Gabby Cameron is currently a PhD student in Ethnomusicology at the University of Maryland. Her dissertation is an ethnographic account of the socio-cultural contexts of contemporary bluegrass banjo. Cameron’s work traces the contributions of contemporary bluegrass banjo players such as Béla Fleck, Allison Brown, and Noam Pikelny, who have innovated the craft and helped bring bluegrass banjo to renown institutions like The Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall.
Cameron’s scholarly work uncovers the ramifications of what might happen if bluegrass banjo education is not kept accessible. Cameron also explores the modern post-minstrel relationship between the banjo and comedy. As comedians and players such as Steve Martin and Ed Helms have incorporated bluegrass banjo into their comedic craft. Additionally, her dissertation documents the personal narratives attached to the “Pre-War” Flathead Gibson Banjo, a unique model popularized by renowned bluegrass banjoist Earl Scruggs.
