Tucson Folk Festival
Roger Mikulas Young Artist Showcase
April 5-6, 2025
WILDFLOWER STAGE at Jacome Plaza
The Young Artist Stage is an annual showcase at the Tucson Folk Festival open to anyone 18 years or younger at the time of the festival. A great opportunity for young, up-and-coming musicians, the showcase is a fun and welcoming environment that offers a chance to gain performance experience on a professional stage at a popular community event! The tradition is named in honor of Roger Mikulas, who was a strong supporter and one of the founders of the Young Artist Stage in 2006. Organized today by Board Member Ron Pandy, the showcase continues to showcase some of Tucson’s youngest and most promising musicians.
It is important for a folk festival to have a program for young musicians designed for growth and self-discovery. Our aim is to nurture musicians in the community and provide career stepping stones so they may one day lend their voices to inspire a younger generation.
SCHEDULE
Saturday, April 6, 2024
| 12:00 PM | Songwriter Finalist Round Robin |
| 1:00 PM | Songwriter Finalist Round Robin |
| 2:00 PM | Jam Pak Blues ‘N’ Grass Neighborhood Band |
| 3:00 PM | Eila C. |
| 3:30 PM | Desert Museum Family Band (FAMILY SHOW HEADLINER) |
| 4:30 PM | Cabin John |
| 5:00 PM | Diana Keymolent |
| 5:30 PM | Griffin & His Gang |
| 6:00 PM | Max & Ben |
Sunday, April 7, 2024
| 11:30 AM | Jam Pak Blues ‘N’ Grass Neighborhood Band |
| 12:30 PM | Ayla Moreno |
| 1:00 PM | Mikayla Williams |
| 1:30 PM | Mikaela Milczarek |
| 2:00 PM | Zaylie Windsor |
| 2:30 PM | Would Bees |
| 3:00 PM | Mister Ronstadt (FAMILY SHOW) |
| 3:30 PM | Kaia & Micah |
| 4:00 PM | Sydney Swanson |
| 4:30 PM | Sage |
| 5:00 PM | Bella |
| 5:30 PM | Gwen Ryan |
| 6:00 PM | Ava Paige |
FAMILY SHOW HEADLINER
DESERT MUSEUM FAMILY BAND
Saturday April 6, 3:30 PM
Tucson Folk Festival Wildflower Stage!
The Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum’s very own resident band is bringing their family show to the Tucson Folk Festival! Sing and dance along to their serenades about desert life that celebrate this beautiful region’s biodiversity with tunes like “I Am a Packrat” and “In the Shade of the Saguaro”.
YOUNG ARTIST BIOS
Ava Paige
Writing songs since she was small and taking guitar lessons since 7 years old, she is decidedly unique from other teenagers. Her idols have always been the creators of songs and she has never wavered in her desire to be one of them. An innate understanding of lifetimes past with her naturally young perspective has proven beneficial in her delivery of any song. This skill is especially reflected in her writing, which is why she continues to work with some of the industry’s best, including Marla Cannon-Goodman ( “The Fool” /Lee Ann Womack) Kendell Marvel (“Either Way / Chris Stapleton), Terri Jo Box (“God Bless the Boy”/Cody Johnson), Tony Lane (Little Past Little Rock/ Lee Ann Womack) John Bettis (“Human Nature”/ Michael Jackson ) and Artists such as Drake White, Craig Campbell, John Schneider and Charles Esten. When she’s not writing for her projects, Paige writes for other artists and has had over 50 independent cuts including Drake White (Can’t Have My Dog), Jon Mullins (Last Love), John Schneider (Why did you leave me) and Worth the Wait (Vinyl Revival 9/10 songs on album.) She has also performed at legendary venues such as the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, the MGM grand in Las Vegas, and was aired on the Kelly Clarkson Show in 2023.
With her music career traveling in the fast lane, Paige was delivered a blow just before her 15th birthday. She was diagnosed with leukemia. Gigs and songwriting were put on hold and replaced with chemotherapy treatments. Ava is excited to announce she finished all treatments for leukemia on Dec 13th 2021 and is Cancer Free! Paige is determined to pay it forward by forming her own charity, Pick!n and Kick!n Cancer With Ava Paige. She is also involved with a number of other charities including Rally Foundation and Children’s Miracle Network; helping raise over 10 million dollars in 2022 alone.
Ayla Moreno
She is a winner in various national and international competitions such as Young Artists’ Competition by the Civic Orchestra of Tucson, Dorothy Vanek Youth Concerto competition by Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra, Chopin International Piano Competition in Hartford, CT, Concerto competition by Tucson Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, WPTO Spain International Piano Competition, Tiziano Rossetti International Music Competition, Charleston International Music Competition and many more.
Bella
Bella is a mostly folk and pop performer who sings and plays guitar. The major influences were Hozier and the Lumineers who have been immense influence on style.
Cabin John
Cabin John is based on the charm of two old and two young people who love to play traditional-style bluegrass music. Howard Anderson, whom we like to call Mr. Bluegrass, and his wife Susan hosted weekly jams in their home for 35 years. Many people got their bluegrass wings right in their living room. Howard joined the Jam Pak Blues ‘N’ Grass Neighborhood Band as a banjo coach and mentor many years ago and continues to support the band in these ways. Seven years ago he formed a small band from members of Jam Pak which now include Alan Moreno on guitar, Nazarena Delgado on bass and banjo, Anni Beach on mandolin, and Howard on banjo. This band plays straight out traditional bluegrass for gigs including the Beach House Reviews, folk and bluegrass festivals, coffee houses, and senior living. They are what down home bluegrass is all about.
