Artist Biographies
 

Jeff Furman is an award-winning mountain dulcimer player who is known for his smooth and expressive style.  And his gentle, humorous, and effective teaching style has made him a popular instructor at numerous mountain dulcimer workshops across the country.  Jeff is a multi-instrumentalist who has been playing old-time music since 1980. Primarily a clawhammer banjo player for many years, he developed a rhythmic and melodic style which has heavily influenced his dulcimer playing.  He has an extensive repertoire of old-time fiddle music which crosses over to a strong interest in Celtic music.  He has a particular fondness for waltzes and Celtic airs on the dulcimer.  Jeff has performed individually, with his wife, Janet, and with several old-time bands for over 25 years. His technical abilities and musical sensitivity has made Jeff a popular choice for playing on multiple recordings, including music from Ireland, Scotland, the Appalachian Mountains, and American folk tunes.  Jeff describes himself as a “musician with a day job!”  He lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

With roots in both African and Seminole Indian tribes, Bing Futch's window on America is a unique landscape of music, words and imagery. He began playing Appalachian mountain dulcimer at Knott's Berry Farm theme park in 1985, working at a Ghost Town shop for Bud & Donna Ford.

In 1986, Futch founded Christian techno-punk band Crazed Bunnyz, a trio that grew popular in the international underground college radio scene. Beginning his solo career that same year, he has since composed dozens of scores for film, theater, themed attractions and television. Futch left his California hometown of Los Angeles in 1993 to pursue production opportunities in central Florida where he immediately set up a multimedia company called J.O.B. Entertainment Inc.

Guy George, from Cleveland, Ohio, is a rhythmic, melodic hammered dulcimer player with a definite jazz influence to his playing style. Guy comes from a background in jazz and performance on the saxophone, having studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston; honing his skills playing with many jazz influenced musicians in the Boston and New York area. He has settled outside Cleveland, Ohio and presently plays hammered dulcimer, tenor, alto and soprano saxophones, flute, steel drum and keyboard.

Guy tours throughout the United States and Canada performing and recording and teaching workshops on the hammered dulcimer and penny whistle. His most recent recordings are with Maddie MacNeil on her latest CD "As Time Goes By"; David Moran and Joe Morgan on their latest CD "I Wish They Hadn't Done That"; Tull Glazener on his latest CD "Plays Well With Others"; and his own creation "Dream Castle."
 

Dave Haas lives in Charleston , WV and has been playing the mountain dulcimer for 10 years.  Dave earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Cincinnati , worked for twenty years in the Chemical Industry, and is now enjoying a second career as Professor of Chemistry at West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery , WV .  He teaches dulcimer in both private and group settings, and was the founder of the Almost Heaven Dulcimer Club in Charleston , WV .  Dave loves to share the mountain dulcimer and its history with schools, churches, and civic organizations, and 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, and Teens Encounter Christ.

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.
 

Maureen Sellers Maureen's style and music preferences for the dulcimer are varied. Coming from a childhood exposed to Big Band music, rock and roll, classical, and folk music, she loves almost every type of music. Utilizing the wonderful drones of the dulcimer, Maureen plays traditional music from the Appalachian and Ozark mountains. She also flatpicks songs to create waves of arpeggios that pull the listener into the music. Sing-alongs are interspersed in both her classes and performances. Gospel and sacred music are featured in her classes and concerts.

Maureen approaches both her workshops and performances with a warmth and sense of humor that makes the student and audience feel at ease. She creates a comfortable and creative atmosphere for learning.

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.