Sheila Kay Adams is a dynamic seventh generation ballad singer, banjo player, and storyteller who revitalized the dying family tradition of passing down the stories and songs of the British Isles. Sheila has recorded multiple cd's, written two books, and tours nationally.

Gary Carden is a well-known and popular playwright, storyteller, teacher, and actor. A native of Appalachia, he has a special interest in the literature of the area and captures the humor and poignancy of mountain culture through his skillful storytelling. Gary has received the North Carolina Folklore Society's prestigious Brown-Hudson Award.

Maggie Davenport is a lover of the environment, healthy life-style advocate and avid biker. As a wellness professional and community health educator, she conducts and coordinates health and wellness seminars and is a nationally certified fitness instructor (AFAA, AAAI and the Arthritis Foundation). Pilates, Tai Chi and Body Works are her primary formats.

Liz Domingue is trained as a Wildlife Biologist with degrees from Cornell University (B.S.) and the University of Florida (M.S.). She has gained extensive outdoor experience while hiking, backpacking, canoeing, camping, and photographing wildlife across the United States and beyond. She teaches environmental education programs for the Smoky Mountain Field School, Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, Girl Scouts, and others.

George Ellison is a full-time naturalist and writer. He writes natural history and regional history columns for multiple publications in the area. He has written two books and the introductions for other well-known books on the region. He conducts natural and human history workshops for various organizations, including the North Carolina Arboretum, Smoky Mountain Field School, North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, and The Wilderness Society.

Flora MacDonald Gammon comes from a childhood rich in Scottish heritage. She is an expert lecturer, artist-in-residence, and performer of Scottish folk music.

Doris Gove is a is a professional writer who has published three hiking guides and six children's nature books. She has her PhD in biology from the University of Tennessee where she currently serves as an editor for an academic journal. For five years, she was the summer curator of the Highlands Museum of Natural History.

Pat Hammond Greenwald is a professional speaker and storyteller whose passion is researching and bringing historical figures to life through character portrayals. Although recently transplanted in Hendersonville, she and husband Bob are true "mountain folk," immersing themselves in the culture and natural beauty of the area.

Lee Knight has been collecting and performing folksongs, stories and dances since childhood. Lee has been a friend of The Mountain since its earliest days, teaching and entertaining children and hostelers from nine to ninety. He has recorded two cd's and performed at Carnegie Hall with Wu Man and Friends.

Anne Lough is a native of Springfield, Virginia, where she began playing and singing folk music at the age of 14. She has a Master of Music Education from Western Carolina University and now devotes herself full time to festivals, workshops, performances, and residencies. She is thoroughly professional both as a performer and teacher.

Richard Prior's musical training began in his native England, where he received a B.A. from Leeds University and a D.M.A. in both conducting and composition from Nottingham University. Highly active as a composer, Prior's music has been performed, recorded and broadcast widely in Europe and throughout North America, with several works featured at national conventions and international festivals. Prior joined the faculty of Emory University in 2004 as Director of Orchestral Studies. He conducts the University Symphony Orchestra and serves as Coordinator of the Emory Chamber Music Program.

Kurt Sutton has taught and performed as a speaker, trainer, musician and entertainer for over 30 years. As Mark Twain, he has appeared in theaters from New England to the South pleasing audiences with Twain's wit, wisdom and love for music.

Jim Taylor has been fascinated with the Civil War since childhood. He has a Masters Degree in history, and has combined his love of history and old-time music by building hammered dulcimers and producing recordings of period songs and tunes.

Wanda Taylor is a native of Haywood County, North Carolina, and is now settled back in Western North Carolina. She has been a teacher and a newspaper columnist, and enjoys acting and directing in community theatre. Wanda has been sharing her love for Mark Twain/Sam Clemens with Elderhostel groups for over fifteen years.

Diane Williams is a registered nurse, certified Personal Trainer and Clinical Exercise Specialist, and yoga instructor. She has worked as a health and wellness consultant and healthcare manager for 16 years.