List of Apprenticeships

Year 1, 1998/1999

Ella Sekatau (RI) with Marcia Flowers and Darlene Hamlin (CT)
Narragansett/Eastern Pequot ecology, plant lore, and fiber bag making

Blia Vang (RI) with Vang Xiong (CT)
Hmong embroidery, stories, and song

Lydia Perez (RI) with Menen Osorio (CT)
Puerto Rican bomba music and dance

Rosaire LeHoux (CT) with Colette Fournier (RI)
Franco American fiddling

Joao Cerilo Monteiro (RI) with Eurico and José Semedo (CT)
Cape Verdean traditional funana

Josephine MacNamara (CT) with Sheila Hogg (RI)
Irish ballads and sean nos singing

Khandarith Hay (CT) with Chamroeun Buth (RI)
Cambodian mohory singing

Lakkitta and Pousady Chatharangsy (RI) with Manola Sidara (CT)
Laotian dance

Martin Obeng (CT) with Ghana Cultural Association dancers (RI)
Ghanaian drumming and dance

Fannie Solon and Aires de Colombia (CT) with Peggy Sandoval (RI)
Colombian music and dance

Year 2, 1999/2000

Joao Cerilo Monteiro (RI) with Raquel Figueiredo and Warm Heart dancers (CT) Cape Verdean music and dance

Lydia Perez (RI) with Maria Perez Colon (CT)
Bomba dance

Pa Koua Vang (RI) with Peter Xiong (CT)
Hmong wedding ceremony

Somaly Hay (CT) with Linda and Tath Heng (RI)
Cambodian court dance

Manola Sidara (CT) with Ammala Doungsavanh and Pousady Chatharangsy (RI) Laotian wedding rituals and temple decorations

Big Seven Gospel Choruses (CT) with Paula Sanders and Wilma Hayes (RI)
Traditional hymns and spirituals

Year 3, 2000/2001

William Streeter (MA) with Kathleen Parulski (CT)
Bookbinding

Seija Floderus (RI) with Anita Smiley, Eva Bean, Ritva Langlois (CT)
Finnish weaving

William Cumpiano (MA) with Graciela Quiñones Rodriguez (CT)
Puerto Rican instrument making

Joao Cerilo Monteiro with Raquel Figueiredo and Warm Heart dancers (CT) Cape Verdean music and dance

Somaly Hay (CT) with Linda and Tath Heng (RI)
Cambodian court dance

Ksenia Pokrovsky (MA) with Marek Czarnecki (CT)
Byzantine iconography

Raouf Mama (CT) with Abigail Jefferson (RI)
African storytelling

Phan Phoung (CT) with Angkor Dance Troupe (MA)
Indian kuchi pudi roots of Cambodian dance

Year 4, 2001/2002

Bob Livingston (CT) with Edward Phelps, William Wiles, and Ruth Fairman (MA) Eastern singing style for square dance calling

Seija Floderus (RI) with eight members of the Finnish American Heritage Society (CT) Finnish weaving, second year

Ksenia Pokrovsky (MA) with Marek Czarnecki (CT)
Byzantine iconography

Eldrid Arntzen (CT) with Rebecca Wilhelmsen and Heather Lomeland (MA)
Norwegian rosemaling

Donna Hébert (MA) with Daniel Boucher (CT)
Franco-American fiddling

Teresa Stagnaro (MA) with Fiorella Castillo and Adrian Ugarte (RI)
Peruvian dance

Phan Phoung (CT) with Angkor Dance Troupe (MA)
Indian kuchi pudi dance roots of Cambodian dance, especially hand and facial gestures

Year 5, 2002/2003

Seija Floderus (RI) with seven members of the Finnish American Heritage Society (CT) Finnish weaving, especially rya technique

George Menard with Bob Livingston
Quadrille calling

Jose Mello (RI) with Gary Arrenegado and Bobby Ponte (MA)
Azorean model boatbuilding

Eldrid Arntzen (CT) with Elizabeth Olsen-Ketudat (MA)
Norwegian rosemaling

Skip Healy (RI) with William Hare (CT)
Irish flute playing

Charlie York (MA) with Manuel Palomo (RI)
Beetle Cat boat building

David Ayriyan (RI) with Sarkis Shahrigian (CT)
Armenian kamancha playing

Bounleaune Ketnavong (MA) with Khamphone Phonekeo (CT)
Laotian khene playing

Year 6, 2003/2004

Walter Scadden (CT) with Susan Madacsi (CT) and Brian Hall (MA)
Blacksmithing

Gloria Martenson (MA) with Danzas Peruanas (CT)
Peruvian dance

Joseph FireCrow (CT) with Jaime Arsenault (MA)
Native American flute making and playing

