Jackie Armstrong has been playing the mountain dulcimer for 21 years and has given workshops in the Kentuckiana area at festivals, music stores and youth centers since 2006. Her favorite music is the Appalachian modal tunes, Celtic and traditional hymns.

She is the owner of  Pine Lodge Studio and has published seven mountain dulcimer tablature books including a beginning level, novice level as well as a traditional hymn, Celtic and Christmas books. Several of her books have a companion CD that is available.  Jackie’s books are a favorite with several teachers in the area because of the easy to read tablature and the logical progression of the finger position.

Jackie also organized a traditional music group called “Heartstrings” in 2006 and has recorded a CD entitled “Israel’s Son” that was released in 2009.

Karen Ashbrook is considered one of the finest Irish hammered dulcimer players anywhere. She has a delicate touch, trademark shimmering lilt and ear for authentic ornamentation.  Add her wooden flute and pennywhistle playing, and you have the consummate Irish musician. Irish reviewer John O'Regan calls her recordings "Celtic music for the mind and body."

Based in the Washington, DC area, Karen teaches and performs Celtic, contra dance, and Jewish music and works teaching Irish music and culture to children.

http://karenashbrook.com

Janita Baker has been playing mountain dulcimer for over 30 years; through her recordings, books and appearances at festivals and workshops across the United States she has become well-known for her teaching skills and Blue Lion Dulcimers, which she builds with her husband Robert. As a solo performer on the mountain dulcimer, Janita presents her audiences with a wide range of musical experiences including classical, traditional, delta and country blues, ragtime, swing and original instrumental pieces. A gifted story teller, Janita delights her listeners with a warm and personal sharing of her music and introduces to her audience and her students the incredible complexity, variety and beauty of the mountain dulcimer.

http://www.bluelioninstruments.com

David Brooks has played guitar and banjo since the 60's, including a season as the banjoist for The Stephen Foster Story in Bardstown.  Ten years ago, he discovered clawhammer banjo and old-time music.   He plays at local contra dances  and leads a monthly old-time jam session in Louisville.  He has written for the Banjo Newsletter.

Mary Carty is a life long resident of Burlington County, New Jersey, and brings her Native American heritage into play with her handmade baskets. Many of her traditional baskets are shapes and styles with which her Lenape ancestors would have been familiar. She is a true artist and innovator who does not like to have her creativity stifled by following rigid set patterns. This is a concept Mary often stresses to her students. "I don't just teach people how to make baskets; I teach them how to be basket makers,” she often says. On the other hand Mary has a healthy respect for tradition. This is why she has researched and makes traditional baskets which her Lenape ancestors would have made. It is this blending of tradition and creativity that makes Mary Carty's baskets both unique and highly collectible. A talented basket weaver, Mary has won many awards for her original basket designs through the years, and has admirers throughout the world.

http://www.pinelandsfolkmusic.com/

Vera Frazier plays lap dulcimer, guitar and sings a mixture of music. She includes traditional, Celtic and modern tunes along with songs she writes. Through the years Vera has performed as a solo artist, with others in the Louisville Dulcimer Society and her family. Recently she has taught vocal classes at Kentucky Music Week and performed at the Highlander in Knoxville Tennessee.

Guy George is a rhythmic, melodic hammered dulcimer player with a definite jazz influence to his playing style. He tours throughout the United States and Canada performing and teach workshops on the hammered dulcimer, steel drums, and penny whistle. He also plays steel drum to a very high standard, often joining mountain dulcimer and other musicians, complementing their performances. Having studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Guy comes from a background in jazz and performance on the saxophone.

http://www.guygeorge.com

Sharrie George plays guitar, ukulele, and mountain dulcimer with her husband, Guy. She has played since her early teens and studied music at the College of Charleston in South Carolina. In her hometown of Mentor, Ohio, she has been a music and youth director for a local church and is still involved with the music program there. She and Guy play music together for weddings, private parties and events, at churches and festivals around the US.
 

