Sally Schaefer

Sally Schaefer is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist with classical background in piano, violin, and voice, and master's degrees in ethnomusicology and library science. She is best known for her work as a Buffalo-based violinist in genres as diverse as Americana, Celtic music, rock, hip hop, polka, and punk, playing alongside local artists Tyler Bagwell, Creek Bend bluegrass, Buffalo Bluegrass Allstars, McCarthyizm, Celtic Spirit Pipe Band, Bill Ward, Over & Out, Stress Dolls, Chuckie Campbell, and recently as a touring musician with popular alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs. Her ethnomusicology research has focused on Americana and Celtic folk music, particularly Welsh traditional music, which she studied while pursuing her ethnomusicology master's degree at Cardiff University in Cardiff, Wales. As a solo artist, she uses a loop pedal and an array of effects to create layered string soundscapes that become foundations for unique, ethereal arrangements of old American folk songs.