David Abernethy, M.D. is the founder and producer of Puddingstone.  He received his early music training as a percussionist with the award winning Lenoir High School Band.  As a student of Science at Elon College, he simultaneously held a full music scholarship, and traveled with the school stage band.  He earned a B.S. in Chemistry at Elon College and an M.D. degree at Bowman Grey School of Medicine.  He plays the hammered dulcimer, hurdy-gurdy, penny whistle, gemshorn, krumhorn, recorder, rackett, electronic wind-controller, and many percussion instruments.  When not directing Puddingstone, David practices medicine in Lenoir, N.C.  He also enjoys sailing, sawmilling, farming, and caring for the many animals who live on the Abernethy farm.

Alice Barlowe has been in love with music since the day she was born.  With parents who met in the church choir, it is only natural that she is an award-winning high school choral director at South Caldwell High School.  Alice began studying piano at the age of 8.  She has a Bachelors degree in Piano Performance as well as in Education from ASU.  After college, she and her musician husband moved to Florida where they both worked professionally at dinner theaters and night clubs.  After daughter Sara was born in 1987, Alice moved home with her family.  In addition to her busy teaching schedule, she is active in community theater.  

 

Denise Baxter-Yoder began singing in church choirs at the age of five.  Born to Air Force parents, she has lived and traveled extensively throughout the U.S. She holds a degree in music from Montevallo University, AL, and a Master's degree in Education from ASU, NC.  In addition to teaching for Catawba County Schools, she is a singer/songwriter, has performed in musical theater with her husband, Chuck Yoder, and likes to paint, create jewelry and hand-knit items.

 

Paul Holt has been playing guitar since age 15. He had his first group experience with a rock and roll band in high school. He received his Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Guitar from ASU in Boone, NC. Paul has two daughters and one son. Both of his daughters plays piano and one daughter plays guitar and his son also plays guitar. Paul teaches at the Suzuki School of the Arts in Hickory, NC. He has about 70 students from age 4 to adult. In addition to playing guitar with Puddingstone, Paul also plays electric guitar in church with the praise and worship band.

 

 

Suzanne Williams started playing the flute at age 12 in her sixth grade band.   After graduating from Winter Park High School in Winter Park, FL, she studied music at Stetson University where she became a student of Geoffrey Gilbert.  In 1989 she moved to Hickory, NC with her husband Todd and children Jay, Laurie and Jack. She  has taught flute with the Suzuki School of the Arts for 16 years and is currently also a Co-Director of the school. Suzanne enjoys performing as a member of Silver Lining, a professional flute duo, has performed with the Western Piedmont Symphony and Chamber Orchestra and freelances for weddings, parties and community events.  Silver flute, Irish flute, recorder, whistle, gemshorn and fife are among the instruments she plays in the group.

 

Mike Willis discovered an early interest in a musical career as a percussionist with the award winning Lenoir High School Band.  He studied at Brevard and at ASU in Boone, NC.  He has extensive experience playing professionally with a variety of musical groups.  He played percussion with the New York Quartet and with the Jerry Lambert Trio in Charlotte, Raleigh and Atlanta.  His unique style of jazz piano developed while working with Milton Clapp with the New York Quartet.  He studied harp with Jean Morehead in Raleigh and Lorraine Little in Charlotte.  He played harp and piano at the Esseola Lodge in Linville from 1982-87.  He played harp and piano at the Tower Club in Charlotte from 1989-96, and does freelance work with several musical groups in the area.  Mike has a lifelong interest in fitness and sports and is a fair weather motorcyclist.