Ozark Mountain Music Association founders continue partnership with Haiti mission

Even as the Branson-based Ozark Mountain Music Association continues to grow in their mission of passing traditional Ozarks music on to new generations, the group’s original founders are also still sharing music with others, even in their retirement years. 

The beginnings of OMMA were inspired by renowned Ozark fiddler Bob Holt, whose reputation for fiddle playing at square dances across the Ozarks eventually led to national recognition. After Bob’s death in 2008, his friends Bob and Karlene McGill, wanting to preserve his legacy and continue the traditions he valued, organized a week-long “fiddle camp” with several of Holt’s music-making friends as instructors and about 15 young fiddlers showing up to learn some traditional tunes. 

What started as a one-time camp turned into an annual tradition, and after the second camp, a traveling troupe was formed, comprising several of the more accomplished young fiddlers. The “Possum Holler Fiddlers” started out with a visit to nearby Silver Dollar City and continued for the next decade, with younger fiddlers added each year as older ones moved on to college or other commitments. Over those years, the Possums played at multiple gatherings around the Ozarks, twice at the White House in Washington, D.C., and even at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. 

One of the last projects prior to the McGills’ retirement was to conduct a week-long music camp in Haiti, partnering with the Haiti Education Foundation headquartered in Arkansas. The Foundation was supporting the work of a minister, Pere Frederick Menales, in the small town of Cherident in northwestern Haiti, and in mid-July 2017, three young musicians and their sponsors flew to Florida and then to Haiti, where they found 25 young Haitians, instruments in hand and eager to learn. After a week of hard work, practicing from morning until well into the evening, the young musicians had greatly improved their skills and gave a concert at Sunday morning worship services. 

This writer’s son, Luke Thomas, was one of the young instructors on that trip, and it made a life-changing impact on him. Not only did he gain increased thankfulness for his own privilege to learn music, but it was rewarding and exciting for him to help kids who might not otherwise have been able to have that opportunity. 

Over the years, Bob and Karlene McGill have kept in touch with Pere Fred, who is now with St. Paul’s Parish in another small Haitian town of Torbeck and has built a music program for the youth there. The McGills have contributed good quality used instruments, and as Pere Fred has provided recordings of the young musicians playing in church services, it has been clear that music has become an appreciated enrichment to life in the affected communities. 

Now, Pere Fred would like to expand the music program by starting a symphony orchestra with the students in his church program. An adult musician has agreed to work with the young musicians to make that happen, and the McGills hope to continue their involvement through fundraising and provision of instruments. 

Sadly, musical instruments have greatly increased in price just like almost everything else, so contributions would be greatly appreciated in the form of good quality used string instruments; financial donations toward the purchase of instruments; and financial contributions toward a year’s salary for the music teacher. 

The fundraiser will continue through September 2026, after which the instruments will be taken to Venice, Florida, and then flown to Haiti via Agape Flights and delivered to Pastor Menales. 

Those with an instrument to donate can contact the McGills at 417-230-3649 to arrange pick-up in the Springfield/Branson area. Checks can be made out to Ozark Mountain Music which will forward the funds to Haiti; again, contact the McGills for mailing address and with any additional questions. 

This project is an amazing example of sharing legacy and blessing others—who knew that an Ozarks fiddler would inspire the creation of camps to teach young musicians, some of whom would help teach and inspire musicians thousands of miles away! The legacy continues, and grows!