Lincoln Hensley

Posted on by Hhmmc

​Lincoln Hensley is a devout enthusiast of the Earl Scruggs and Sonny Osborne style of banjo playing and was honored to visit and study under the mentorship of Sonny on a regular basis for over 6 years. He also is in a partnership with Sonny in their own banjo company, KRAKO banjos. Lincoln has played the Grand Ole Opry and several occasions with Bobby Osborne and his band, The Rocky Top X-press, and has worked with and filled in with numerous touring bands in the past few years, and is now a founding member of The Tennessee Bluegrass Band. Lincoln is endorsed by GHS Strings and Recording King Musical Instruments.

“At 23 years old, Lincoln Hensley is fast making a name for himself as a Sonny Osborne protégé and a snappy dresser. He takes the music seriously without taking himself too seriously and his playing just makes you smile.”
-Banjo Newsletter 2021

Beth Lawrence

Posted on by Hhmmc

Beth Lawrence, BassOriginally from Kenosha, Wisconsin, Beth Lawrence enjoyed growing up playing music
and singing with her father, George, and sisters, Melissa and Sarah. At age 15, she started to
play standup bass, and they began to play festivals as a family band. In college, she studied
choir directing and attended the ETSU Bluegrass program in Johnson City, Tennessee. Since
then, she has enjoyed working with several bands and on promotional tours throughout the
years. The Stevens Sisters, the Mark Newton Band, the Orthophonic Joy Tour, the Alecia Nugent
Band, Ron Block, Michael Cleveland, Bradley Walker, Jerry Salley, Larry Cordle & Friends, Jim
Hurst, Rick Faris, Sister Sadie, and many more. As a founding member of the band Sister Sadie,
she is a Grammy nominee for Bluegrass Album of the Year in 2019. She received three
Recorded Events of the Year awards by the IBMA for recorded collaborations. Beth now resides
in Eagleville, Tennessee

Tim Stafford

Posted on by Hhmmc

Grammy Award-winning guitarist, songwriter, author and singer, two-time IBMA Songwriter of the Year, former member of Alison Krauss and Union Station, and founding member of celebrated Bluegrass group Blue Highway. Tim is a prolific songwriter, with over 250 songs recorded.  He co-wrote IBMA’s 2008 Song of the Year, “Through the Window of a Train,” and was named IBMA’s Songwriter of the Year in 2014 and 2017.  In addition, he is a sought-after studio musician, having recorded with over 75 artists in addition to Blue Highway, including Willie Nelson, Kenny Chesney, Jorma Kaukonen, Jesse McReynolds, Benny Sims, Marty Raybon, Joe Isaacs, Ronnie Bowman, Charles Sawtelle, Tony Trischka, Larry Sparks, Jim Mills and many others. Tim was named SPBGMA Guitar Performer of the Year in 2001 and 2015. He has produced many award-winning records for various artists, including Kenny Chesney, The Infamous Stringdusters (IBMA 2007 co-album of the Year) , and Knee Deep in Bluegrass, the Acutab Sessions (IBMA 2001 Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year).

Jeff Burke

Posted on by Jim Kendrick

Jeff Burke is a professional musician and instructor who teaches bluegrass music and improvisation to individuals and groups. He plays Guitar, Mandolin and Banjo and has performed and recorded with a number of bands over his 23 year career. Jeff has worked both independently and in connection with the Wernick Method to bring group jamming classes to both Nashville, TN and Chicago, IL. He founded the popular bluegrass jamming class at the World famous Stayion Inn and works extensively with the Country Music Hall of Fame to provide hands on acoustic instrument and jamming workshops for their youth and family programs.

In 2020 Jeff Became the general Manager of The Station Inn in Nashville, handling day to day duties and booking the bands. In 2021 he left Station Inn to join the management and booking team at Dee’s Country Cocktail Lounge in Madison, TN where he is currently employed. He is also involved with Bluegrass Wednesdays at American Legion Post 82 in Nashville. Jeff also produces 2-3 day jam camps at festivals around the country and has been a faculty member at numerous music camps.

Nancy Bounds

Posted on by Hhmmc

Nancy Bounds began her yoga journey years ago, dabbling with college courses in beginning yoga. Life happened; 3 children, 2 divorces and a long, very stressful career at AT&T. She came away from my AT&T experience diagnosed with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue and realized she had to do something to get her health back on track. She returned to yoga as a way to heal and be nourished again.

