LOIS HORNBOSTEL, Bryson City, NC
Mountain Dulcimer Week Founder & Director, Electives, Concert.
This event reflects Lois’s enthusiasm as a mountain dulcimer pilgrim and innovator. For 30 years she has made major contributions to mountain dulcimer playing technique and repertoire. She is a popular teacher/performer at dulcimer events across the country, and has written eight books published internationally by Mel Bay Publications. She is editor of their internet webzine, www.DulcimerSessions.com. Learning her music direct from traditional Irish, Appalachian, Cajun and world folk musicians, Lois has also introduced the dulcimer as a sometimes new voice in these musical styles. She learned to play Southern Appalachian style from traditional North Carolina dulcimer players Frank Proffitt, Jr. and Stanley Hicks, and has won the prestigious dulcimer competitions at the Galax, Mount Airy, and Fiddlers Grove old-time music conventions. Her recordings include an “Indie” Award finalist in the World Music category - “Vive le Dulcimer!” In addition to Lois’s own recordings, her music was chosen for “Masters of the Mountain Dulcimer Volume I” and the new “Masters of the Mountain Dulcimer Play Music for Christmas.” www.LoisHornbostel.com
STEPHEN SEIFERT, LaVergne, TN
Advanced Course Instructor, Electives, Concert.
Stephen Seifert’s teaching and playing have made him a favorite with dulcimer players at this event, at our Winter Weekend, and at hundreds of dulcimer festivals and other music events throughout the country since 1991. He has appeared at the Swannanoa Gathering, Augusta Heritage Center, the Ozark Folk Center, the Walnut Valley Festival , and the Tono (Japan) American Music Festival. Stephen has been a dulcimer soloist with the Nashville Chamber Orchestra since 1996 and is featured on their Warner Bros. Classical recording of Connie Ellisor and David Schnaufer’s “Blackberry Winter,” a concerto for mountain dulcimer and string orchestra. The piece continues to be in regular rotation on many classical radio stations around the U.S. Stephen has performed this piece with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, and the Montpellier Chamber Orchestra, among others. He 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. To learn more about him, please visit http://stephenseifert.com
LEO KRETZNER, Claremont, CA
Intermediate-into-Advanced Skills Course Instructor, Electives, Concert.
Since 1975 Leo Kretzner has been a musical inspiration to many mountain dulcimer players, including David Schnaufer, Lois Hornbostel, Mike Casey and more. His virtuosity has continued to flourish over the years as he plays everything from Celtic jigs and reels to blues, rock, and more traditional Appalachian styles. He is also a talented songwriter. His playing of dulcimer blues and traditional music can be heard on our “Dulcimer Celebrations” CD of outstanding concert performances from WCU Mountain Dulcimer Week. For an online sample of his playing visit http://www.dulcimerfling.com and click on “Behind the Haystack” in the lower left. Leo’s teaching style is encouraging and fun, organized and packed with information. A connoisseur of many kinds of music, he is able to teach his students to play them with authenticity. In recent years Leo’s performances and teaching have been limited to the West Coast as his musical journey has been paralleled by his career as a research scientist. (Dr. Kretzner’s work at the City of Hope National Medical Center is in cancer research.) We’re excited to offer this great musician’s experience, creativity, insights, and teaching skills to our Advanced level participants in the mornings and to others in afternoon electives. Leo has a dulcimer book and recordings to his credit. His website is http://www.leokretzner.com
LINDA BROCKINTON, Alexander, ARK
Intermediate Skills Course Instructor, Electives, Concert.
Linda started playing the dulcimer 20 years ago when her husband bought her one on their honeymoon. Being a flute major in college she took right to it. She won several competitions as well as the 2001 National Mountain Dulcimer Championship. Since then she has spent her time teaching dulcimer and flute at home and at festivals and clubs across the country. Linda primarily plays the chord/melody style and loves to fingerpick. The soft side of the dulcimer, such as Celtic music, hymns and classical, is her favorite kind of music. She has produced 8 CDs and 7 books along the way, but teaching music is what she loves best. Retiring next year from her regular job, she plans to do more hospice and hospital work and more club and festival events. We love the passion she puts into her music. www.lindabrockinton.com
LARRY CONGER, Paris, TN
Novice through Intermediate: “Ensembles for Mountain Dulcimer”
Course Instructor, Electives, Concert.