Mark Gilston has been performing traditional folk music for over forty years. His vast repertoire encompasses songs and instrumentals from North America and most of Europe, particularly the British Isles, Scandinavia, and the Balkans. His performances are laced with humor and a wide base of eclectic knowledge. Mark, an award-winning mountain dulcimer player (first place, 2004 Oklahoma State Mountain Dulcimer Championship), also plays concertina, guitar, banjo, Bulgarian bagpipes, pennywhistle, ocarina, tambura, and others.

Tull Glazener, from Indianapolis, IN, has been sharing the music of the mountain dulcimer through performances and workshops at festivals throughout the country since 1986. He enjoys adapting all kinds of music to the mountain dulcimer, including aires and waltzes, rag-time, traditional/old-time, contemporary, classical, and jazz. He has produced 5 recordings, is the author of 4 instruction books, and has produced a series of "learn-at-home" teaching CDs. He has served as a columnist for "Dulcimer Players News", and has been included on 2 of the "Masters of the Mountain Dulcimer" recordings produced by Susan Trump. In addition to the mountain dulcimer, Tull also plays hammered dulcimer and button accordion, and is a member of the "Family Reunion String Band" as well as the "Half Way Home" trio, both based in central Indiana.

 http://www.tullglazener.com

Debbie Grizzell has experience teaching on both dulcimer, hammered dulcimer, guitar and a number of other instruments.  She is also well-known for her lead and harmony vocals and fingerstyle guitar work as a member of Kentucky Standard Band.  Debbie has a unique and fun way of teaching harmony to those that have no experience but want to learn that fun and exciting skill.

Dave Haas lives in Charleston, WV, and loves to perform and teach others how to play the mountain dulcimer!  He has been playing the dulcimer since 1990, and loves to share the mountain dulcimer and its history with schools, churches, and civic organizations.  He has even brought dulcimer music to those in prison!  Dave also plays the guitar, sings, and leads music on Christian retreat experiences such as Kairos Prison Ministry, The Walk To Emmaus, Cursillo, and Teens Encounter Christ.  Dave has released three dulcimer CDs, four dulcimer instruction/CD workbooks, and a popular dulcimer chord chart.

Dave also enjoys teaching science as a Chemistry Professor at the University of Charleston.  One of his favorite activities is to sing chemistry songs (some on dulcimer) with his students!

http://davehaasmusic.com/

Marsha Harris, from Morehead City, NC, has been playing the mountain dulcimer since 1993 and the bowed dulcimer since 2004. She also plays fiddle, tenor banjo and the Native American flute. Marsha is a member of ‘The Bogue Sounds’ playing music ranging from old time, Celtic, contemporary and her original compositions for concerts and contra dances. She also performs with two Civil War period bands, ‘The Carteret Grays’, and ‘The Crescent Moon Rounders’. She calls dances for Civil War Balls and contra dances. She enjoys attending fiddle festivals in NC, VA and WV and has received awards and the champion mountain dulcimer player at Fiddler’s Grove in Union Grove and first place and other awards at Mt Airy Fiddler’s Convention both in NC. Attending fiddle festivals gives Marsha the opportunity to learn tunes and share music with musicians from all over the U.S. as well as other countries, bringing the mountain and bowed dulcimer into these sessions. During the school year, Marsha tutors English as a Second Language (ESL) students at the local high school and takes woodworking classes at the community college.

STEPHEN HUMPHRIES, 2007 National Hammered Dulcimer Champion, is quickly becoming one of America's premier hammered dulcimer soloists and clinicians. Stephen earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music with an emphasis in Percussion studies from Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina. With this education, along with previous study under Mark Wade (1998 National Hammered Dulcimer Champion) Stephen brings a solid percussive, classical, and contemporary approach to the hammered dulcimer. Currently, Stephen is pursuing a Masters Degree in Music Education at Lee University in Cleveland, TN.

