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Karen Ashbrook
With her delicate touch, trademark shimmering lilt and ear for authentic ornamentation, Karen Ashbrook is considered one of the finest Irish hammered dulcimer players anywhere. Playing the Hammered Dulcimer in the Irish Tradition book/CD set on Oak Publications, is a standard text in dulcimer literature. She appears at numerous folk music camps and festivals around the country. Performance highlights include RTE 1-Irish National Television, the Smithsonian Institution, National Geographic, and playing at the White House for President Bill Clinton. Karen's newest CD "Spring Will Come." is a live recording featuring her 30th anniversary as a dulcimer player, teacher and advocate, and celebrates her rich musical partnerships with Ceoltoiri, David Scheim (King David's Harp, Hills of Erin) and Pavilion 3.
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Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly
From Foster, Rhode Island, Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly are delightful, energetic performers and teachers, presenting enthralling programs of traditional American and Celtic folk and dance. Award winners, Aubrey and Elwood are in great demand on the American folk music circuit and have performed and taught in over thirty-five states as well as Canada, England, and Ireland. They blend unusual harmonies and play and teach mountain dulcimer, old-time banjo, guitar, tin whistle, mandolin, harmonica, bodhran, bones, spoons, limberjack, and other surprises, as well as clogging, tap, and contra dancing. Their exquisite joy and musicality blend with their scholarly sides, showing a deep understanding and appreciation of folk music and its key players. In their 22-year career, Aubrey and Elwood have produced six books and a film as well as eleven recordings which receive international airplay.
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Ken Bloom
Ken Bloom has given solo concerts all over North America since 1974. These have included appearances at many major Folk Festivals and clubs in the U.S. and Canada. In the past he has been a regular performer at the Vancouver, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Owen Sound, Philadelphia, and Mariposa Festivals as well as appearing in major venues across the country and appearances on A Prairie Home Companion. More recently, his appearances have been closer to home. His North Carolina presentations include: The Stokes Stomp, Hiddenite Center, Turkey Festival (Raeford), Red Springs Highland Games, Mt. Airy Storytelling Festival, and many others.
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Joe Collins
National Champion mountain dulcimer player, began playing the mountain dulcimer in the late 70s in coffeehouses, churches, and schools. As an instrument of praise to his God and entertainment for others, the dulcimer quickly became an important part of Joe's life. Since that time he has written several books of dulcimer music, produced 5 CDs, and has performed across the country in a number of different venues. In September of 2007, he won the title of National Champion at Winfield, KS. |
Tull Glazener
Tull is a member of an old-time Indianapolis-based string band called the "Family Reunion String Band". They play and share old-time music. The band consists of dulcimers, autoharps, guitars, fiddle, bass, harmonica, jaw harp, mandolin, and banjo and plays at various county fairs, craft festivals, churches, nursing homes, civic organizations, and hospitals. 2001 marked the 26th year that the group played at the Indiana State Fair. Tull has performed with the group for the past dozen years. He also performs with his good friend Jim Sperry, a marvelous guitarist and vocalist He also performs with Guy George and Demetrius Steinmetz.
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Lois Hornbostel
Lois Hornbostel enjoys a well-deserved reputation as one of the most influential mountain dulcimer performers, teachers and organizers in the country … her instruction books and recordings of fiddle tunes, Irish tunes, and dulcimer duets, rounds and ensembles have been an inspiration to an entire generation of dulcimer players.” A natural and inventive teacher, Lois fills her dulcimer playing classes with good sense, encouragement, enthusiasm and organization. She has organized a complete university-level curriculum for mountain dulcimer, first at Appalachian State University in Boone, and with the Western Carolina University Mountain Dulcimer Week in Cullowhee. Lois has been Coordinator of the Swannanoa Gathering’s Dulcimer Week (for both mountain and hammered dulcimer players).
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Marya Katz
In addition to performing with Simple Gifts, Marya has worked with a group of several Blacksburg musicians who are trying to "build a house with music" – all the proceeds from their recordings are donated to Habitat for Humanity. Marya has two self-published books of her tunes, Dulcimations I and II. She is a National Board Certified elementary music teacher, and also directs the adult choir for her church. Along with the Winston-Salem festival and the Swannanoa Gathering, Marya has been a regularly-scheduled workshop leader for the Cranberry Dulcimer Gathering in Binghamton, NY. Her newest CD "Between Sunset and Stars" features a collage of her compositions.
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Thomasina Levy
Connecticut State Troubadour (2005/2006), Thomasina Levy, M.S. Ed, is an internationally recognized mountain dulcimer player, singer, and song writer whose performances weave together the best of traditional and contemporary folk music. Her music has been aired in over twenty countries across the globe. Described as a charismatic performer, she touches audiences with a simplicity, humanity, and strength drawn from the deep roots of the folk tradition. Thomasina has recordings and instructional books for both children and adults. Her most recent CD, "Chasing Cloud Shadows" has been aired in over twenty countries across the globe. It has been described as “pure sunlight, a dazzling marriage of new and traditional folk music, jazz, country and bluegrass that makes for an hour of joyous listening.” In the Spring of 2000, Thomasina was included in the Mel Bay Publications Dulcimer 2000 book featuring solos by the world’s best mountain dulcimer players.
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Anne Lough
Excellence as a performer, teacher and demonstrator, combined with dedication to the preserving and sharing of our wonderful heritage of traditional music bring a rare and unique quality to every presentation. In addition to being a frequent instructor in mountain and hammered dulcimer at the prestigious John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC., Anne has taught at the Swannanoa Gathering, Western Carolina Dulcimer Week, Augusta Heritage Dulcimer Week and at numerous other festivals and workshops throughout the country.
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Paul Oortz
A native Belgian, Paul performs on harp guitar, mandolin, cittern, and musette accordion with his wife Karen Ashbrook and other nationally known dulcimer players including Steve Schneider and Maggie Sansone. He enjoys playing for contra and English country dances. He also teaches Italian at Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore. |
Jeff Sebens
Jeff brings a varied educational background to his dulcimer teaching. From an early training in classical music to experience teaching history and industrial arts, he has melded these experiences into a love and appreciation for both the lap and hammered dulcimers. Jeff is a founding father of the Winston-Salem Dulcimer Festival, and many of us enjoy instruments he has built. He handcrafts a variety of musical instruments, as well as keeping an active schedule with festivals, workshops, and Elderhostels. |
Sue Wilson
Sue Wilson first saw and heard the hammered dulcimer when she was 17 years old while cruising the Illinois River on the Julia Belle Swain, a paddlewheel boat, out of Peoria, Illinois. She knew immediately that she was meant to play the instrument. Nearly 20 years later, her husband and kids said, "Go buy a dulcimer for your birthday!" That was 1995, and she’s been playing ever since. Today, Sue teaches beginning to advanced students out of her home in Pittsboro, NC, as well as in special workshop settings. She uses her music in volunteer work with UNC Hospice, and performs at a variety of functions including dances, private parties, concerts, fundraisers, weddings, funerals, and other church services. |