Southern Storytellers Series: Ritter & Ogletree

Doors open at 5:30 pm
Dinner begins at 6:00 pm
Show begins at 7:00 pm

Folkmoot, Blue Ridge Books and the Haywood County Public Library present the Southern Storytellers Supper Series, bringing southern culture and regional authors and musicians together for educational evenings of discussion, food and fun. Ticket prices include dinner.

William Ritter & Sarah Ogletree have been playing music together for over six years. They specialize in traditional mountain music, and perform at regional festivals and concerts, and for wedding ceremonies, dinner parties, and other celebrated occasions.

William Ritter

William is a native of Bakersville, NC, and an alum of Western Carolina University. He graduated with a degree in Technical Theatre, but spent most of his time in school studying the musical folk traditions of Western North Carolina. In 2017, William received his MA in Appalachian Culture and Music from Appalachian State University. William plays banjo, fiddle, guitar, and other "string-ed things." He is particularly interested in old apple trees and mountain humor – ever eager to swap lies, half-truths, jokes, and seeds. William serves as Farm & Program Director for the Patterson School Foundation in Caldwell County, and also serves as music director for the Happy Valley Fiddlers Convention. Recently, he has been performing regularly with Asheville musician, Tim McWilliams. This year William was added to the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Traditional Artist Directory, and also received the 2019-2020 In These Mountains Apprenticeship grant to study under renown ballad singer and storyteller Bobby McMillon.

Sarah Ogletree

Sarah was raised in the mountains of Jackson County, NC. She started playing the fiddle when she was eight-years-old, and has been singing (in church, choirs, and at family reunions) for as long as she can remember. She received her B.A. in sustainable development from Appalachian State University in 2014, and her Masters of Divinity at Wake Forest University in 2019. She is grateful to be able to share her passion for harmony singing and good old-fashioned tunes with William (her very sweet and talented husband). Sarah works for the North Carolina Council of Churches in their NC Interfaith Power and Light program.

Tickets are $18 in advance and $20 at the door. Dinner is included.