Photos by Curtis Denlinger.

Professional bluegrass musicians Tim May, Gretchen Priest May and Dave Firestine performed live music for a contra dance at Hesston College Sept. 9.

May is a flatpick guitar player and was Grammy nominated for his solo work on Charlie Daniel’s song “I’ll Fly Away.”  He is a former member of the band Crucial Smith and has toured with Patty Loveless and John Cowan. His most recent album, “Carpenter and May,” recorded with violinist Fred Carpenter, hit number one on the folk music charts in 2010.

Priest May specializes in teaching fiddle bowing techniques to classically trained violinists.

Firestine is best known as the leader for the “Carp Camp” fiddle tune jams at the annual Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kan.

May and Priest May also performed bluegrass and traditional Irish tunes  chapel forum Sept. 9 and hosted learning workshops Sept. 10 for intermediate and advanced fiddle players and beginning banjo and flatpick guitar players.