The FAR-West Board of Directors is a Working Board. In alignment with the FAR-West mission, in accordance with the Bylaws, and with the support of volunteers, we create programs and produce an annual conference with and for the Traditional and Contemporary Folk, Roots, and Americana community in the western region of the US and Canada.
Create and Participate in the Community: Directors on the Board serve 3-year terms, with annual elections to fill upcoming vacancies. Candidacy and election ballot casting is open for all eligible Folk Alliance International (FAI) voting members affiliated with the FAR-West region. Current membership in Folk Alliance Intl is required to vote. Check your membership status here.
With a deep belief in collaborative community building,professional teamwork, board & institutional evolution, highly-experienced Manager Stephen Bond Garvan has participated as mentor, speaker, moderator or panelist in 70+ US, Canadian & European music conferences. Based in the Pacific NW ( w previous years in Colorado, New England, NYC & SC), with broad demographic & geographic experiences, he has experiences on over a dozen Music/Arts/Community relevant boards and leadership. In addition to FAR-West, Steve currently serves on the MMF-US Board (Intl rep) ,IMMF (Global Director of Folk/Roots/Americana), Friends of The Panida Board Chair & Panida Century Fund Advisory Committee, Preservation Idaho ( statewide), NAPC, Previously, he was with AMA- Founding Council / Board, Swallow Hill Board Chair, POAC Board , Historic Panida Theater Board Chair, Producer -Americana Renegades-Nashville & Austin, WCUW-Acoustic Music Director, Leadership Sandpoint, former Chair Sandpoint Historic Preservation Commission.
Taran is the founding Deputy & Artistic Director with Grand Vision Foundation (GVF), an arts-presenting nonprofit in San Pedro CA. In 2009, the organization launched the Grand Annex Music Hall which Taran has grown from a storefront meeting space into a respected listening room with an annual live music series featuring regionally, nationally and internationally recognized artists. Originally from New Haven, CT, Taran is an east coast transplant who never gets tired of the SoCal palm trees and desert blooms. She’s fascinated by Western industrial history from cattle drives to the fishing fleet, from the rise of film to the music of Los Angeles.
Born and raised in the heart of Silicon Valley, Gaby Castro is a folk/Americana singer-songwriter with the soul of a mountain songbird. She is also a daycare and elementary school music teacher, theory instructor, songwriting mentor, and sound healer. On the Board, Gaby chairs the Finance committee and works on youth outreach. Her goal is to provide career resources, community, and support to fellow folk artists.
Reese is a fourth generation Japanese American artist and activist; born on the island of O’ahu, raised between Hawai’i and Illinois, and migrated to Seattle in 2007. Her passion for music was ignited the moment she began playing the ukulele and has grown steadily through numerous instruments and genres. Reese is the Managing Director of Northwest Folklife, a Seattle-based cultural arts and heritage organization, whose mission is: “To create opportunities for all to celebrate, share, and participate in the evolving cultural traditions of the Pacific Northwest.” Since 2008, Reese has led the Rain City Jazz Orchestra, an ensemble uplifting the musical contributions of womxn and non-binary individuals in jazz. She is a founding member of the urban folkgrass group, Lavender Lucy, and most recently, created an EP with newest project, trashyQ panda, during the few days she left the house in 2020.
Karen grew up listening to her dad call square dances and so bluegrass and americana music is in her blood. She has sung with 100-person community chorus since 1995. After retirement in 2012, she got involved again in the folk music community and learned about FAR-West as a result. She is excited to be on the FAR-West board as it to moves toward the future in our virtual world.
Michelle has worked and volunteered with the Mission Folk Music Festival since 1991, assuming the Artistic and Executive Director positions in 2016. In addition to 10 years working in University Student Services, she previously held a programming position with Northwest Folklife (NWFL) and artist relation roles with Festival du Bois (BC) and the Subdued Stringband Jamboree (Bellingham). In addition to her role on the Far-West Board, she serves as President of the NWFL board of directors. Splitting her time between Mission, BC and Seattle, WA, Michelle produces house concerts, consults, and mentors under the Maple Folk label and has recently completed her Master’s degree in arts and events management . She shares her space with husband Ben, son Elliot, and a Bernedoodle named Jack, and plays in an imaginary Dolly Parton tribute band called the Pearl Snaps.
Gail Lynne Dreifus is an East Coast transplant and ended near Yosemite National Park where she created a family musical program that she performed for years and won a Interpretive Arts Award from the National Park Service. Gail created and directs Yosemite Songwriting Retreat which is now in its tenth year . She plays guitar and ukulele , writing songs from the heart and with humor. Gail has performed in many bands and duos and is currently working on a new CD produced by Joe Craven.
With over two decades of experience as a music industry professional, Lellie Pittman-Capwell has worked directly with talent, management, label executives and marketing teams. As an accomplished publicist, she has developed and executed campaigns for emerging, established, and legacy artists. After beginning her career at Mercury Records, she headed publicity at Vanguard Records and Rhino Entertainment, respectively, and worked at Sacks & Co. PR agency before launching her own LPC Media in 2013. Her professional memberships include Folk Alliance International, Americana Music Association, International Bluegrass Association, and the County Music Association. A native of eastern North Carolina, she lives in Los Angeles