The Susquehanna String Band is set to perform at the Bainbridge Town Hall Theatre on Friday, January 3 at 7 p.m. Left to right are Rick Bunting, John Kirk and Dan Duggan. (Submitted photo)

BAINBRIDGE - The Susquehanna String Band, a group of three musicians, dedicated to the promotion and performance of American traditional music, will be performing at 7 p.m., Friday, January 3, at the Bainbridge Town Hall Theatre, 15 North Main Street, Bainbridge.

The band is unique among today’s traditional music groups.  Rick Bunting, Dan Duggan, and John Kirk are all accomplished solo performers in a wide variety of styles of music, and each is recognized as an outstanding musician. They combine their talents in a way that highlights their individuality and creates an exciting ensemble effect in the performance of traditional music from America and the British Isles.

The versatility and skill of the Susquehanna String Band in demonstrated in the fact that two orchestral pieces have been written especially for them. “The Celtic Suite” and “The Americana Suite” (both by Dave Harvey) have been performed with The Utica Symphony, The Catskill Symphony, The Schenectady Symphony, and The Chamber Orchestra of Northern New York. They have four recording projects to their credit including their latest release, “Auld Lang Syne”.

Rick Bunting, former chairman of Music Education at Crane School of Music, State University of New York (SUNY) at Potsdam, Director of the Opera Theatre program at SUNY Fredonia, and teacher in the Bainbridge-Guilford School District for 15 years - has long been recognized for his vocal renditions of Scottish airs and ballads. Complementing his vocal tradition, Bunting excels instrumentally on banjo, lap dulcimer, concertina, and flute.

John Kirk, who teaches at Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs and Bennington College, Vermont, is known for his lyric voice, good sense of humor, and versatile instrumental skills that have earned him folk music recognition on an international scale. He is recognized as a versatile musician, playing fiddle, guitar, banjo, mandolin and vocals. He can be heard on Ken Burns, the West, with Jay Unger, Molly Mason and on other TV, Video, radio and theater projects. One of his original songs, “Long Roads” has been performed by the Dixie Chicks.

Dan Duggan, nationally touring performer and teacher, is acknowledged as one of the finest dulcimer players and composers in the country. A National Hammered Dulcimer Champion, he is the first winner to have performed all original compositions. Duggan has recorded four CDs of original compositions and selections of his recordings have been aired on National Public Radio. Dan's dulcimer work can also be heard on Paul Simon's Grammy nominated CD "Your The One".

Tickets will be available at the door, but to guarantee a ticket, call for a reservation at 607-288-3882 or for more information.

On January 3 doors open at 6 p.m. In the gallery that evening, the work of Jack DeMarco will be featured.

The gallery is open at 6 pm before the show through intermission and is free to the public.

- Information from the Bainbridge Town Hall Theatre