WV Arts & Music Open House

Join us for an evening of ALL West Virginian Art and Music featuring the music of WV native Essie Riddle and the art of FOUR WV residents: Jamie Miller, Ginger Danz, Gary Vaughan and Amy Lanham. Have some light refreshments, view the pieces, converse with the artists then enjoy the soulful sounds of Essie Riddle!

Essie (Sarah Riddle) is a WV native who moved to NJ to pursue her graduate studies in opera at Westminster Choir College. While there she began singing and song-writing with a local band soon forming Essie & the Big Chill. Soon after Essie’s passion turned to writing her own songs. She is currently working on several independent projects and collaborating with several artists in the tri-state area.

She has been fortunate to sing in the Invitational house band at John & Peter’s fronted by Mickey Melchiondo (Dean Ween) and featuring incredible musicians such as Michael Hampton (Kidd Funkadelic). Other notable performance venues include performing at Brooklyn Bowl, House of Independent’s and Ardmore Hall with renowned acts like Junior Marvin (The Wailers), Justin Guarini, Remember Jones, and Jah People.

Classically Essie has been fortunate to share the stage at Carnegie Hall with the Berlin Philharmonic for Beethoven’s 9th Symphony under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle. She also has performed under Yannick Nézet-Séguin with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Kimmel Center for multiple works, as well as several performances with the New Jersey State Orchestra.

Over the years she has been recognized for several awards including the Hobson Award for Vocal Excellence and first place in both the Eloise-Campbell Long Competition, and WV NATS competition.