Western Carolina University

Larry Conger (Paris, Tennessee) – Dulcimer U Director – Larry and his wife Elaine are co-directors of Dulcimer U at Western Carolina University. They make their home in Paris, Tennessee where they operate a private music studio, teaching piano, voice, guitar and drums as well as the mountain dulcimer. Some of their instruction includes long distance learning via Skype and Larry's Tune of the Month, a CD lesson by mail.
 
A graduate of the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) Larry has been involved with music as a vocation for over 35 years. Besides being a popular instructor at various dulcimer workshops around the country, Larry also served as a church music director for several Baptist churches during the late 1970s through the 1990s. He has been a participating artist for the Tennessee Arts Commission’s Arts In Education program as well as the Kentucky Arts Council’s Teacher Incentive Program, bringing dulcimer music into the public schools.
 
In 1995, Larry won the Southern Regional Mountain Dulcimer Championship in Mountain View, Arkansas. Three years later, he won the prestigious National Mountain Dulcimer Championship in Winfield, Kansas. Larry has authored fourteen dulcimer books and has three recordings to his credit.
 
When Larry is not teaching the Master Class during the morning hours or attending to the details of Dulcimer U, he will be helping his wife, Elaine direct the Dulcimer Ensemble elective each afternoon.

Elaine Conger (Paris, Tennessee) Dulcimer U Director – Elaine is also one of our directors for Dulcimer U. She and her husband, Larry work throughout the year to bring Dulcimer U together in July.
 
Elaine is a professional music educator and Orff-Schulwerk specialist who has a passion for instilling a love for the arts in young people. Her years as a professional musician, combined with her experience as a classroom teacher give her a unique perspective when working with students.

Her past musical experience includes touring with her own country band, performing on the General Jackson showboat at Opryland in Nashville and touring as pianist and back-up vocalist with country music superstar, Faith Hill. More recently, she has directed and accompanied numerous musical theater productions and even starred in a few herself. Her favorite role to date is as Patsy in “Always Patsy Cline.” Elaine also serves as organist/music director for a local Episcopal Church.

 

 Ralph Lee Smith - (Reston, Virginia) Beautiful Mountain Songs for the Dulcimer - Ralph Lee Smith is widely regarded as the foremost authority on the mountain dulcimer's history and its music. We are extremely fortunate to have Ralph on our Dulcimer U staff. He is a true American treasure!
Ralph lived in Greenwich Village in the 1960s and participated in the Folk Revival. In the Village, he heard the traditional Kentucky dulcimer player, Jean Ritchie, perform. At that time, the dulcimer was a rare instrument. Excited by the dulcimer and its music, Ralph bought one, taught himself to play, and played at Village gatherings where young people were rediscovering old-time Appalachian music.
In the 1970s, Ralph became increasingly interested in the dulcimer's history. He made many Appalachian field trips, meeting old-time dulcimer makers and players in Virginia, North Carolina, and Kentucky. He also acquired a number of antique and traditional dulcimers, which he uses in demonstrations and displays.

Ralph has given performances and demonstrations at the White House, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, the Mountain Heritage Center, and colleges, folk festivals, folk music clubs and dulcimer clubs, civic groups, and historic sites. He has taught courses in Mountain Dulcimer Traditions and Appalachian music at Dulcimer Weeks, Dulcimer Weekends and Workshops at Appalachian State University, Western Carolina University, Shenandoah University, the Augusta Heritage Center at Davis and Elkins College, Common Ground on the Hill at McDaniel College, and the Blue Ridge Institute at Ferrum College. He writes a column on dulcimer history, entitled, "Dulcimer Tales and Traditions," for the quarterly magazine, "Dulcimer Players News."

Ralph holds a BA in English Literature from Swarthmore College and an M.Ed. from the University of Virginia. He has written many books and magazine articles, and won a number of major writing awards, including the National Magazine Award for Public Service, given by the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

 

Janita Baker (Santa Margarita, California)

– Level I Skills - Janita returns from the 2012 Dulcimer Week staff to again direct the Level I New Player/Beginner Skills Class at Dulcimer U. The demand from students to have her back each year is overwhelming due to her methodical and patient approach to teaching. Janita has expressed a passion for teaching players who are just getting started on the dulcimer and her class exemplifies that passion. Her kind and gentle spirit endears dulcimer players to her almost immediately after the first meeting. In addition to her work with the beginners each morning, she will be teaching a variety of electives for various skill levels during the afternoon sessions.