Larry was the 1998 National Mountain Dulcimer Champion and had won regional competitions before that. His uncomplicated but tasteful musical approach to the dulcimer has made him a popular instructor-performer at events throughout the dulcimer world. He is known for his melodic and well-engineered arrangements, and for his clear teaching style. At home in Paris, Tennessee Larry and his wife, Elaine, own and operate a private music studio, teaching piano, guitar, voice and drums as well as the mountain dulcimer. They are also middle school choir directors for a local church. Larry is active as a participating artist for both the Tennessee Arts Commission and Kentucky Arts Council, presenting dulcimer programs in the public schools. He is the author of eight books of his dulcimer arrangements and numerous recordings, including contributions to “Masters of the Mountain Dulcimer II,” “National Champions” and “Great Players of the Mountain Dulcimer” CD compilations. http://www.larryconger.com
ELAINE CONGER, Paris, TN
Novice through Intermediate: “Ensembles for Mountain Dulcimer”
Course Instructor, Electives, Concert.
Elaine Conger is a degreed music educator who has a passion for sharing her love for the arts. Her years as a professional musician include playing keyboards and singing back-up vocals for country artist Faith Hill. Not only is she a former classroom teacher, she has musically directed, accompanied, and performed in numerous musical theater productions. Elaine and husband Larry operate a private studio offering Kindermusik classes as well as private and group instruction. In her “spare time” she serves as organist at both an Episcopal and Methodist Church and aids Larry in creating accompaniment tracks for his numerous dulcimer projects. She is often found singing and playing dulcimers with husband, Larry at the various dulcimer events throughout the country.
BILL TAYLOR, Pigeon Forge, TN
Novice Skills Course Instructor, Electives, Concert.
Bill has been a valuable presence on the mountain dulcimer scene for over 15 years, when he first taught at this event when it was in Boone, NC. Before that for many years Bill performed at Dollywood and appeared on the Grand Ole Opry. A versatile and experienced musician, Bill’s music styles range from bluegrass and old-time to jazz, and are enriched by his expressive vocals. His teaching is inspired, organized and supportive. Bill is one of the most respected builders of quality mountain dulcimers, and his instruments can be found in the hands of many satisfied dulcimer players. During the school year, Bill teaches environmental science to sixth graders at the Eugene Huskey Environmental Center, where he also performs an “Introduction to Appalachian music” program playing dulcimer, banjo, guitar, mandolin, mouth bow and other instruments.
PAUL ANDRY, Highlands, NC
Beginner-into-Novice Skills Course Instructor, Electives, Concert.
Paul Andry is credited as the creator of the highly successful Mardi Gras Dulcimer Festival in Covington, Louisiana and as the catalyst of the dulcimer’s current popularity in his home state. He is known for his lyrical touch with contemporary music from New Orleans Mardi Gras to ragtime, Celtic, pop - not to mention traditional American folk music and classical. Paul will share this knowledge in his classes here. Paul’s music journey started in his early childhood when he was selected to study ragtime piano with Al Streeman; a retired New Orleans Big Band leader. He first discovered the dulcimer while vacationing in Mountain View, Arkansas, where he later placed or won several competitions in both the individual and ensemble categories. He also won the Texas State Dulcimer Championship in 1994. Paul taught several fellow church members to play, starting the Bayou Dulcimer Club and was a founding member of the string band, Les Amis. He is the author of three books of arrangements and continues to teach and perform at festivals throughout the South.
Paul has recently retired and moved to Highlands, North Carolina where he continues to teach, perform and work on new arrangements. pandry1@verizon.net.
ANNE LOUGH, Clyde, NC
Beginner Course Instructor, Electives, Concert.
A native of Springfield, VA, Anne began playing and singing folk music as a teenager. She continued to share her music while raising four daughters and completing degrees in Music Education at Murray State University and Western Carolina University. Anne now devotes her time of festivals, workshops, performances, Elderhostel classes, and school residencies. Besides mountain dulcimer, she plays guitar, autoharp, and hammered dulcimer, and is known for her beautiful singing. Anne’s music ranges from traditional to classical and popular styles - all performed with artistic interpretation and musical sensitivity. She has several books and recordings to her credit. Anne has been on our staff many times, and her students always appreciate her well-planned classes, her teaching skills, patience and friendliness. http://www.annelough.info
DON PEDI, Marshall, NC
Special Course on “Traditional Music for Dulcimer,” Electives, Concert.