In 2000, her yoga study intensified. This included studying anatomy, yoga philosophy, asana practice, breath-work, yoga therapy, etc. After a very rigorous certification program and multiple classes a week, she became a yoga teacher. To date she has taught over 18,000 hours, while continuing to attend instructor workshops and training classes regularly to deepen her knowledge. Being very intrigued with the human body, Nancy helps students come into their optimal energetic blueprint.

Nancy has studied with many of the top yoga instructors and educators in the United States including John Friend, Betsey Downing, Desiree Rumbaugh, Doug Keller, Jenny Otto, Max Strom and Leslie Kaminoff.  As with music, Nancy has found that each teacher brings their own style and method to the practice-and she strives to incorporate a joy of being alive, a sense of humor, and a deep understanding of the yogic practice to each session and student.

Nancy is a full time Realtor, Yoga Instructor and lover of all kinds of music (particularly Bluegrass) and outdoor activities. For each of her professions she continues with professional development and education, maintaining rigorous standards of practice…for yoga, that includes a designated ERT-500.

“I believe that the practice of yoga is something that is available to everyone regardless of physical ability and age. I hope to be able to continue teaching and practicing yoga and enjoying music for the duration of my life.” – Nancy

Aynsley Porchak

Posted on by Jim Kendrick

Aynsley began playing fiddle at the age of 9. She was introduced to bluegrass in her early teens, and quickly fell in love with the music. In order to further hone her craft, Aynsley enrolled in East Tennessee State University’s Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music Studies degree program in 2013. She graduated in 2017 with an additional bachelor’s degree in English, and completed her master’s degree in Appalachian Studies in 2020.

Aynsley is also an experienced contest fiddler. She was Blessed to win the Grand Master Fiddler Championship in 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee, and in 2017, she also became the Canadian Grand Master Fiddle Champion, making her the first person to win both competitions. She also played in 2016 on the Grand Ole Opry.

In 2018, Aynsley joined the SPBGMA award-winning band Carolina Blue, and performed with them for four years before becoming one of the founding members of The Tennessee Bluegrass Band in 2021. She also received the 2018 IBMA Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year award. Aynsley spends her time off the road as a private fiddle instructor, session musician, and author. This is Aynsley’s second year teaching at the Monroe Mandolin Camp, and she is excited to share her love of old-school bluegrass fiddling with her students!

Mission Statement

Posted on by Jim Kendrick

Preserving and Promoting the Music and Cultural Heritage of Authentic First Generation Bluegrass

Committed to building community from around the world, as well as forging platforms and connections for the next generation of musicians, the MonManCamp presents programs that ensure the continuation of this truly original and powerful American art form called Bluegrass Music. At MMC, our missions are to:

  • Preserve the music created and recorded by Bill Monroe
  • Use the transformative power of music to foster relationships while building communities worldwide
  • Educate contemporary music enthusiasts about fundamental building blocks, stylistic elements, and techniques that are unique to this music
  • Present a curriculum that forwards an understanding of the players and culture that created Bluegrass music
  • Cultivating:
  1. Creativity through collaboration;
  2. Self-Compassion & Resilient Spirit:letting go of perfectionism and taking a journey based upon one note, one tune, or one song at a time;
  3. Brain Development via self-assessment, critical thinking skills, engagement of non-verbal brain activities for fine motor skills, mathematical reasoning (via chord progressions, rhythm, melodic intervals, etc.)
  4. Folklore or the traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community passed through the generations by word of mouth
  5. Connection:
    • via facilitating cross-generational gatherings and one generation passing it down to the next;
    • laughter and joy through music;
    • continuation and longevity of this music by growing the branches of future players and appreciators;
    • using the stories and roots of bluegrass music with all of its rich history, context, narratives of hardships, triumphs, and musical history to demonstrate our connectedness and similarities

Will Kimble

Posted on by Heidi Herzog

Kimble mandolins are custom made tools for acoustic musicians. Each mandolin is carefully crafted by hand based on input regarding tone, feeling, aesthetics. There are no standard models or trim levels. Excellent workmanship is key to great sounding mandolins.  Will started building mandolins in 2000.  Taught by his father, Fred Kimble, they still work side by side building instruments.