Projects
Larry Bellorín, Between TwoWorlds
This documentary tells the story of Larry Bellorín, a Venezuelan harpist based in North Carolina, and his artistic encounter with Appalachian music. While an acclaimed musician in his native land, his life in the U.S. contrasts artistic excellence with legal and economic precarity as an asylum seeker.
A pivotal artist residency at The Fruit of Durham brings him into collaboration with bluegrass musician Joe Troop, sparking a reciprocal exchange between Venezuelan folk traditions and Appalachian bluegrass.
By documenting his work in performance, education, and community spaces, the film highlights the power of representation and seeks to expand participation in bluegrass by people of color, humanizing the immigrant experience and affirming that cultural exchange does not dilute tradition but strengthens it.
The Tracks of Joe Troop
The Tracks of Joe Troop follows Joe Troop, a North Carolina musician who widens bluegrass’s “big tent” by weaving it with Latin American folk traditions, turning music into a tool for social justice and connection. After years on the road and a long search for identity from Andalucía to Buenos Aires, the pandemic brings him back to the landscape he loves, where he reimagines the genre through cultural exchange. A fortuitous encounter with Venezuelan harpist Larry Bellorín ignites an unexpected fusion: banjo and harp, bluegrass and joropo; identity and belonging, protest and celebration. Larry & Joe, they forge a shared sound that draws diverse audiences into the same space, proving that joy can also be resistance.
Everybody Loves Maako
Everybody Loves Maako” is a 15-minute documentary about a classical violinist from Tokyo, Japan, who earns her master’s degree in Appalachian Studies at App State in Boone and then receives a grant to study for a doctorate at Duke University. While in Boone, she learns Old Time music, mostly while she is secluded in her Boone cottage during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her main mentor is Cecil Gurganus, a respected folk musician who has played with the elders of traditional Appalachian music. During the pandemic, Maako learns fiddle tunes by ear studying online with Gurganus. I quickly discovered that Maako is a good storyteller. Her personality is the type that people feel comfortable with, she's so sweet that you feel you want to embrace her. Her story of coming from Japan to Appalachia to learn Appalachian history and culture fascinates and enamored many. But don’t be fooled: Despite her fragile demeanor Maako is a very strong and determined woman! Maako is currently studying Ethnomusicology at Duke University and in a couple of years she will get her P.hD.