This annual concert tradition, which brings together professional artistry and student talent, is free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged at https://host.nxt.blackbaud.com/registration-form/?formId=bf08dc20-a339-483b-94b7-027327b7ba7b&envId=p-yQggd2hkp0yfZy0o_gnODg&zone=usa. In lieu of ticket sales, donations are encouraged to support Catawba’s Music Department.
The performance will feature a second set of music with special guest appearances by students from Catawba’s Popular Music Program, creating a meaningful collaboration between established musicians and emerging artists.
The Jeff Little Trio’s performance is part of Catawba’s speaker and artist series, a cornerstone of the College’s cultural programming that brings artists, thought leaders, and performers to campus. The concert is also part of Catawba’s 175th anniversary as a college, recognizing the institution’s long history of scholarship, creativity, and service.
Mixing Appalachian traditions with an innovative edge, the Jeff Little Trio delivers high-energy performances fueled by remarkable musicianship. Rooted in the music of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the trio bridges past and present with a sound that carries both history and fresh possibility.
Jeff Little, a groundbreaking pianist and creative bridge-builder between Appalachian traditions and diverse musical genres, has more than 30 years of experience in the music industry as a critically acclaimed musician, artist manager, educator, and administrator for college music industry programs. His performances include appearances at the Smithsonian Institution, the American Folk Festival, the National Council for the Traditional Arts, American Piano Masters, and the PBS concert “Doc Watson and Jeff Little.” He has been featured many times on PBS and NPR and has performed internationally for the U.S. Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in Sri Lanka, Oman, Pakistan, Bahrain, France, and Tanzania.
In addition to his performance career, Little has worked in management and production areas of the music industry, including day-to-day and tour management for national artists such as Keith Urban and John Michael Montgomery. He is a recipient of the Distinguished Lecturer Award from the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development, College of Education at The University of Texas. Little is a SESAC-affiliated songwriter and was inducted into the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame in 2014. He serves as Chair of the Music Department, Director of the Music Business Program, and Artist in Residence in Popular Music at Catawba College.
Joining Little are Steve Lewis and Luke Little. Lewis is an award-winning musician on acoustic guitar and the five-string banjo. He has won numerous championships on guitar and banjo, including MerleFest, Renofest, and the Wayne Henderson Guitar Competition. He also won the Walnut Valley National Championship on guitar and twice on banjo.
Luke Little is a talented mandolin player recognized for his accomplished musicianship and style. His performances include the National Folk Festival, the Moss Arts Center at Virginia Tech, MerleFest Mandomania, and the Montana Folk Festival.
Together, the Jeff Little Trio has performed at the Smithsonian Institution, the National Folk Festival, American Piano Masters, The Barns at Wolf Trap, and theaters, performing arts centers, and festivals across the country and around the world.
Whether audience members are longtime fans or discovering Appalachian piano for the first time, the Jeff Little Trio promises an evening of exceptional music, storytelling, and community connection at Catawba College.