Diana Keymolent
Hey I’m Diana Keymolent and I am a current student at Canyon Del Oro High School that was born in Southern California and raised in Arizona. I am aiming for a future in the medical field. My love for music started with the saxophone and evolved to playing both the acoustic and electric guitar and singing. After a long day, I really enjoy playing, learning and writing music.
Eila C
Claire Wertenberger, aka Eila C., is a 13 year old singer and piano player who is active in choir at Mansfeld Middle School, bikes with El Groupo and has had many years of music lessons. Her love of k-pop songs is contagious and her family has supported her musical expression ever since she was born. Daughter of local music educator and singer, Sara Gascho, Eila C. captures the emotions and musicality of her song selections with skill beyond her age. Her dog is her best friend who sings with her.
Griffin & His Gang
Griffin (aka Jack Collins) & His Gang specialize in Jazz music, typically from the 20s to the 40s. Swing is their main style of music and they arrange most of their own music. They have a traditional sense of style and love to jam.
Gwen Ryan
At 13, Gwen Ryan, is set to grace the Young Performer Stage at the Tucson Folk Festival for her third year. With a passion for guitar, keyboard, musical arrangement, and singing, Gwen’s performances captivate audiences. Under the mentorship of Shawn at Sonoran Music Academy since age 5, she’s cultivated a unique musical style. A dedicated fan of Taylor Swift, Boygenius, and Billie Eilish, Gwen continually explores new music genres, showcasing her diverse musical palette.
Jam Pak Blues ‘N’ Grass Neighborhood Band
After 30 years in the bluegrass world of AZ, most folks know the story of Jampak. Enfolded in the love of music, community, food, travel and love itself, this unique band of all ages, races and walks of life makes bluegrass music. In the name of Anni Beach of Chandler, they teach each other, gather twice a week, practice, dance, entertain, and at the center maintain the singular goal to make themselves and others happy with their music.
Kaia Micah
A sibling duo performing acoustic covers of hit songs from the Beatles to Taylor Swift
Max & Ben
Max and Ben are a high school singer-songwriter duo who are multi- instrumentalists that love classic rock and modern indie/folk. You can hear them playing Fleetwood Mac, Hozier, The Grateful Dead, Noah Kahan, among other treasures of the sixties and seventies. If you enjoy hearing a groovy mystical blend of covers and original songs, you will love watching these two music lovers keep the essence of folk alive.
Mikayla Williams
Mikayla Williams is an 18 year old singer-songwriter from Tucson, Arizona. She has been writing songs since the age of 12 and performing since the age of 13. She has performed at places such as: Monterey Court, Wings Over Broadway, AZ Hops & Vines, and Tucson Folk Festival!
Mikaela Milczarek
Mikaela Milczarek is a Tucson based 16-year-old singer/songwriter. She has been playing music and singing since the age of five, on primarily ukulele and guitar. She is inspired by artists like Elliot Smith, Jeff Buckley, and Black Country New Road.
Mister Ronstadt
Music for the kid in all of us. Mr. Ronstadt is a tradition that was started by Michael Joseph Ronstadt (1953-2016) when he decided to start singing to the classrooms of his two sons, Peter Dalton and Michael Gilbert, at Cragin Elementary in Tucson, AZ. As his singing became school wide he began to collect and write songs for not only children but for a generational audience, music that awakens the kid in all of us. This tradition is now being carried on by his sons, Peter and Michael, in their respective hometowns of Tucson, AZ and Cincinnati, OH.
Sage
Audrey Cordrey is a 18 year old musician. Sage has been playing guitar for 6 years. Some of her favorite musicians are Kurt Cobain, Layne Staley and Chris Cornell. She soon hopes to release music of her own.
Sydney Swanson
Sydney Swanson is a singer-songwriter musician from the Phoenix area. She’s 17 years old and plays piano and guitar, in addition, she wrote her first song at age 9 and continues to write and perform. She has performed in Alice Cooper’s “Proof is in the Pudding” yearly competition.
Would Bees
The Would Bees is Jam Pak’s youngest band and maybe the hardest working band under the leadership of Thomas Leon, Alan Moreno, Nazarena Delgado, and Paul Lopez.. They are learning their instruments and learning to sing the heart of bluegrass traditional music. The kids work on their arrangements and are very dedicated to their music. The two leaders know about the concept of being Servant-Leaders and Jam Pak is so proud of them and the gift they are giving to young Jam Pak members. This band is truly a wonderful sight to see!
Zaylie Windsor
Zaylie Windsor is a seventeen year old singer/songwriter and Arizona native. She began performing when she was twelve and has continued her musical journey into her teens. Some of her greatest accomplishments are singing the National Anthem for a WNBA game, winning battle of the bands in Show Low Az in 2021 and 2023, and opening for country star, David Nail. She was recently recognized as a Most Influential Youth of Graham and Greenlee County. Zaylie attends Eastern Arizona College where she performs in two choirs, Acapella and Gila Soul. She is excited to get in the studio and record some of her own music in the next few months.
History
ROGER MIKULAS: Roger Mikulas was a strong supporter and one of the originators of the Young Artist Stage that began in 2006 at the Tucson Folk Festival. He also helped organize and participated in a Music in the Schools Band. The band played for elementary school children in Tucson, introducing them to folk instruments and folk music. Unfortunately, Roger fell and suffered a serious injury while setting up the Young Artist Stage and never fully recovered. After this happened, he set up the Mikulas Musicians Fund, which lends assistance to Tucson musicians who have health problems that interfere with their ability to play music. He passed away in 2010. However, he had a larger-than-life spirit that is still remembered and still inspires the provision and teaching of folk music for young people.