The Abaca String Band was founded in 1991 by guitarist Andrew Schulman. Their unique instrumentation, consisting of Eight-string Guitar, Mandolin, Violin, Viola, and Double Bass, is well suited to their own arrangements of a repertoire that ranges from Bach to the Beatles via Mozart and Gershwin. The group began performing for membership events at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in 1991, and continues to do so. They performed from 1995-2000 on the Carnegie Hall Neighborhood Concert Series and returned to the series in 2002. They have performed throughout the US; appearances have included the White House, Lincoln Center, the Newport Music Festival, the Library of Congress, Troy Music Hall, USDAN Center, and Chautauqua Institution, among others. Their debut CD, "Live From Chautauqua", was broadcast nationwide by Public Radio International, and they return for another concert/broadcast at Chautauqua Institution in 2003.

Andrew Schulman (Eight-string Guitar) is the founder and music director of the Abaca String Band. As a soloist he has concertized throughout the United States and Europe in appearances ranging from the Royal Albert Hall in London, to the Improv in New York, and has made numerous radio appearances. He has performed at the White House, with the Abaca String Band in 1997 and as a soloist in 1999. Mr. Schulman appears every Sunday at the Palm Court at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. His CD's, 'The Baroque Style', and 'Lullabies, Reveilles, (and Siesta!)', were recorded on the Centaur label, and have received popular and critical acclaim.

Tamara Volskaya (Mandolin), while at the Kiev Music College, revealed an exceptional talent and skill on the domra, the Russian mandolin. Her repertoire spans a wide range of musical periods and styles, from classical to modern, as well as folk music based on Russian, Flamenco, Gypsy, Jewish, and American themes. In 1997 Volskaya performed at Carnegie Hall in the gala "America Salutes Moscow." In 1999 she was featured on NPR's nationally syndicated program "All Things Considered" and in 2002 Volskaya performed at Avery Fisher Hall at the Mostly Mozart Festival with Russian baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky and at Merkin Hall as a soloist with chamber orchestra "Bachanalia" under Nina Beilina

Robert Zubrycki (Violin) is an active performer in the New York area. He was recently a principal violinist in 'La Boheme' on Broadway. He is a member of the Queen's Chamber Band and can be heard on their recording of Rameau on the Lyrichord label. Mr. Zubrycki is also a member of the Eos Orchestra, the American Symphony, the Opera Orchestra of New York, L'Opera Francaise, the Stanford Symphony Orchestra, and Solisti New York. He performs at the Bard Festival and the OK Mozart International Festival, where he has served as assistant concertmaster for the past three seasons.

Julie Goodale (Viola) is a member of the Westfield Symphony and the Colonial Symphony, and has also performed with the New Jersey Symphony, Opera Orchestra of New York, and the American Ballet Theatre, among others. In addition, she has played with rock bands, performance artists, and new music groups, as well as various Broadway shows. Ms. Goodale has degrees from Julliard and Northwestern University. When not playing the viola she is often found rock climbing or birding.

Marc Schmied (Double Bass) is a graduate of Juilliard, and has performed with artists ranging from Kurt Masur to rocker Alice Cooper. He has played in the Broadway productions of 'Cabaret', 'Oklahoma', and 'Thoroughly Modern Millie'. Marc is a member of the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra and performs regularly with the Greenwich Symphony and the Princeton Symphony Orchestra. As a jazz musician he has performed with the big bands of Gil Fuller and Charlie Persip.