Don’s a “Renaissance man.” A champion dulcimer player. A supportive teacher who is dedicated to researching with authenticity the traditional Southern dance tunes and songs he performs. He’s a T’ai Chi instructor. An old-time music deejay. A visual artist. Don and his wife, Jean, live in Madison County, NC, an area rich in traditional music and customs. His playing has received many awards, including Most Outstanding Performer at the ’89 Asheville Mountain Dance & Folklife Festival, and the places he has played include the ’03 Smithsonian Folklife Festival. He appeared playing his dulcimer in the Lion’s Gate motion picture “Songcatcher.” Don’s works include numerous CDs, instructional books and DVDs, available from his website, http://www.donpedi.com
JOE HICKERSON, Wheaton, MD
Special Course on “Traditional Music for Dulcimer,” Electives, Concert.
Those of us who love traditional music have a treat in store with Joe Hickerson! He is one of the country’s most accomplished folksingers, with a career of collecting and performing that spans more than 50 years. He is our country’s best-known folksong archivist, and served from 1963-1998 at the US Library of Congress as a Librarian and then as Head of the Archive of Folk Song (later called the Archive of Folk Culture). Joe’s performing has flourished throughout. His wide-ranging repertoire of English-language songs and ballads includes humorous songs and parodies, Irish-American songs, sea songs, religious songs, occupational and labor songs, and children’s songs. He has solo recordings and has contributed musically to many others. His mountain dulcimer credentials include an extensive bibliography on the instrument in 1971 at the Library of Congress – believed to be the first such bibliography on the subject. When the makers of the films “O Brother Where Art Thou” and “Cold Mountain” looked for authentic music, Joe Hickerson was the person they asked about their history. We asked Joe if he could tell us more about our favorite dulcimer tunes and songs. It’s said that Joe knows more folk songs than anyone – and we believe it! Entrusted to his musicianship, warmth and wit, our traditional music is in great hands. He will be part of our “Traditional Music for Mountain Dulcimer” morning course and will present afternoon electives. www.joehickerson.com
WILFRIED ULRICH, Norden, Ostfrieslnd, Germany
Special Course on “Traditional Music for Dulcimer,” Electives, Concert.
Wilfried Ulrich is a German luthier and musician who does expert restorations of precious antique instruments for museums and designs replicas and innovations of traditional string instruments. His work can be seen at his website (for an English translation of it Google “Wilfried Ulrich hummel’). To see Wilfried’s instruments and hear him play, visit:
http://de.youtube.com/results?search_query=ulricus&search_type=&aq=f
SUSAN BOYER HALEY, Clearwater, FL
Special Course on “Traditional Music for Dulcimer,” Electives, Concert.
Susan is a fourth generation American folk musician. Both sides of her family were musical and her love of traditional music began in childhood. She possesses a stunning singing voice, and a spirited, natural dulcimer playing style, and writes memorable songs. A native of Missouri, Susan has spent the past 25 years settled in the Deep South. She learned to play the mountain dulcimer from her father, learned to sing from her mother, and learned to play the psaltery from her uncle. Her repertoire of folk music draws on the traditional music of America, her Celtic roots, the Missouri music tradition, and Appalachia. Susan makes her home with her husband of thirty years, Bill Haley, in Florida. The Haleys have two sons who are also very musical. In addition to folk music performances, she sings in her local church choir and teaches mountain dulcimer and guitar students in Clearwater.
KENNETH BLOOM, Pilot Mountain, NC
Special Course on “Bowing the Dulcimer” Electives, and Concert.
Ken has given solo concerts all over North America since 1974, featuring traditional American music as well as Celtic and Eastern European styles. Among countless credits, he has been featured as a concert zither soloist with the Charlotte, NC Symphony. This versatile and spirited musician has enriched our event in many ways since we first brought him in as a “zither player” about 15 years ago. We soon found out he was a lot more than a zither player, having mastered many stringed and woodwind instruments like guitar, clarinet, Northumbrian smallpipes, and minstrel banjo, to name just a few. His teaching blended all his musical experience with his love of history – and a lively dose of humor! Then he dazzled us with his skills as a luthier. Along the way since he first came to us, Ken developed a style of mountain dulcimer especially intended for bowing – along with new techniques for playing it. (Read more about it at the back of this catalog.) He has three CDs, two of them featuring the bowed dulcimer. http:// www.boweddulcimer.com
JOHN HURON, Bristol, TN
Instructor of “Building a Traditional Mountain Dulcimer” Course.
