JON VEZNER
Grammy award-winning songwriter Jon Vezner is a tunesmith of rare sensitivity and dry wit. With a degree in music theory and education, in 1983, he made his first trip to Nashville to attend the Nashville Songwriters Association (NSAI) spring symposium, where he soon developed a relationship with music publishing company, Wrensong Music. He moved to Nashville in January of 1986, and within that first year he had songs recorded by Reba McEntire and Ronnie Milsap, followed by Lorrie Morgan’s first single in 1987, “Train Wreck of Emotion,” which he co-wrote with Alan Rhody. In 1989, Vezner co-wrote “Where’ve You Been” with fellow singer/songwriter Don Henry, recorded by Kathy Mattea, a true story of Vezner’s grandparents that earned him “Song of the Year” honors with both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM) for 1990. The song was honored with a Grammy Award for “Best Country Song” and the Nashville Songwriters Association “Song of the Year.” Vezner was subsequently named “Songwriter of the Year” by the NSAI. Jon’s songs have been recorded by a varied list of artists such as Martina McBride, Janis Ian, John Mellencamp, Nancy Griffith, Faith Hill, Clay Walker, Diamond Rio and Native American recording artist, Bill Miller. Vezner also has a growing list of production credits, producing CD projects for such artists as Danny O’Keefe, Victoria Shaw, and singing legend Patti Page. www.jonvezner.com

SARA HICKMAN
Sara Hickman is a creative dynamo of boundless energy. Performing artist, writer, social activist, humanitarian, wife and mother, she began her recording career with the independently-released, Equal Scary People, which was picked up in1989 by Elektra. Her followup album, Shortstop, yielded the #3 Adult Contemporary hit “I Couldn’t Help Myself.” After two more CDs on Shanachie, she started her own Sleeveless label (on which she recorded five more CDs), as well as Stingray, a book and CD jacket design company. She’s as well known for her humanitarian efforts as she is for her music , including work for the homeless, Romanian orphans, children’s rights, women’s health, universal literacy and more. She’s also the creative director and producer for Super Pal Universe, a teen rock band she founded to create “pop-driven activism.” Sara has twice been a guest of NBC’s Tonight Show, hosted her own VH-1 special, and produced an independent video, Joy, which won first place in the USA Film Festival. She has performed nationally, from festivals to house concerts to Carnegie Hall to a variety of national commercials including those for Fannie Mae and Coca-Cola, to name a few. She has served on many boards including those of the Folk Alliance, the Mothers’ Milk Bank (Austin) and the Austin Area Interreligious Ministries, and received numerous awards including One of The Top 100 (Performing Songwriter Magazine Award, 2008), the Kerrville Folk Festival (for community service), the Speaking of Women’s Health Initiative (for community service), the Dallas Observer Awards (Best Musician, Best Producer, Best Indie Release, Best Major Label Release, Best Female Vocalist), and Parents Choice Recommended, and Children’s Music Web Awards Winner Classic Recordings for several of her childrens’ recordings. www.sarahickman.com

SIOBHÁN QUINN
A profoundly versatile vocalist and teacher, Siobhán writes and performs songs in folk, blues and adult contemporary pop styles. Outside of folk music, Siobhán is known as a dynamic singer of Chicago & New Orleans style electric blues and has performed many other styles from jazz and big band to r&b, and rock; early song to renaissance music, and medieval madrigals in five languages. Truly one of the most popular vocal instructors around, she tours internationally, and is accompanied at Swannanoa by her music partner and husband, songwriter Michael Bowers. Her careful attention to each individual is renowned, and students often return to her workshops learning new tools each year. She has taught at such programs as WUMB Summer Acoustic Music Week, Kerrville Folk Festival, Rocky Mountain Folks Festival Song School, NERFA, Great American Masters Music Industry Workshop, Summersongs & Wintersongs songwriting retreats, and six previous years at Swannanoa. When at home in Alexandria, VA, Siobhán teaches individuals, as well as coaching artistic performance for special gigs and recordings. She contantly updates her vocal credentials through such programs as the international British Voice Association Conference master classes in performance/otolaryngology, and CCM at Shenandoah Conservatory. Awarded a WAMMIE for Best Traditional Folk Vocalist, Siobhán has also been a top-five songwriting finalist in the prestigious Boston Folk Festival Songwriting and (with Michael Bowers) Kerrville New Folk Competitions and Emerging Artist at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. www.dreamersloversandoutlaws.com