TJ O.

Originally from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, TJ is an Atlanta-based ecologist with a fiddle habit. He fell in love with music at an early age, playing trumpet from middle school through the end of college. After some time teaching brass and playing in community ensembles, he put down the trumpet and found a welcoming community in Appalachian old-time music. TJ discovered the oral traditions and storytelling culture of Old-time, and it inspired him to transition to playing primarily fiddle. He began studying Appalachian and Irish folk repertoire at the Frank Hamilton School in 2022 and has been fiddling away ever since. TJ’s teaching style relies heavily on an “active” approach, using movement to teach rhythm, lift, and drive, honoring the tradition of playing old-time and folk music in service of the dance. You may run into his quartet, Hibernia String Band at various breweries, pubs, and farmers markets in the greater Atlanta area!