LORINDA JONES. As a member of the Kentucky Arts on Tour Directory, Lorinda brings the roots of American music to her audiences through the music of the mountain dulcimer and folk harp. Lorinda has authored numerous books and recordings, and in addition, is a board certified music therapist. She teaches and performs at camps and festivals all over the United States, has 3 books published by Mel Bay Publications, and teaches private and group lessons on mountain dulcimer and folk harp. Lorinda has experienced a varied career in music, ranging from that of a band director, private and public school music instructor from preschool through college, to work as a music therapist. She continues to appreciate and discover her musical roots through the playing of Celtic and American folk music as a performer and recording artist.

http://www.lorindajones.com/

Joellen Lapidus is one of the pioneers of contemporary fretted dulcimer playing, songwriting, and instrument construction and is the author of the dulcimer instruction book "Lapidus on Dulcimer". Joellen blends the Appalachian, Indian, Arabic, jazz, classical, and pop musical styles to give the dulcimer a new range of rhythmic, melodic, and tuning possibilities. As a dulcimer maker, her work influenced many of the dulcimer builders of the 70's and 80's. Her instruments were known for their innovative shapes and exquisite soundhole and peghead inlay work. She introduced the dulcimer to Joni Mitchell and made three instruments for her between 1968 and 1976. She has also made instruments for David Crosby, Jackson Browne, Wendy Waldman and Garth Hudson.
The March 2004 concert, recorded on her newly released CD, "Joellen Lapidus In Concert", marks her first performance in over 10 years.
Joellen teaches dulcimer in West Los Angeles. She has also returned to her original musical loves - the clarinet and the accordion. She performs with the band "Extreme Klezmer Makeover" and teaches a high energy "Klezmer Band Workshop" at McCabes Guitar Shop in Santa Monica, California.

http://www.lapidusmusic.com

Sue Massek is a musician committed to using the music she writes and the songs she sings as tools for social justice. As a member of the Reel World String Band from its beginning in 1977, she has been heavily influenced by the Highlander Center, which has provided training for grassroots movements beginning in the 1930's. It’s there that the spirit and purpose of her music took shape.

Sue's solo work has taken her to Guatemala and Nicaragua, but for three decades she worked in the schools using folk music and folk as a method of teaching core curriculum and diversity. She was a Circuit Rider for the Kentucky Arts Council for two years and has also worked for Kentucky as a “Community Scholar” in the “Folklife Program”. She participated in Appalshop's "Voices From Home" cultural exchange in San Antonio and Alaska.

Her love for nature is the driving force and spiritual base for her life and music. Though she was born a "flatlander" in Kansas, Sue embraces Kentucky and Appalachia as home for her heart and soul.

Molly McCormack of Louisville, Kentucky has enjoyed playing, performing and teaching on both the mountain and hammer dulcimers since 1992. Molly's musical interests are varied, often performing traditional, contemporary and original tunes.  Her arrangements include clear, sweet vocals, sultry blues, lively fiddle tunes and beautiful Celtic airs. 

A natural teacher with a gentle teaching style, Molly has had the pleasure of teaching at many weekend dulcimer festivals and week long dulcimer events. She is a regular teacher at Kentucky Music Week in Bardstown, KY. She has had the honor of teaching at the Augusta Heritage Center Dulcimer Week in Elkins, WV and Appalachian State University Dulcimer Week in Boone, NC.

http://www.mollymccormack.com/

Cynthia MERENBLOOM first found KMW after she took up the hammer dulcimer in 2000 and has been a happy camper ever since, bringing her mother and daughters with her. Always looking for small creative projects that she could do in a short time and show her kids how to do them easily, Cynthia discovered beads. So far she has beaded with wire and thread, making fun art objects, jewelry, and other accessories. Come join the fun!

