Centered, holding a guitar, Valerie Smith and her band mates in Liberty Pike will hold a concert for the public at Lusten Resort on November 3 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for youth. Photo courtesy of Kate Fitzgerald

By Kate Fitzgerald from The Cook County News Herald - October 19, 2018

The North Shore Music Association’s 28th annual Bluegrass Masters Weekend is just around the bend! We’re excited to announce that this year’s instrument of focus is voice, and our featured instructor is Valerie Smith of the award-winning band Liberty Pike. Three days of jamming, a full day of vocal workshops, and an evening concert by Liberty Pike will make for a lively weekend in a relaxed setting where all are welcome.

Valerie Smith, who holds a master’s degree in music and is a certified music educator specializing in voice and performance, has taught students of all ages for 20 years. Her performance career in Nashville got started under the mentorship of Country Music Hall of Famer Charlie Louvin and the Nashville Bluegrass Band’s Alan O’Bryant. Valerie has a remarkably broad vocal range and gift for conveying emotion. As NPR radio host Dave Higgs notes, “She can be sassy, sultry, siren-like, sweet, smooth, soothing and smoldering – sometimes during the span of just one song!”

Valerie’s workshop topics include vocal range, tone, and technique; bluegrass and harmony singing; song phrasing and selection; songwriting and arranging. Workshops are $8 per hour or $30 for the full day.

On Nov. 3 at 8 p.m., Valerie and her band Liberty Pike will perform a concert for the public ($20 adults/$10 youth). Liberty Pike has rocked the bluegrass world for almost two decades, traveling the U.S. and the globe, and receiving Grammy, IBMA, and Dove Award nominations for their recordings. A remarkably skilled group, including legendary Hall of Famer Tom Gray on bass, Liberty Pike exhilarates audiences with their talent and good-humored spirit.

For full event information, visit www.northshoremusicassociation.com/bluegrass.php. Call 218- 387-1272, or email [email protected] with questions.

This activity is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.