International Folk Sounds Members

Current band members are (left to right above): Daryl Kezell, Fearless Leader Sue Anderson, Bob Bratton, Bill Wadlinger, Connie Martorano,  Carol Wadlinger

Sue Anderson -- Macedonian and Bulgarian gaidas, Macedonian tambura, fiddle, balalaika, guitar, keyboard

Susan, who has been a folk dance fanatic since the 60’s, grew up playing the violin and piano, and learned the balalaika in the Russian orchestra at college.  Since 1993 she has also taken up the gaida,   a bagpipe made of goatskin, and now plays Thracian, Rhodope and Macedonian gaidas.  She also sings with Svitanya, a women’s Balkan singing ensemble, dances with FiddleKicks. plays for contra dances and writes  and performs her own songs.

Bob Bratton -- Bass guitar, tupan, doumbek
Bob grew up playing Bb clarinet then piano. He was inspired by his grandparents who played and called for Square Dances in Western PA. Later he learned to play the guitar and bass. Bob also plays with SPUDS, Soup for the Soles, and Rum and Onions contra bands as well as with Fish and Chips, an English Country band.  He also enjoys playing with a group that plays swing, jazz, and standard tunes.

Daryl Kezell -- Accordion, Macedonian tamboura, tambourine
Daryl Kezell began on the accordion at the age of eight when her family decided there wasn’t enough room for a piano in the house!   She was a member of the Junior Tamburitzens in Pittsburgh where she sang, danced and played prim and accordion.

Connie Martorano -- Mandolin, trichordo bouzouki, guitar
Connie Martorano adds to the music with her mandolin and guitar.   Her childhood gave her the experience of playing with her father in a mandolin orchestra on Nick Kenny’s program in New York.  She then danced and played castanets with a Flamenco dance troupe for five years. She began playing guitar and mandolin with the IFS, and has since added the Greek trichordo bouzouki.

Bill Wadlinger -- Mandolin, guitar, Macedonian tambura, charango
Bill Wadlinger came into dance music-making via folkdancing, having founded Beaver College Folk Dancing with his wife Carol in 1977. He became a music widower in the 90's when Carol began "playing out." In self-defense, Bill dusted off his guitar, acquired a mandolin and Macedonian and Bulgarian tamburas, and most recently a charango. In addition to the IFS, Bill plays with SPUDS, and attends various jams.

Carol Wadlinger -- Flute, tambourine
Carol Wadlinger grew up playing the piano and flute. An avid folk dancer since the 70s, she and her husband Bill led Beaver College Folk Dancing until 2004. She also plays concertina with a local informal concertina orchestra, and teaches folk music workshops. Carol also plays or has played with SPUDS, the Klezmaniacs, Laughing Eyes and various other bands.