Bounleaune Ketnavong (MA) with Khamphone Phonekeo, Sulisay Phonekeo, and Khone Thoumany (CT)
Laotian khene playing

David Ayriyan (RI) with Sarkis Shahrigian (CT)
Armenian kamancha playing

Jose Mello (RI) with Gary Arrenegado and Simon Pimental (MA)
Azorean model boatbuilding

Year 7, 2004/2005

Joao dos Santos (CT) with Carlos Costa, Ryan Duarte, and Aderico Pires (MA)
Portuguese fandango

Paul Luniw (RI) with Carol Kostecki (MA)
Ukrainian pysanky

Joseph FireCrow (CT) with Eric Millett (MA)
Native American flute making and playing

Rosaire LeHoux (CT) with Daniel Boucher and Nancy Lemme (RI)
Franco-American fiddle repertoire

Skip Healy (RI) with William Hare (CT)
Irish flute playing

Maria Pino Berrios (RI) with Melodi de Viruez (MA)
Bolivian crochet

Jason Roseman (RI) with Kelvin Griffith (CT)
Trinidadian steel pan making and playing

Year 8, 2005/2006

Jason Roseman (RI) with Matthew Williams (MA)
Trindidadian steel pan playing

Somaly Hay (CT) with Maliss Men (RI)
Cambodian dance

Donna Hébert (MA) with Nate Ouellette (CT) Franco-American fiddling

Paul Luniw (RI) with Carol Kostecki (MA)
Ukrainian pysanky

Ana Vinagre (MA) with Tania da Silva (RI)
Portuguese fado

Susan Madacsi (CT) with Sasha Gaulin (MA)
Blacksmithing

Brenda Hill (RI) with Elaine Thomas (CT)
Mohegan pottery

Jorge Job Sr. (CT) with Jorge Job Jr. (RI)
Cape Verdean morna

Year 9, 2006/2007

Joao Cerilo Monteiro (RI) with Estrellas dance group (CT)
Cape Verdean dance

Donna Hébert (MA) with Colette Fournier (RI)
Franco American fiddling

Daniel Boucher (RI) with Nate Ouellette (CT)
Franco-American fiddling repertoire

Angel Sanchez (MA) with Lydia Perez (RI)
Puerto Rican vejigante masks

Lorraine Hammond (MA) with Rachel Gall (CT)
Yankee ballads and rural work songs of western Connecticut

Chue Yang (MA) with Mai See Her and Mai Xiong (CT)
Hmong needlework

Year 10, 2007/2008

Matti Huhta (CT) and Walter Grass (RI) with Bob Harmon (CT) and Ken Bingell (CT) Finnish sauna-building

Ranjani Saigal (MA) with Kavitha Vijayasekar (CT)
Indian Bharata Natyam dance

Christopher Pereji (MA) with Nisha Purushotham (RI)
South Indian tabla playing

Bashkim Braho (MA) with the Waterbury Albanian American Muslim Community (CT)
Albanian dance

Daniel Boucher (CT) with Colette Fournier (RI)
Franco American fiddling and singing

Chue Yang (MA) with Mai Xiong (CT) and Nkaozer Yang (CT)
Hmong needlework

Year 10 Additional Connecticut Apprenticeships Sponsored by the Long Foundation:

Florence Betgevargiz (CT) with Sharokin Betgevargiz (CT)
Iranian/Assyrian lace and embroidery

Boualy Rathsombath (CT) with Sisivath Inthisone
Laotian Khene playing

Fatima Vezjovic (CT) with Maida and Amina Huric
Bosnian rug weaving

Fatuma Ahmed (CT) with Nurta Adan (CT)
Somali basketweaving

Year 11, 2008/2009

Allen Hazard (Narragansett, RI) with Josh Carter (Pequot CT)
Southern New England Native American wampum carving

Kannah Zealey (CT) with James Blaye (RI)
Liberian clothing design and sewing

Bashkim Braho (MA) with the Waterbury Albanian American Muslim Community (CT)
Albanian dance, second year

Sumithira Anand (MA) with Amoolya Narayanan (CT)
Kuchipudi dance

Sridevi Thirumalai (MA) with Srinidhi Nambirajan (CT)
Indian Bharata Natyam dance

Year 12, 2009/2010

Won-Ldy Paye (CT) with Mayn Wontan (MA)
Liberian storytelling

Rachna Agrawal (CT) with Sriyashi Kanjilal (MA)
Kathak dance

Bridget Fitzgerald (RI) with Lisa Coyne (MA)
Irish sean nos singing

P.V. O’Donnell (CT) with Laura Ridarelli (MA)
Irish Donegal style fiddling

Roger Morency and Ritva Autio (CT) with Ed Nummelin (MA), Bob Harmon (RI), Roy Tapio (CT) Finnish relief woodcarving