Jim Miller has been playing and performing traditional music for the past 35 years. An accomplished instrument builder and teacher, he has taught workshops at numerous festivals as well as won many awards for his musicianship. For twenty years, Jim was the owner of the Hampton Music Shop, in Hampton, Tennessee, where he handcrafted over 750 hammered dulcimers. He has played with Celtic, Bluegrass, Swing, Blues and Old Time bands, and has done session work on many recordings. In addition to being an accomplished performer and workshop leader, Jim also is an enthusiastic jam facilitator who likes to get everyone involved. He plays guitar, banjo, octave mandolin, bass, steel drum, percussion, hammered and mountain dulcimers as well as his own off-the-wall musical inventions, which are always entertaining. Jim holds a Masters degree in Elementary Education with an endorsement in instrumental music. He teaches 3rd grade at Cloudland Elementary School in Roan Mountain, Tennessee, where he leads an after school traditional string band program.

http://www.jimmillerdulcimer.com/

Karen Mueller is one of the top autoharp and mountain dulcimer players today. Her exciting and innovative performing style, featuring Appalachian, Celtic and contemporary music, has been applauded by critics and audiences from LA to Boston. Bluegrass Unlimited magazine has said "Karen Mueller's touch, timing and taste make her a true virtuoso. Her talent and clarity ... deserve a wide audience." Karen won the 1986 International Autoharp Championship and was a National Dulcimer finalist in 1985, both at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, KS. In 2006 she was inducted into the Autoharp Hall of Fame. A native of Winfield, she first attended the festival while in high school and was inspired to learn to play the autoharp and dulcimer by the performers she saw there.

http://www.karenmueller.com/

Jennifer Musgrave specializes in digital photography, with an emphasis on casual portrait photography as well as nature photography.  She is the owner of JAm Photography Studio and enjoys teaching others the techniques to improve their photographic skills.

http://dancingtothespiritofthewood.com/

Paul Oorts, a native Belgian performs on classical and steel string guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, banjo and musette accordion. This multi-instrumentalist and French Professor at Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore is versatile in a wide range of styles and brings an elegant European flavor to the ensemble.

http://www.pauloorts.com/Home

DON PEDI's music sounds with a clear melody and a pureness of spirit. It surpasses the boundaries of musical style, unfolding a timeless expression of human creativity. For over forty years Don has amazed and delighted audiences with his unique "Fiddle-Pick" style of playing the dulcimer. Drawing on decades of association with many of the best musicians in the southern mountains, as well as his deep commitment to preserving the old music, Don carries on the tradition in an exiting and innovative fashion. Rhythm and melody match the fiddles, up to speed, note for note, creating an ancient sound, that strikes a chord with the most modern listener.

In 2003 Don represented Appalachia at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Don and his music appear in the motion pictures: "Songcatcher" and "The Journey of August King".
Since 1985 Don has served as an on air host at NPR affiliate WCQS-FM in Asheville, NC.
"Close to Home" features Traditional, Old-Time, and Classic Folk music. The show airs on Saturdays from 8:00-10:00 pm. Listen locally on the radio, or streaming on the world wide web at WCQS.ORG. Or, listen anytime to past shows from the WCQS Audio Archives on the web.

http://www.donpedi.com

MARTHA RICHARD  first heard the hammered dulcimer years ago at a music festival in Louisville, Ky. She was enchanted by the piano sound of this instrument. After acquiring her first hammered dulcimer she has been having lots of fun playing it. As a member of the Heartland Dulcimer Club she has learned many songs and how to play in a large group. In the last few years Martha has participated in small group ensembles and played some solo performances in central Kentucky and Indiana.

Martha has participated in several music festivals in the Midwest usually teaching the new hammered dulcimer players. She has participated in the Blue River Folk Festival in Shelbyville, Indiana, the Heartland Dulcimer Festival, Kentucky Music Week in Bardstown, Kentucky, and the Evart Festival in Michigan. She is an enthusiastic teacher and player of the hammered dulcimer. Martha is the director of a small hammer ensemble called “Foggy Dew Players“.
 

JERRY ROCKWELL is one of a handful of folk musicians who, since about 1970, have been national and international advocates for the mountain dulcimer. He is an accomplished player, teacher, and custom builder of this American folk instrument. As an educator, Jerry emphasizes the application of music theory to dulcimer arranging, composing, and improvising, and is committed to helping his students explore the dulcimer in the deepest and fullest way possible. He lives and works in the Appalachian foothills of southeast Ohio, and regularly teaches mountain dulcimer at workshops across the country. In July of 2007, he performed, taught and lectured at a folk festival in Siglufjord, Iceland.

