Isabel Dammann is a multi-style violinist, fiddler, vocalist, and tenor guitarist who likes to weave between genres, exploring everything from classical to free improvisation, traditional fiddle styles, rock, and singer-songwriter. Currently based in Portland, OR, Isabel performs and records regularly as a freelancer with musicians across the Pacific Northwest and nationally. In Portland, she performs with queer rock cabaret Juliet and the East, femme country rock band Ashleigh Flynn & The Riveters, in the house band for Madam Cooper’s Country Cabaret, 90’s pop cover band Sideboob (fronted by the Shook Twins), Swedish folk trio Butterchurch//Smörkyrka, and is active in the Old Time, Celtic and Scandinavian fiddle scenes.

Isabel can also be found composing and touring nationally with her violin-guitar-tabla-cello chamber-folk quartet Sprig of That, with whom she has performed at notable venues across the country from The Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis to Rockwood Music Hall in New York, and festivals including Pickathon and Blue Ox Music Festival. Sprig of That released their debut original album “bloom” in early 2023, produced by Wes Corbett and engineered by Grammy-winning engineer Dave Sinko. Isabel had the exciting opportunity to act as an animation reference violinist for Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson’s claymation adaptation of Pinocchio (2022). She has shared the stage with musicians such as David Torn, Michael Cleveland, Charlie Parr, Darol Anger, and Phoebe Hunt, and attended festivals including the Silkroad Ensemble’s Global Musician Workshop (2015), Sewanee Summer Music Festival (2015), and Mike Block String Camp Apprentice Track (2018).

As an educator, Isabel has led workshops and performances at K-12 schools and universities across the country through organizations including Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School, Minnesota Public Radio and the Mile of Music Education Team. She has ten years of experience teaching private and group violin, fiddle, viola, and voice lessons to all ages, and is currently teaching a full studio with the Community Music Center in Portland. She graduated magna cum laude from Lawrence University in 2017, with a Bachelor of Music in violin performance and a Bachelor of Arts in geology.