David Surette (1963–2021) receives the Lifetime Contribution Award in recognition of his contributions as an inspiring music performer, teacher, scholar, and mentor. His award will be presented posthumously in fall 2025 in Concord, NH.
David will be remembered as a talented, kind, and generous person who fostered the love of participatory folk music in all those around him. He taught and mentored many young musicians and was an extraordinary talent on mandolin, guitar, and bouzouki. David toured with numerous contra dance bands, including Fresh Fish and Airdance. Each of these bands was arguably the finest in the country at their time and left a lasting impact on the evolution of contra dance music.
As a teacher, David traveled widely, from venues throughout New England to Swannanoa in North Carolina to Augusta Heritage in West Virginia to Alisdair Fraser’s Valley of the Moon camp in northern California. He was equally adept at demonstrating—and patiently teaching—such varied styles as French Canadian, bluegrass, blues, ragtime, old time, and Irish.
What sets David apart from so many other talented musicians is the powerful way he brought others into the community, whether through his gentle presence at the mic in a concert setting, his ego-free delight in sending out a pulsing contra dance tune, or his warm and gentle way of encouraging new musicians. He made it possible for anyone to feel that they belonged, that their efforts would be worth it, that their music was heard and appreciated.
David brought people together from different backgrounds, political persuasions, financial situations, ages, and levels of experience to share in the beauty and fun of folk music and to build lasting friendships around it.
Adapted from a longer article by Craig Meltzner, Rodney Miller, David Millstone, and Liz Faiella in the Fall/Winter 2024 issue of the CDSS News.
Thanks to the Massachusetts Cultural Council for their generous support.