few "hot licks" which makes her performances personal and soulful.

Emily is also taking voice lessons and is developing into a fine singer. It’s quite amazing to hear her perform a ballad like the country classic, "When You Say Nothing At All", and belt out the vocals like Alison Krauss while playing the Dobro like Jerry Douglas at the same time!

Finally (but with Emily there is no finale) Emily has the gift of perfect pitch. She can identify any note and tune strictly by ear. It’s fun to challenge her young audience members to close their eyes and check their note identification skills. We haven’t found another kid with perfect pitch, but we’re still looking.

Emily, her Mom and Dad, and I would love to load up the instruments and have a "pickin’ party" with you. Our program lasts 45 minutes to an hour and features Emily’s Fiddling, Dobro playing and Singing with my Guitar Accompaniment.

We are reserving dates now.

Please call or email to book this inspiring and fun "Fiddle Your Favorites" Program.

All the best!

Wayne Luessen

513-474-5652 (home)

513-702-0421 (cell)

859-282-3333 (work) Music Room

e mail ehluessen@fuse.net