Butch Ross was given a mountain dulcimer for his birthday a few years ago, at the time the regionally touring singer/songwriter had no idea of the impact the instrument would have on his career. "I thought it's be cool to have one around the house, but I found myself playing it more and more. It had made music fun for me in a way that I hadn't felt since I first picked up the guitar."

More than "making music fun," this primitive mountain instrument began to open doors for him too. Not long after adopting the dulcimer he met Robert Force a musician, producer, independent label owner and all-around hippy who had once written a best-selling book on the mountain dulcimer. He saw in Butch "a spirit, talent and vision" that he last saw in his own idol; 60's folk-icon Richard Fariña. Almost immediately, he offered to sign him to his Blaine St. Records and produce, for free, his debut CD "the Moonshiner's Atlas."

http://www.butchross.com

PETER 'MADCAT' RUTH is a Grammy Award-winning virtuoso harmonica player based out of Ann Arbor, Michigan. But Madcat doesn't just play blues harp: he also sings and plays ukulele, guitar, high-hat, jaw-harp, penny-whistle, kalimba, banjo and other folk instruments from around the world.

Madcat's repertoire of styles includes Blues, American Roots Music, Folk Music, Jazz, and World Music.

Gary Sager began building dulcimers in 1991, and has been building, playing and teaching since then.  Gary's dulcimers carry the "prussia Valley Dulcimers" label.  Gary has taught and performed at various festivals in the Midwest. Gary with wife, Toni, own the Prussia Valley Dulcimer Shop in Waverly, OH. Gary will also serve as our "Dulcimer Doctor" during the week.

http://www.prussiavalleyduclcimers.com

Stephen Seifert's teaching and playing has made him a favorite with dulcimer players all over the country since 1991. In that time, he's been a featured performer at hundreds of dulcimer festivals and other music events including Kentucky Music Week in Bardstown, KY, Mountain Dulcimer Week in Cullowhee, NC, the Augusta Heritage Center in Elkins, WV, the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC, the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, AR, Stringalong near Milwaukee, WI, the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, KS and The tono American Music Festival, in Tono, Japan.

Stephen was Adjunct Instructor of Mountain Dulcimer with David Schnaufer at Vanderbilt's Blair School of Music from 1997 to 2001. He also taught, performed, and recorded with Mr. Schnaufer as a duo throughout the country. Stephen has authored ten books, four CDs, and 16 instructional videos.

http://stephenseifert.com/

wAYNE SEYMOUR teaches dulcimer, and plays guitar, banjo, mandolin, piano and any other instrument needed to enhance the words and images that are a part of Touring Theatre’s repertoire. He has worked as Touring Theatre’s Music Director since 2000 and has composed two violin scores, and directed, accompanied and composed original songs or arrangements for existing songs for eight additional productions. With several productions he created a musical accompaniment as actors rehearsed. Mr. Seymour has made several CD’s and performs at festivals and leads workshops in folk instruments across North Carolina. He is also the author of an instruction book for dulcimer.

Ruth Smith. Dirty Linen Folk & World Magazine says, “Ruth Smith's touch on the hammered dulcimer is absolutely magical, with exquisite phrasing, highlighting the range of the instrument especially on her own pieces.” Ruth is known for bringing the softer side of the hammered dulcimer to life. Dulcimer Players News says she is, “very sensitive to the nuances of the music, allowing each tune to breathe.” Ruth employs hands-on teaching techniques that place special emphasis on playing expressively.  

