Raise The Rafters 2026 Staff
The weekend schedule will feature several workshops led by our staff, as well as open slots for camper led workshops and sings.
Charmaine Slaven
Originally from western Montana, Charmaine has worked for more than 18 years as a professional musician, flatfoot dancer, dance caller, and instructor. She takes great joy in sharing her passion for music and dance with people of all ages and abilities and has gained a great reputation for her fun methods of engagement and knack for teaching and organizing.
Charmaine spent years street performing around Seattle with her music projects, Squirrel Butter and The Tallboys, and became an anchor in the Pacific NW old time music and dance communities, leading to appearances at a huge array of events including the Portland Old Time Gathering, Olympia Old Time Festival, NW Folklife Festival, Alaska Folk Festival, Festival of American Fiddletunes, Los Angeles Old Time Social, Hermit Music Festival, Dare to be Square West, Nimblefingers, Victoria Old Time Tidal Wave, Willamette Old Time Social, A Prairie Home Companion, Puget Sound Revels, & Boston Revels.
Over the last few years, Charmaine served as the Music & Dance Coordinator for the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC, and now works as the Director of Development for the Country Dance & Song Society.
Debra Cowan
Following a life-long desire to sing and perform, Debra Cowan left her job as a California middle school math teacher in 1997 and went to live in Edinburgh, Scotland for six months. There, she developed an appreciation for un-accompanied singing and began incorporating more a capella singing into her performances. Upon her return to the USA in 1998 she traveled all over New England performing at any open mike within 100 miles of her new home in Massachusetts.
Over twenty years later, she is now a full-time performer who bridges the old and new with a refreshing stage presence. She has released five full-length recordings, all of which have earned praise on both sides of the Atlantic. She tours extensively in the United Kingdom and in North America and can also be seen on stage with her good friend, singer and musician John Roberts. Debra is a proud member of American Federation of Musicians Local 1000 and endorses Harvey Leach guitars. Between travels, she makes her home near Worcester, Massachusetts with her husband and their cats, Hazel and Haku.
Downbeat Collective
Vocal improv group from the Bay Area of CA, their mission is to spread the joy of collaborative vocal improvisation and connect people through the healing power of making music together.
2025 Staff:
Nicole Singer & Becky Wright
Fae Wiedenhoeft
2024 Staff:
Kat Eggleston
Ken Schatz
2023 Staff:
Saro Lynch-Thomason
Janie Meneely & Rob van Sante
Cate Clifford
2022 Staff:
The Vox Hunters
Thrive Choir
Mary Garvey
