This is Tilly Foster Bluegrass

Mike started playing the mandolin seven years ago after playing guitar in a variety of bands since high school. Mike graduated from the Crane School of Music with a degree in Music Education and currently teaches music in the Hudson Valley when not playing with Tilly Foster. Influenced by jam bands such as Phish, Grateful Dead and the Allman Brothers, a myriad of jazz musicians and modern bluegrass/Americana bands like Greensky Bluegrass, Infamous Stringdusters and Yonder Mountain String Band, Mike has melded traditional bluegrass with ingredients from these various styles.

After hearing gospel bluegrass at a religious retreat several years ago, Bryan decided to put his musical abilities towards playing the banjo. His musical influences when writing songs are based on a wide variety of artists such as Tom Waits, Del McCoury, Johnny Cash and Greensky Bluegrass. Bryan studied banjo with innovator and Bluegrass Legend Bill Keith, a former band mate of Bill Monroe’s. Bryan also graduated from the Crane School School of Music and currently teaches music in the Hudson Valley.

Tim Fogarty has been playing guitar since the age of 12. His earliest inspirations were the Beatles, Cream and Led Zeppelin and eventually would grow to love Punk. As a music minor at New Paltz, he began listening to and being influenced by Singer/Songwriters such as Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Lucinda Williams and even Uncle Tupelo. He recently caught the bug for traditional and progressive bluegrass and has based much of his current playing style on Tony Rice, the Infamous String Dusters and Greensky Bluegrass.

Shane Pettit started his musical career playing tuba and attending Temple University. After leaving the Philadelphia area, he joined the United States Army and has since retired as a master sergeant  with  his last post being  West Point. Continuing to play tuba professionally throughout this time, his musical genres have varied from Classical to jazz and even blues. He continues to play with accredited musicians in the Hudson Valley.  Shane has now decided though to give  his other instrument and passion a try by  joining Tilly Foster in August of 2023.

Vicky Triola is a multi-genre violinist and violist from Warwick, NY. She started her training as a classical violist but after attending the Mark O’Connor Fiddle camp in 2009, she soon delved into a multitude of styles, opening her eyes to the full potential of stringed instruments. Her influences include violists David Wallace, Kenji Bunch and jazz violinist Matt Glazier. She recently graduated from the Berkley College Of Music with a Music Education degree studying with fiddle extraordinaires Darol Anger and Bruce Molsky who had a huge impact on her as a musician.