QCMS Presents: Me & Martha Sunday Matinee Concert

QCMS Presents: Me & Martha Sunday Matinee Concert

Get ready for an authentic American Mountain Music experience with husband and wife duo Don Depoy & Martha Hills, aka Me & Martha! This Sunday matinee is all about great vibes, fantastic music, and good company.

Don & Martha are flame keepers of ‘real’ authentic music making, including bluegrass, old-time, folk, rural swing, and classic country. Steeped in the tradition of improvised art, they create a space where everyone can experience musical art as unfolding stories that comfort and entertain. From concert halls to street busking, they captivate audiences with their finely-curated musical offerings and spontaneous- and often amusing- banter.

Queen City Music Studios is looking forward to welcoming Don Depoy to our teaching staff, and both Don and Martha as facilitators of our newest Community Music Gathering, the monthly Bluegrass Jam on 2nd Sundays from 2-5pm.

ABOUT ME & MARTHA:

Martha and Don first met in Belfast, Maine in 2000 and started performing together in 2003 and they have been playing ever since. For nearly a decade, they've played an average of 250 shows a year, drawing on the rich wellspring of Shenandoah Valley music. For more than five decades, Don has made it his mission to promoted local musicians through concerts, festivals, recordings, museum exhibits and television programs. Joining Don in 2000 Martha has strengthened their commitment to the music community. They are members of America’s Old-Time Country Music Hall of Fame and are on the traditional artist rosters of Young Audiences of Virginia and Virginia.

Many of Me & Martha’s signature songs and original creations explore the universal themes of everyday life in rural America. Their presentation includes a bit of history and original stories. They play an assortment of acoustic mountain music instruments including the fiddle, 5-string banjo, guitar, mountain dulcimer, autoharp, Dobro (resophonic) guitar, bass fiddle, mandolin, ukulele, harmonica, limber-jack and Jew’s harp.

Every performance combines music with educational opportunities. The audience is often encouraged to sing-along and takes an active role in the musical journey. Together Me & Martha have a “presence” that instantly makes everyone feel at ease and welcome.
Me & Martha are members of America’s Old time Country Music Hall of Fame and are on the artist rosters of the Virginia Commission for the Arts and Young Audiences of Virginia.

Additionally, Martha and Don are both seasoned educators and classroom teachers. In 2003 they began hosting a bluegrass jam at Waterfalls Arts Center in Belfast Maine and continued until moving to Virginia. There they immediately starting hosting a weekly public bluegrass jam. As of 2018 they still host weekly jams and conduct workshop teach musicians how to "play well with others". There most recent endeavor has them organizing @WestView, a Community Place located in the Old Country Church in the historic village of West View in Swoope, Virginia.

For more information, visit their website: meandmartha.info

ABOUT QUEEN CITY MUSIC STUDIOS: SCHOOL, SHOP, SPECIAL EVENTS

Queen City Music Studios is a community-centered music school, full-service music shop, and creative event space dedicated to making music accessible for all ages, styles, and skill levels. Offering private lessons, group classes, workshops, rehearsal space, house concerts, and community music gatherings, the studio serves as both an educational hub and a vibrant gathering place for musicians and music lovers alike.

Founded by Molly Rose Murphy in 2015, Queen City Music Studios began as an alternative School of Music focused on learning by ear. Over the past decade, it has grown into a multifaceted business with a staff of more than twenty professional musicians and instructors, providing both traditional and alternative music instruction for students of all ages and experience levels.

The Shop offers a carefully curated selection of new and used instruments, accessories, repair services, and consignment opportunities for gently used instruments and equipment. Supported by knowledgeable staff committed to serving the local music community, the store functions as a trusted resource for both beginning and experienced musicians.

The “Stage” side of Queen City Music Studios includes artist booking, event management, and production services, helping bring live music experiences to the community through concerts, workshops, and special events. Alongside The Judy Chops and WQSV 106.3 LP Staunton, Queen City Music Studios is also a presenting partner of Staunton Jams, a music festival established in 2004 that showcases local and regional performers throughout Downtown Staunton.

For more information, visit their website: queencitymusicstudios.com

Don’t miss out on this cool concert brought to you by QCMS—perfect way to spend your Sunday!