Bob O’Brien -- caller and dance teacher, guitar and various percussion instruments, including bodhran and dumbec and sings in the band. He loves to call singing squares as well as standard contra dances. He retired from his day job in 2002 to devote more time to music and dance: he teaches contra dancing as well as waltz workshops.  In addition to calling with the Coyote ContraBand, he calls with many other bands, traveling the length and breadth of Northern California, from Fresno to Redding and Reno to Monterey. To expand his musical background, he is learning how to play old time banjo and didgeridoo.

Frank Gallardo -- guitar, bass, percussion and vocals.  He has been playing music since high school, starting with the trombone.  He’s been playing the guitar since high school too, and has since added the standup bass.  He spent several years in a group playing Kingston Trio era music, all the while playing and singing in a church choir (St. Francis of Assisi Church, downtown Sacramento).  He’s added some percussion to the repertoire and next on the list is learning how to play a drum set and classical guitar.

 “Music is a wonderful way to express yourself.  I can’t imagine not doing it.  I NEED to do it.  The best part is sharing the love of music with others who feel the same way.”

Char Berta -- flute, whistle, recorders and vocals.  She has been playing flute for, um, a long time, starting in 6^th grade band.  After clawing her way to the top of the school band and orchestra ladder, she decided to work with smaller groups, and played with a jazz quartet for a few years.  But her heart was always with traditional folk music of all types.  So, adding whistle to her bag of tools, she has been devoting herself exclusively to that style, with special emphasis on learning to play with an Irish accent.  Char's photo at the left was taken at Sky Walker Studios in Marin during the recording of a new CD she was prominent in.

Bill Trainor -- fiddle, recorder and vocals. Bill has been playing fiddle for 30 years, in that time, absorbing regional influences from Colorado, the Pacific Northwest, East Tennessee, and California. His roots are in Old-Time Appalachian and Southern fiddle music and music of the British Isles. He learned Cajun fiddle styles while playing with a local Cajun band and at house parties too numerous to mention.  He can also be seen (and heard) performing in local musical theatre productions.  Currently a full-time music educator, he teaches individual violin and fiddle lessons, and teaches workshops on improving musicianship.  (You can contact him at wptrainor@rcip.com or 916-248-6002).

Susan Jones -- English concertina, recorders and vocals. She has been playing concertina for dancing for about 15 years, starting with Morris and Garland dancing in Georgia. She particularly likes international folk dance tunes with unusual twists or rhythms. She is interested in meeting other English concertina players and playing duet, trio, or quartet music with them on an occasional basis. She organizes an English country dance band named Quite Carried Away, and leads a Balkan women’s choir called Podruzhki (girlfriends).  She has taught Scandinavian dance workshops (hambo, schottishe and polka) and shape note singing workshops with her husband David. 

David Wright -- fiddle, mandolin, cittern, and vocals. Those lessons his mother provided for him as a child are bearing fruit!  David has been playing violin and fiddle for over 20 years and he likes the Irish and Northwest contra tunes.  In addition to being a Coyote, he plays in a four-person contra dance band, Star Thistle, and in the English country dance band Quite Carried Away. He has taught Scandinavian dances and Shape Note singing with his spouse Susan.
 

Arlene Jamar – piano and vocals.  Arlene played classical piano as a child and into her high school years. Her music experience in school included drums and various other percussion instruments. She has played contra dance accompaniment for about five years and for English country dance with Quite Carried Away for two years.  Arlene also enjoys attending summer music camps.  Were there more hours in the day, she would learn an instrument that is more portable than piano.

Gary Mulcahy -- sound for the group, and percussion.  A man of few words.  Quite busy with Winnemem affairs at the moment.