Enea Gjyli (CT) with Waterbury Albanian Dance Group (CT)
Albanian dance

Year 13, 2010/2011

Jampa Tsondue (CT) with Yangchen Tsondue (CT)
Tibetan thangka painting

Elizabeth James-Perry (MA) with Jennifer Kreisberg (CT)
Wampanoag finger weaving

Joseph FireCrow (CT) with Troy Phillips (RI)
Native American flute making and playing

Ben Pearce (CT) and Bob Inman (RI)
Mandolin making

Kevin Doyle (RI) with Nicole LeBlanc (CT)
Irish step dancing

Mohammed Antesar (RI) with Qusai al-Bakri (CT)
Iraqi oud playing

Nehme Atallah (CT) with John Atallah (CT)
Lebanese liturgical singing

Year 14, 2011/2012

Gideon Ampeire (CT) with Barnabas Nkole (MA)
Ugandan instrument making and playing

Nehme Atallah (CT) with John Atallah (CT)
Lebanese folk singing

Efraim Silva (CT) with Marcus Margalhaes (MA)
Brazilian capoeira – how to teach

Danny Mekonnen (MA) with Artists Collective (CT)
Ethiopian music

Barbara Merry (RI) with Joe Battaglia (MA)
Maritime knot tying

Nicholas Benson (RI) with Jesse Marsolais (MA)
Stone inscription carving

Allen Hazard (RI) with Kristin Wyman (MA)
Narragansett wampum carving

Year 15, 2012/2013

Ivelisse Pabon (MA) with Amanda Mercado (CT)
Puerto Rican African doll making

Daniel Boucher (CT) with Jean Galipeau (RI)
French Canadian fiddling

Daphne Board (MA) with Lisa Davidson (CT)
Traditional shoe making (cordwaining)

Stanislaus Renard (CT) with Ioanida Costache (MA)
Roma fiddling

John Chambers (MA) and Christine Anderson (NH) with Saul Ahola (CT)
Finnish fiddling

Gideon Ampeire (CT) with Barnabas Nkore (MA)
Ugandan folk songs

Trudie Lamb Richmond (CT) with Candyce Testa (CT)
Connecticut native storytelling

Year 16, 2013-2014

Raouf Mama (CT) with Gideon Ampeire (CT)
African storytelling techniques – compiling and presenting

Trudie Lamb Richmond (CT) with Candyce Testa (CT)
Connecticut native storytelling – developing the Great Cedar Swamp story

Barbara Merry (RI) with Reidar Bendiksen (MA)
Marlinspike art and maritime knotting

Yeshi Dorjee (MA) with Jampa Tsondue and Kunga Choekyi (CT)
Tibetan butter sculpture

Bart Roccoberton (CT) with Lisa Abbatomarco (RI)
Puppetry performance

Elizabeth James-Perry (MA) with Honor Keeler (CT)
Eastern Woodlands dyeing and finger-weaving

John Whelan (CT) with Josie Coyne, Rory Coyne, Caroline O’Callaghan, Deidre Galvin (MA) Irish button accordion playing

Year 17, 2014-2015

Song Heng (RI) with Chris Sou (MA)
Cambodian roneat and drum playing

John Whelan (CT) with Rory Coyne (MA)
Irish button accordion playing

Boubacar Diebate (CT) with Malang Jobarte (RI)
West African kora styles

Dimitrios Klitsas (MA) with Maria Adams and Leslie Dockery (CT)
Decorative woodcarving

Sidy Maiga (RI) with Sekou Kouyate (MA)
Mali drumming

Penpa Tsering (MA) with Tenzin Yangchen and Kunga Choekyi (CT)
Tibetan music and dance

Year 18, 2016-2017

Dimitrios Klitsas (MA) with Maria Adams and Leslie Dockary (CT)
Decorative woodcarving

Sidy Maiga (RI) with Sekou Kouyate (MA)
Mali drumming

Penpa Tsering (MA) with Tenzin Choekyi, Kunga Choekyi, Ngawang Choegyal, Tenzin Miglay
(CT) Tibetan music and dance

Bradford Maloney (RI) with Steve Bliven (MA)
Irish flute

Tenzin Sichoe (CT) with Kunga Choekyi (CT)
Tibetan weaving

Khoutavong (CT) with Aneil Sumanakitti, Xiao Phommachack, Somchan Onsopha (RI) Laotian temple carving and building