A native North Carolinian and musician from a very young age, Ruth records and performs with her husband, Steve, specializing in Celtic Appalachian music. Her compositions and arrangements have been featured in Dulcimer Players News and on NPR’s All Things Considered, All Songs Considered, Thistle & Shamrock, XM & Sirius satellite radio, Direct-TV and Dish Network, and Highlander Radio Network.

www.steveandruth.com

Steve Smith, a professional musician for more than four decades,  is an experienced fingerstyle acoustic guitarist noted for his rich guitar chords, leading patterns, and embellishments which compliment acoustic lead instruments such as wife Ruth’s hammered dulcimer. In recent years Steve has added clawhammer banjo to Steve & Ruth’s special style of Celtic Appalachian music. Dirty Linen World & Folk Music Magazine says "for the traditional, Steve Smith's clawhammer banjo adds a rich, true sound."  An ASCAP award winning songwriter and vocalist, Steve is a well rounded musician who teaches workshops in all areas of his expertise. Steve teaches recording/audio production (1997 to present) at Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina, and previously worked in the recording industry in Nashville, Los Angeles, and Hawaii. Steve & Ruth produce and engineer all of their CDs. Steve also teaches on music copyrights, clearance, and licensing.

www.steveandruth.com

Gale Sturm has been a stained glass artist for many years, and creates the individually made, one-of-a-kind, stained glass name badges that are KMW treasures given to each participant at the festival.  Gale has been teaching stained glass for several years at KMW and has taught this delightful art to many during the event.

Rick Thum taught himself to play guitar and drums at age twelve and played the trumpet in his high school band. Throughout high school and college (B. S. Industrial Administration) Rick played in rock bands, eventually playing regularly on the upper deck of the Admiral in St. Louis. While raising his family Rick directed his church choir. Rick's interest in traditional music was sparked when he bought a hammered dulcimer on a whim and found himself in a three-piece folk band. In 1991 Rick became co-owner of a large Midwestern acoustic instrument shop. In 1994 he sold his interest in the shop to devote more time to being a traveling musician. He placed first at the 1994 Southwest Regional Dulcimer Contest and third in the 1995 National Championship at Winfield, Kansas. Rick was voted Best Performer and Favorite Teacher for several years running at the prestigious Evart Dulcimer Funfest.

http://www.rthum.com/

CAROL WALKER's formal training includes a degree in Music Education, with majors in piano, harp, and voice. For 32 years Carol was a high school choral teacher in northern New Jersey with an active and successful program -- in 2003 she was honored to receive the NJ Governor's Teacher of the Year Award. She is now happily retired! She branched out from her formal classical training after purchasing her first mountain dulcimer in 1999 from Warren May. It wasn't long before she found a way to combine her love of teaching with her new direction in folk music, and has become a sought-after workshop leader at many different festivals. Carol has traveled twice to the Isle of Man (a small island in the Irish Sea) where she has done extensive research into traditional Manx music, producing a book of arrangements for mountain dulcimer (Tailless Tunes) and a CD (Alas! The Horse Is Gone), both exclusively devoted to this delightful Celtic-flavored music. Carol also plays upright bass and travels with her husband, guitarist Toby Walker, during his US, UK, and Canadian tours.

 www.musicladycarol.com

 

TISH WESTMAN

http://www.westmaninstruments.com/

ANDY YOUNG performs Gypsy Jazz, Irish traditional, and Quebecois tunes on Hammered Dulcimer, Irish Flute, Tin Whistle, and Guitar.

Andy's performances and workshops infuse beautiful music with humor and insight to provide a deep understanding of the role of music in our multicultural and interpersonal world.

Nina ZAnetti is the 2008 National Mountain Dulcimer Champion. She comes to the mountain dulcimer from a diverse musical background, including choral music, violin, viola, piano, and shape note singing. She plays regularly at churches, historic sites, and community events and has taught workshops at dulcimer festivals throughout the country, including Western Carolina University, Arkansas Dulcimer Jamboree, Dulcimerville, Colorado Dulcimer Festival and (upcoming) Kentucky Music Week. Nina is especially fond of the “softer side of dulcimer” and has produced two books of gentle, finger-style solo arrangements for mountain dulcimer, as well as two books of duet arrangements with Beth Lassi. She is featured on "Masters of the Mountain Dulcimer Play Music for Christmas" (CD) and has also recorded a CD of solos and duets with Bill Collins. In June, 2011, she released her first solo CD, “Beside Still Waters.”

http://www.ninazanetti.com/