Berklee College of Music in Boston has long been a leader in music education. Berklee has a very innovative string program that also has majors in mandolin and banjo. Of course, this leads to many great student bluegrass bands, and this year we will present the best of this group. Under the leadership of Prof. David Hollender, the Berklee Bluegrass Allstars showcases the next generation of pickers.
The Ruta Beggars infuse traditional bluegrass and early swing to create a timeless act filled with intricate yet smooth vocal harmonies, fiery instrumentals and plenty of fun. They have been praised for their creative yet tasteful arrangements and charming performances. The Ruta Beggars can be heard on Steve Martin’s Unreal Bluegrass, Brian O’Donavan’s A Celtic Sojourn and the stages of Joe Val, Grey Fox, and Ossipee Bluegrass Festivals, among others. Following the release of their debut EP self-titled “The Ruta Beggars,” they were the winners of the 2019 Thomas Point Beach Bluegrass band competition.
Micah Nicol – guitar, vocals
Ariel Wyner – mandolin, vocals
Sofía Chiarandini – fiddle, vocals
Trevin Nelson – banjo, vocals
Noah Harrington – bass