John builds and plays a variety of historical instruments. His mountain dulcimers, fretless banjos, mouth bows and “bones” are copies of instruments that have been played throughout the Southern Appalachian mountains for over a century. His gourd “banjars” (replicas of 1800s slave instruments) are currently in use at Colonial Williamsburg, Old Salem, and Rocky Mount Living History Museum, and he has invented a couple of folk instruments to boot! A knowledgeable and humorous musical performer, John is especially fond of presenting the folk music from the 18th and 19th Centuries originally played on the type of instruments he builds. In addition to teaching many courses in traditional dulcimer building, John has worked closely over the years with legendary builder Bob Mize, and is a contributor to the Foxfire 12 book. http://www.noteworthyjohn.com
John’s teaching assistant in the building course will be HOMER PHILLIPS of Mesquite, TX.
JERRY ROCKWELL, Guysville, OH
Tutor for Advanced and Intermediate-into-Advanced courses, electives, concert.
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 these instruments. 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. http://www.jcrmusic.com
NINA ZANETTI, Guilderland, NY
Tutor for Intermediate and Novice courses, electives, concert.
Nina is the current National Champion Mountain Dulcimer Player. She comes to the mountain dulcimer from a diverse musical background that includes choral music, violin, viola, piano, and shape note singing. She plays regularly at churches, historic sites, and community events and has taught workshops at numerous dulcimer festivals in the northeast. Nina is fond of the “softer side of dulcimer,” and especially enjoys using a gentle, expressive fingerpicking approach for playing Celtic, hymns, classical and other types of music. She has produced two books of her dulcimer arrangements, one a collection of finger-style solo arrangements, and the other a book of duets (with Beth Lassi). Nina has produced a CD of solos and duets, “The Sum of the Parts,” with Bill Collins, and is also featured in the new “Masters of the Mountain Dulcimer Play Music for Christmas.” http://ninazanetti.com
PAUL HENDERSON, Fort Collins, CO
Tutor for Novice and Beginner-into-Novice Courses, Concert.
Paul is one of the outstanding young mountain dulcimer players. He began playing as a student of Steve Eulberg, and was one of our most impressive Youth Scholars. Paul plays many styles of music from traditional Appalachian to Dire Straits. Always happy to help out another dulcimer player, we are happy to have him as one of our tutors this year.
SARAH BORDERS, Statesville, NC
Beginner Skills Course Tutor, Concert.
After taking a class from Lois Hornbostel at an early 1980s ASU Dulcimer Workshop, Sarah went back to Statesville and quickly recruited two musical friends, Jan Murphy and Harriette Andrews. Their dulcimers formed the nucleus of the “Front Porch Strings,” a popular Statesville string band. In 1987 Sarah started using dulcimers in her work as a school counselor, later co-founding a project called “Close Harmony,” an ensemble for behavior-handicapped boys. The group did well enough to “go on the road,” sharing their music at nursing homes each Wednesday. Sarah uses the dulcimer in her private counseling practice. Sarah and Harriette Andrews continue to share dulcimers with schoolchildren in the Statesville area and are active jamming with the traditional musicians at the Cook Shack in Union Grove Community.
MIKE ANDERSON, Jacksonville, IL
Coordinator of Dulcimer Marketplace and Volunteers,
Electives, Concert MC & Performer.
Mike is nationally known for his talents on the mountain dulcimer, and as a storyteller, educator, and author. His children’s shows are legendary, and his TV show, “Mike’s Music Works,” received a National Children’s Television Award. A recording artist of both music and story, Mike has received two Parents’ Choice awards, the latest for “Anna’s Old Boot” – a collection of stories and songs on the dulcimer. One of the songs on this recording was received “Best Children’s Song of 2003” from the Children’s Music Web. Under Mike’s leadership, both the New Salem Storytelling Festival and the Clayville Music & Storytelling Festival before that grew to national renown. In addition to mountain dulcimer, Mike plays guitar, banjo, jaw harp, nose flute, and bones. http://www.dulcimerguy.com
PHYLLIS & JIM GASKINS, Port Republic, VA
Electives, Jams, Concert.
Phyllis is one of the most accomplished and well-loved Galax, VA noter-style dulcimer players. She learned this style from Galax’s Raymond Melton over 30 years ago, and continues the tradition of playing old Southwestern Virginia and North Carolina fiddle tunes as well as traditional Irish and Scottish fiddle tunes on her dulcimer. A native of the Virginia Blue Ridge foothills, Phyllis sings in the traditional unaccompanied style of her grandmother, and sometimes accompanies herself with noter-style dulcimer. Her husband, Jim Gaskins, is an outstanding old-time and Celtic fiddler and plays clawhammer banjo. Their music can be heard on three CDs, the latest of which is “Old Virginia.” Phyllis’s current projects include revising her book of Galax style music and writing stories and songs for children. Both have been professional educators for over 30 years.
