The fall of 2017 is shaping up to be a busy one for beloved Country Music entertainer Jana Jae, with an annual camp where she teaches the art of fiddling for students of all ages, performances across the globe spreading America's music to the masses, as well as a special series of performances in the United States that reunites her with many of her fellow citizens from the iconic "Kornfield Kounty" of Hee Haw fame!
The award-winning instrumentalist held her annual Jana Jae Fiddle Camp & Music Fest in Grove, Oklahoma over Labor Day weekend. As part of the Grand Lake Festivals organization, a 501c3 group that promotes artistic endeavors, the event - in its' twentieth year - brought over one hundred participants to Grove to learn the craft of making music from over twenty instructors. Although the name of the event references the fiddle, there is much more to the camp. There are also four guitar instructors, and sessions on the art of learning mandolin, viola, cello, bass, and rhythm tabla drums, spoons, and bones. Attendees had plenty of chances to participate with each other in jam sessions over the weekend, and perform for their mentors!
From there, Jana Jae will embark on an overseas trip to China, where she will participate in the two-week Fourth Annual
Silk Road International Arts Festival, based in Xi'an, a monumental endeavor drawing from many countries coming together to celebrate East meets West unity, showcasing each country's music. It's an invitation that she says truly humbled and honored her. "I am thrilled and honored to represent the USA and share our American heritage through the universal language of music. This is a 'Goodwill Tour' and I hope to be an outstanding American Ambassador of Music!! My group represents three states - Oklahoma, Kansas and
California - and we are bringing congratulatory letters of good will from Congressmen and dignitaries from each state, as well as gifts representative of the United States."
That's not the only international performances that the fan favorite has on her schedule in the coming weeks. On
September 21 - just days after her return - she will embark on a flight for Oaxaca, Mexico where she will appear as an "American Ambassador of Music", and take place in an Air France project conducting La Banda and teaching underprivileged but extremely talented students. She will perform two major concerts for the City of Oaxaca with a stellar classical trio, and will also be responsible for directing the orchestra La Banda, comprised of teenagers from 12 to 18. "I am looking forward to teaching in support of this major Air France project, which was started six years ago and now provides rehearsal halls, practice rooms, instruments, instrument repair shops, and instructors flown in from Europe as well as resident instructors in Oaxaca. I am honored to be invited to be a guest artist and director in this musical sharing, again bridge cultures through the international language of music!"
While that would classify as a busy Autumn in anyone else's book, there is plenty on Jana Jae's "To Do" list once she returns to the United States in early October. She will be going on the road as part of the Hee Haw Revue, a touring show that features her fellow cast members from the classic Country Music series of the same name that aired to millions of households in America for twenty-five years. Appearing with Jana on the shows - which have already attracted fans on the road this summer - are "Hee Haw Honeys" favorite Misty Rowe, legendary banjoist Buck Trent - also known for his work with Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton, as well as Rodney Lay and Richard Kennedy, who have been longtime key members in the band of Country Music Hall of Fame member (and show co-host) Roy Clark. She says the shows take her back in time. "Hee Haw was the greatest thing I've ever done. It was the most fun, and such an extended-family experience that we shared with all of America. People still watch the show on RFD-TV every Sunday night, and still think of me as 'The Girl With The Blue Fiddle."
And, that famous instrument will be representing the Red, White, and Blue all over the world this fall!
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