Alex Caton offers traditional music mentorship in Orange, Virginia

Alex Caton Brings Traditional Music and Mentorship to Central Virginia

Musician Alex Caton sat down for an interview on Thursday, Oct. 29, at her high-ceilinged studio just outside Gordonsville, discussing her lifelong dedication to traditional Irish tunes, old-time music, and bluegrass, the Byrdcast reported.

Growing up across England, Scotland, and the East Coast of the United States, Caton first picked up a bow at age four and played violin through her college years at Binghamton University, as detailed by World Music Central. While pursuing a PhD in Anthropology in the Charlottesville area, she eventually stepped away from a career as a professional archaeologist—having worked on excavations up and down the East Coast and in West Africa—to throw herself entirely into fiddle music.

That musical path has spanned decades and multiple creative projects. In 2003, she founded the all-girl gypsy group Las Gitanas, later launching the band Verbunk in 2007. Over the years, her collaborations have included the Irish band The Ryegrass Rollers, Irish-Americana outfit Odd Legged Jenny, old-time group The Two Dollar Bills, and an acoustic roots duo alongside Chris Leva. She also established a fiddle camp held one weekend in August at the Brazenhead Inn in Mingo, West Virginia.

Inside the Gordonsville Studio and Upcoming Mentorship

Caton’s current home base features a custom-built barn and music studio constructed by her husband, Dave Contini.

Caton is offering a mentorship program for an aspiring traditional musician through The Arts Center in Orange, according to the Byrdcast. The six-month apprenticeship, running from January through June 2027, provides one-on-one instruction, regular private lessons, and performance opportunities at community locations such as The Senior Center in Orange and The Boys and Girls Club. Applicants aged 15 and older with intermediate to advanced proficiency in Irish, old-time, or bluegrass fiddle, clawhammer banjo, or harmony singing are eligible to apply, with an application deadline of Dec. 7.

To promote the mentorship, Caton will host a free open jam and Q&A session featuring previous program recipients from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8, at The Arts Center in Orange.

Ongoing Land Use Debates and Community Events in Orange County

While local cultural programs flourish, residents across Orange County remain focused on the pressures of commercial real estate and large-scale housing developments encroaching on agricultural land and rural traditions. To address these concerns, the Orange County Planning Commission scheduled a public hearing for 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 5, to consider and vote on a proposed amendment to the Orange County Zoning Ordinance limiting by-right subdivisions. In the district alone, nearly 500 acres of rural land were carved into home lots over a 12-month period, according to resident Kevin Passarello, who warned in an email to community members that unlimited subdivision threatens local resources, water supplies, and open spaces without public hearings or input.

Of open call music mentorship (facebook post) — Photo: artscenterinorange.com

The event is projected to attract 18,000 attendees for tailgating, socializing, Jack Russell Terrier races, a children’s stick horse race, and a slate of seven horse races beginning at noon. As the public hearings proceed and major autumn gatherings draw crowds, questions remain regarding how local officials will balance agricultural preservation with ongoing development pressures.