MCTA Happenings

Jocelyn Pettit and Ellen Gira to Perform at MCTA

Frostburg’s Mountain City Traditional Arts will host Jocelyn Pettit & Ellen Gira on Wednesday March 13th at 7pm. 

If Ellen Gira’s name seems familiar, that’s because she’s the granddaughter of Catherine Gira, who served as FSU’s President for many years.

From the West Coast of Canada, Jocelyn Pettit is a vibrant fiddle player, stepdancer, and singer.  With grace and passion, she has delighted audiences and ignited stages across Canada and worldwide, appeared on national television and radio, and released three multi-award-nominated albums.

From the East Coast of the USA, Ellen Gira is an accomplished cellist who has performed throughout North America and the UK.  She has collaborated and recorded with numerous acclaimed traditional musicians and is currently pursuing a PhD in Scottish Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Joining forces in Glasgow in 2018, Pettit and Gira were already two well-established musicians, who found together a kindred musical spirit. With Petit on fiddle and Gira on cello, they push boundaries between traditional and contemporary genres to create a powerfully uplifting and soulful performance. Complementing instrumental talent with vocal harmonies and lively step dancing, they perform a high-energy repertoire from Scotland, Ireland, North America, and Scandinavia. FolkWorld Magazine calls them “A dazzling duo!”. 

Located at 25 E. Main Street, Frostburg, Mountain City Traditional Arts is a program of Frostburg State University and a founding member of Maryland’s Folklife Network. It receives support from the Maryland Traditions Program of the State Arts Council. For more information call 301-687-8040.