MEET OUR TEAM
Greg Greenway
Performer - Assistant Lead Technician
From a Zenith stereo in the upstairs bedroom of a small house in Richmond, VA, to Carnegie Hall, music has been my vehicle to see the world and meet so many of the amazing people in it. I have shaken the hands of my original heroes, sung with them, experienced them as people - all beyond my wildest dreams. They brought me truths about the world not present in what I was handed. This began a lifelong promise to do the same for whoever would listen. These are the things that pass through me... to you."
Greg has both performed on the Greenwich Village Folk Festival and lent his technical expertise to the on-line concert production team since July 2021.
https://greggreenway.com
Andrea Klawsky
Behind The Scenes Magic - Web Site Content Maintenance
Andrea Klawsky has been an integral part of the GVFF since the start of the on-line concerts in July 2020.
Andrea and our senior web master, the late Jerry Kornbluth, created, designed and implemented the original GVFF website. Andrea produces the GVFF newsletter, responds to questions and comments submitted through our "Contact Us" form and maintains our subscription list.
Jerry Kornbluth
Concert Post Production - Web Site Technical Design
Jerry Kornbluth was owner and chief recording engineer at A and J Recording Studios in New York City for over 30 years. After retiring to Florida he donated his time and knowledge to found several musical websites for south Florida Jazz and Blues societies, and in 2020 Jerry initiated and designed the first GVFF website, maintaining the site and archives until his passing in 2023. The GVFF honors Jerry's memory and the essential work he did behind the scenes.
Christine Lavin
Performer - Emcee
Despite getting a "D" in Astronomy in college in 1970, at 2021's commencement exercises Christine was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts from her alma mater, SUNY Brockport, for her work in folk music. A writer of both serious and seriously funny songs, and one of the Village's most popular performers, she is equally noted for supporting the careers of many other artists with such recent projects as "Songs For A Winter's Night", a collection of songs by 80 fellow songwriters. Christine has both headlined and emceed many on-line GVFF concerts since 2020, and is currently working on a Broadway show based on her songs.
Rod MacDonald
Performer - Emcee - Co-Founder and Producer
Rod MacDonald was a "big part of the 1980s folk revival in Greenwich Village clubs" (All-Music Guide), performing at the Speakeasy, The Bottom Line, Folk City, and the Songwriter's Exchange at the Cornelia Street Cafe. He's recorded 21 songs in the Smithsonian/Fast Folk collection and 14 solo albums, and is the composer of many songs performed and recorded by other artists, including "American Jerusalem," "Every Living Thing," and "A Sailor's Prayer," the latter a standard of Ren-Fair and maritime singing groups. He now lives in south Florida, where he's been named "Best Local Acoustic Artist" (New Times), and recorded several albums that have made the top ten in national folk music charts. MacDonald is one of the original four co-founders of the Greenwich Village Folk Festival, and is currently its President and co-producer of its events. https://www.
Ray Micek
Co-Founder and Producer
Ray Micek was one of the original founding producers of the GVFF, and as its longtime treasurer achieved non-profit status for the organization. It was his phone call in 2020 that led to the festival's revival as an online series, and as co-producer of events he has brought many outstanding artists to the festival.
Sonny Ochs
Emcee - Phil Ochs Concert Organizer
Sonia "Sonny" Ochs is a music producer and radio host who's hosted her own radio program since 1980, currently on folkmusicnotebook.com, and worked behind the scenes at numerous folk festivals. Since 1983, she has organized "Phil Ochs Song Nights", concerts of her late brother's songs. The GVFF is honored to present Phil Ochs Song Nights each October since 2021, with Sonny as host and guest emcee, featuring many renowned artists and the songs of one of Greenwich Village's most beloved songwriters and performers.
Ron Olesko
emcee and helps us book the artists
Longtime dj host of TRADITIONS on WFDU-FM, the non-commercial radio of Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey, Ron has presented a "who's who" of contemporary and traditional folk music for three decades. In 2019 Ron also launched the 24/7 Internet radio channel www.folkmusicnotebook.com, featuring a diverse playlist, interviews, live remote broadcasts from festivals and concerts, and many other top folk radio programs from across North America, heard around the clock. In addition to being the GVFF's main emcee since 2020, Ron has helped booked many new and exciting performers to the GVFF's concerts, including national songwriting contest winners and emerging touring artists.