What a great weekend! I just returned from Maryland Banjo Academy 2002, and if you were there you probably feel the same as I do. If you didn't attend, you missed a wonderful opportunity to meet and learn from such legends as Pat Cloud, Alan Munde, Bill Keith, Eddie Collins, Tom Hanway, Mark Johnson, Ken Perlman, Brad Leftwich, John Herrman, Debbie McClatchy, George Wunderlich, and more. Add to that the mini-concerts, jam sessions, and socializing, and you have all the ingredients for a banjo player's dream event.

As usual, Turtle Hill Banjo Co. had a vendor's booth. I managed to fit nineteen banjos and cases in my two-door Buick (this could be a world record), so I had a variety of instruments on display. For me, the most enjoyable part of the weekend was meeting so many people who share my love of banjos.

Those attendees who came by my booth Friday afternoon had an unexpected treat. Keith Arneson and Wayne Taylor, banjo and guitar player respectively in the Navy's Country Current bluegrass band, were sitting there just enjoying themselves and playing music that ranged from traditional bluegrass to original material. Keith is an absolutely incredible banjo player (but if you were there you already know that). You can read about Keith and Wayne's newly released CD in the CD Review section of my web site. Do your ears a favor and order a copy.

I'm already looking forward to the next MBA. If you haven't been, you owe it to yourself to go. You won't regret it!