New Amsterdam String Band unites virtuosic fiddling with creative music-making. A five-part ensemble, the group blends violins, mandolins, guitar, and bass to create performances rooted in historical practices and improvisation. New Amsterdam String Band recently recorded for the PBS documentary “Crime and Punishment” produced by Ken Burns (release in November 2026), and its members have collaborated with folk music icons, including Rhiannon Giddens and Paul Simon. The group’s upcoming season includes a concert tour across North Carolina and Tennessee, masterclasses at Asheville Music School, as well as performances in New York City and around the Northeast.

New Amsterdam String Band’s name comes from New York City's historic roots and nods to the group's origin in the Big Apple. Founding members Jimmy Drancsak, Lydia Becker, Graham Cohen, Nathan Francisco, and Logan Zaud met at the Juilliard School. Despite their distinct degree tracks—including historical performance, jazz studies, composition, and classical music—they quickly found each other through their shared love for folk music. New Amsterdam String Band brings these diverse influences to their collaborative process, thriving at the intersection of tradition and creation.