Heritage Summer Music Series Jun. 2023

You might know Mason Via as the youngest member of Old Crow Medicine Show (a Grammy award winning band and members of the Grand Ole Opry.) Since joining OCMS, Mason has travelled the world singing in Arenas and at several festivals. Mason was recently written about in NPR as one of the Top 10 bluegrass and old-time artists thriving in modern
Nashville. You also may have seen him on a past season of American Idol, in which he made it into the Top 40 finalists. Mason also recently signed a record deal with Mountain Fever Records and has a new bluegrass album out featuring the amazing Sierra Ferrell. On top of all of that, the legendary and highly acclaimed Del McCoury Band has recently recorded one of Mason's original songs on his recent release. Mason Via (Nashville, TN) grew up going to fiddler’s conventions and music festivals around NC and VA, where he was steeped in the rich Appalachian culture that surrounds that area. Picking and singing from an early age, Mason combines soulful high lonesome singing with virtuosic instrumental prowess. Mason's lyrics are also considered by many to be the driving force behind his music, and his vocals back up the deep emotion that his lyrics possess. In 2016 the talented young man completed a Virginia Folklife Songwriting apprenticeship with his father, award-winning songwriter David Via. Mason has placed in contests and picked up ribbons at several conventions and festivals throughout Appalachia. Mason Via was named one of the winners of the 2019 Floydfest OTR competition and is a 3-time winner of the Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival's band competition. 
Waverly Leonard is a professional bluegrass fiddler, singer, and songwriter. She has been playing the violin since she was 5 years old. As a double major in Music and Biology at UNC Chapel Hill, she studied classical violin with Dr. Nicholas DiEugenio while also learning how to play bluegrass fiddle through the UNC Bluegrass Band. During her time with the school band, she was awarded the Joanne and Victor Marshall Award for Leadership in Bluegrass. In 2022, she won the bluegrass fiddle contest at the annual Mount Airy Fiddler’s Convention, learning the 1 st place blue ribbon. She has performed with many bands, from her own band, The Carolina Songbirds, to bluegrass and country acts like Big Fat Gap and Old Crow Medicine Show. Currently she is a medical student at the University of Florida.