MICHAEL FOX, Hickory, NC
Electives, Concert, and Jam Leader
We welcome Michael Fox to our staff! Well-known in North Carolina old-time music circles, we first knew him as a fiddler and banjo player. But he is here in his exciting identity of peerless developer and premier player of the “DULCIJO” - a wonderful member of the mountain dulcimer hybrid family. This might have been predicted because Michael’s first exposure to traditional music was in 1969 when his sister gave him a dulcimer kit. In high school he formed his first old-time string band with dulcimer, banjo, washtub bass, scrub board, and guitars. Later he played clawhammer banjo with such bands as the “Grayson Highlands String Band” and Harper Van Hoy’s “Fiddlers Grove String Band.” He now plays with “Possum Hollar String Band,” which he formed about 15 years ago. Over 20 years ago after seeing a “strumstick” Michael came up with the idea of a diatonic 3-string banjo. After years of working on the design with his friend Richard Shook, they began to construct DULCI-JOs to customers all over the world on their website www.dulcijo.com . Michael has won clawhammer banjo competitions at many fiddle conventions playing the DULCI-JO! For about 30 years he has taught people to play fiddle, banjo and DULCI-JO.
JOE SHELTON, Greensboro, NC
“Dulcimer Doctor,” Dulcimer Supply Booth, and Elective.
One of the best dulcimer repair people in the business, for many years Joe has rescued and fine-tuned thousands of dulcimers. He is also a talented musician who performs on fiddle and mountain and hammered dulcimers. Joe and his wife, Marie, have their own string band, “Toneflyer.”
WILL PEEBLES, Director of WCU School of Music, Cullowhee, NC
Electives and Shape-Note Singing.
Dr. Will Peebles teaches bassoon and serves as Director of the WCU School of Music. Prior to his sojourn with “administrivia,” he taught oboe, music history, and theory at the undergraduate and graduate levels. He maintains an active performing career with appearances in faculty recitals on campus and with several symphony orchestras. Will is also the director of the WCU Low Tech ensemble, which performs on Javanese, Sudanese, and Balinese gamelan. Since 2000 Will has invited our participants over to the Music Department, where he has taught them to play these exotic percussion instruments, directing them as a novice gamelan orchestra! http://www.wcu.edu/6617.asp
DOC and JEAN RUSSELL, Wireknot Productions, Charlotte, NC
Concert Sound Engineers.
With over 25 years of experience, this husband-and-wife team has provided excellent sound for our concerts for several years. They work at many music festivals and have a recording studio that specializes in acoustic music.
STEVE & RUTH ANN ENDSLEY, Canton, IL
Concerts Stage Manager.
Steve, his wife, Ruth Ann, and his crew are the power behind the scenes at our concerts and open stage. Steve also builds beautiful dulcimers. He organizes dulcimer workshops with Mike Anderson, and helps put on dulcimer events at the Mounds in Illinois and the Gebhard Woods and is involved in organizing dulcimer workshops with Mike Anderson. He is one of the organizers of the dulcimer festivals at the Mounds and the Gebhard Woods in Illinois.
JIMMY & JOYCE CARY, Cantrall, IL
Assistant Stage Managers.
This talented and versatile couple will be working with Steve Endsley in our concert productions.
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
We have been blessed with some great staff whose management skills make the week work well. Many thanks to WCU’s Bobby Hensley, Susan Fouts, Joni Kenyon, and the rest of the Continuing Ed staff, who work with Lois throughout the year on Dulcimer Week.
Our Week’s staff will include Marie Shelton of Greensboro, NC. A spirited old-time dulcimer player, Marie will perform in Wednesday night’s concert, along with her husband, Joe Shelton. Marie also took many of the photos in this catalog and prepares delightful slide shows at our Friday Farewell Session. Linda Hynson, another active dulcimer player with lots of business skills, also works in our workshop office during our week. Laura Phillips, who also plays dulcimer, is also a great quilter, whose quilts you will see at our concerts. She helps out on many fronts, including helping our Youth Scholars prepare their music Friday’s Farewell Session.