Ken Koons, Co-director & Filmmaker

Ken has been a staff photo-journalist for The Carroll County Times for over thirty years. He has garnered praise and numerous awards for his photographs and numerous creative projects. In addition to his documentary work, Ken is respected for the musical instruments he builds, and for his work as a carpenter, potter, and blacksmith in American colonial styles. He is also a professional musician, regularly performing traditional Celtic and Nordic acoustic music.

Ryan Koons, CA, PhD, Co-director, Archivist, & Filmmaker

Ryan is a Certified Archivist, educator, performer, and scholar. He received a PhD in ethnomusicology from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 2016. He has conducted ethnographic and documentary field research internationally, including South Africa and the Indigenous Southeastern United States. His scholarly publications focus on the intersections of music, dance, and culture. He has taught at Dickinson College, Common Ground on the Hill traditional arts summer school, and UCLA, where he directed the UCLA Early Music Ensemble. In addition to his documentary work, Ryan performs traditional Celtic and Nordic acoustic music. Connect with him on his professional website.