Carlos Santiago Arroyo (MA) with Lydia Perez Nieves and Yidell Rivera-Perez (RI) Puerto Rican santos carving

Year 19, 2016-2017

Carlos Santiago Arroyo (MA) with Lydia Perez Nieves and Yidell Rivera-Perez (RI) Puerto Rican santos carving

Tenzin Sichoe (CT) with Tseyang Lhamo (CT)
Tibetan weaving

Elaine Moe (MA) with Sue Coupe, Katrina Bousquet, and Annaliisa Brassard (CT) Finnish birch bark weaving

Rodbel Virula (CT) with Citlalli Hernandez (CT)
Mariachi guitarron

Dhimitraq Demiri (MA) with Albana Lame and Waterbury dance group (CT)
Albanian dance

Dan Foster (CT) with Mark Bodah (MA)
Irish fiddle

Year 20, 2017-2018

Dhimitraq Demiri (MA) with Albana Lame and Waterbury dance group (CT)
Albanian dance

Elaine Moe (MA) with Sue Coupe, Katrina Bousquet, and Gilda Green (CT)
Finnish birch bark weaving

Dan Foster (CT) with Eva Meier (MA)
Irish fiddle playing

Oliyo Ibrahim (CT) with Farhiyo Aden (CT) Somali Bantu basket making

Patricia James-Perry (MA) with Jonathan James-Perry (RI)
Wampanoag scrimshaw

Torrin Ryan (MA) with Steve Bliven (MA), Chris Ryan (RI), Vasily Kandrashov (RI), B. Wenskowicz
(RI)
Irish session etiquette and repertoire

Bridget Fitzgerald (MA) with Mary Lee Partington (RI)
Irish sean nos singing

Carlos da Costa (CT) with Ethan Martins (MA)
Portuguese concertina and accordion playing

Year 21, 2018-2019

Mary King (RI) with Elaine Killough (MA)
Celtic harp

Aldona Saimininkas (CT) with Philitha Stemplys-Cowdrey (CT)
Lithuanian straw art

Elizabeth James-Perry (MA) with Leah Hopkins (RI)
Native American quillwork

Lakedhen Shingsur (CT) with the students of the Tibetan Association of Connecticut Tibetan folk songs and dance

Patricia James-Perry (MA) with Jonathan James-Perry (RI)
Wampanoag scrimshaw

Torrin Ryan (MA) with Steve Bliven (MA), Chris Ryan (RI), Vasily Kondrashov (RI), and Barry Wenskowicz (RI)
Irish session etiquette and repertoire

Year 22, 2019-2020

Mary King (RI) with Ellen Sheil (MA)
Celtic harp

Dhimitraq Demiri (MA) with Albanian American Muslim Community youth ensemble coordinated by Albana Lame (CT)
Albanian dance

Kasha Breau (CT) with Stéfan Gíslason (RI), Rita Kelly (CT), and Patti Folsom (CT)
Finnish kantele

Jerry Bryant (MA) with Benedict Louis Gagliardi III and Armand Aromin (RI)
New England sea chanteys

Roberto Cepeda (CT) with Rafael Febus (CT)
Puerto Rican bomba drumming and dance

Walter D. Sweet (CT) with Michael Vidal (CT)
wooden flute-making

Year 23, 2020-2021

Patrick Hutchinson (RI) with Eva Meier (MA)
Uilleann pipes

Walter D. Sweet (CT) with Michael Vidal (CT)
wooden flute-making

Debra Cowan (MA) with Cate Clifford
English ballads and story songs

Dan Foster (MA) with Carol Colvin (CT)
Irish fiddle

Mary King (RI) with Ellen Sheil (MA)
Celtic harp

Adam Romo (CT) with Antonio Alvarado (CT)
Mariachi trumpet

Jason Roseman (RI) with Jamara Codrington (MA)
Trinidadian steelpan

Year 24, 2021-2022

Jason Roseman (RI) with Julie Searles (MA)
Trinidadian steelpan

Renard Thompson (CT) with Alexia Frazier (MA)
Timber-framed barn-building

Aldona Saimininkas (CT) with Philitha Stemplys-Cowdrey (CT)
Lithuanian straw art

Dimitrios Klitsas (MA) with Maria Adams (CT)
Decorative woodcarving

Debby Reelitz (CT) with Amelia Kearney (CT), Asa J. Ettienne-Modeste (CT), Sue Lavoie (CT), and Aisha Edwards (CT) Calligraphic illumination

Dan Foster (MA) with Carol Colvin (CT)
Irish fiddle

Patrick Hutchinson (RI) with Eva Meier (MA)
Uilleann pipes