Betse Ellis, from Kansas City, Missouri, is a fiddler with a 30-year history of musical diversity. Ellis’s primary inspirations come from Ozark fiddle tunes and traditional singers.  When playing solo, she accompanies herself on the fiddle or tenor guitar.  “Singing with the fiddle” is a less common sound heard today.  In 2009, Ellis participated in a Scottish Arts Council-funded tour exploring the musical connections between Scotland, Ireland and America.  Ellis’s album “Don’t You Want to Go”, released in 2009 earned an Independent Music Award nomination for Best Americana Album.

Originally from Fayetteville, Ark., she studied classical violin and continued her studies at the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Conservatory of Music, earning a Bachelor of Arts in 1990.  After graduating, she founded several musical groups, most notably The Wilders, an internationally touring band featuring country and Americana styles.  Ellis leads the band on traditional fiddle tunes and her compositions.

Ellis’s tour in Montgomery County will start on Monday, September 19th at the Coffeyville Meal Site, Sycamore Landing and Windsor Place Assisted Living before arriving at the Spencer/Rounds Theatre on the CCC Campus at 10:20 a.m. on Tuesday, September 20th. Ellis will continue her tour of Coffeyville with Windsor Place, Windsor Place SCU and the Medicalodge of Coffeyville on Tuesday.  Wednesday she will entertain residents at Asbury Village and Manor House followed by the students at Caney Valley High School on Thursday and the Caney Nursing Home and Guest Home Estates in Caney on Friday. 

The public is invited to the 10:20 a.m. Tuesday Humanities performances at CCC.  The performances are free and held in the Spencer/Rounds Theatre.  For more information call 620-251-7700 ext. 2145 or 2038.