Janita has been playing mountain dulcimer for over 30 years. Through her recordings, books and appearances at festivals/workshops across the United States she has become well-known for her teaching skills and for 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.

Lorinda Jones (Rineyville, Kentucky) Caregiving and Comfort with the Dulcimer - Lorinda became interested in the mountain dulcimer as a music educator in the public schools. Her first self-published books were developed as instructional and song materials for her classroom and ensembles. As she began teaching adults, she continued to arrange music to meet the needs of her students.

Since her initial involvement with teaching dulcimer, arranging music, and leading performing ensembles, Lorinda has gone on to have a successful solo featuring the history and playing of the mountain dulcimer in Kentucky. Three of her books are published by Mel Bay Publications, five or her CD recordings feature the mountain dulcimer, and she is a contributing artist on both the "Great Players of the Mountain Dulcimer" and "Masters of the Mountain Dulcimer Play Christmas."

Lorinda has taught and performed at festivals and camps across the United States, including Kentucky Music Week, Swannanoa Gathering near Asheville, NC, and Meadowlark Music Camp, in Maine.

As an extension to her music therapy and dulcimers in the classroom work, she has developed a method of teaching the dulcimer to special learners and a sequential program that uses colors, numbers, and an adapted approach for success.

She remains an active member of the Kentucky Arts on Tour Directory (a juried directory of the Kentucky Arts Council), performing for schools, Kentucky Crafted Market venues, and other local and state events.

When Lorinda is not teaching her morning class, she will be offering various afternoon electives and help the Congers direct the Dulcimer Ensemble Class one afternoon  during the week.

Madeline MacNeil (Berryville, Virginia) Level II Skills - It's been said that Madeline MacNeil's audiences hold their collective breath as the last notes of her songs drift into the tableau of stages large and small. Since 1972, when she began performing in Virginia's Shenandoah National Park, Madeline's goal has always been to bring listeners into the song. Her interest in stories first brought the mountain and hammered dulcimers to her attention, for they are part of this country's musical history and the heritage of other countries before they arrived here. This is part of Madeline's treasure as a performer: she sings and tells the stories with her beautiful voice and exceptional dulcimer skills.

Maddie recounts: I began my days there playing the guitar as an accompaniment to my singing, and most of my songs came from the repertoires of Peter, Paul and Mary, Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell and Judy Collins. I knew there was a dulcimer in the folk world, having heard some recordings, but had never seen or heard one in person. That changed in 1974 when I met Ralph Lee Smith. What a simple statement that is to write! Meeting Ralph literally changed my life. He insisted that I add the dulcimer to my music—and I did. Through Ralph I became more interested in Southern Appalachian folks and their music. Also in those Skyland years I met the hammered dulcimer and the Dulcimer Players News became part of my life.

Sue Carpenter (Quinlan, Texas) Level III Skills - Sue started playing the dulcimer in 1981 and began performing and teaching in 1982. When she first played a mountain dulcimer she was immediately captivated by its simplicity and challenged by its fingerpicking possibilities.  As an instrumentalist, she is best known for her expressive style and exceptional technical ability.  She delights her audience and balances her repertoire with a wide range of styles and tempos: traditional, folk, original compositions, ragtime, fingerpicking, and strumming.

Her innovative fingerpicking style has won her many awards.  Early in her career, Sue won a third place in 1983 and a first and two second places in 1984 at dulcimer competitions in Coshocton, Ohio.  Most recently, Sue became the 2005 National Mountain Dulcimer Champion at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, KS, after placing second in 2003.

As a teacher, Sue is well known for her challenging, highly organized and intensive methods, nurturing patience, and energetic enthusiasm that make learning fun.  She is a favorite workshop leader and performer at dulcimer festivals from Maine to California.  Before moving to Texas, Sue taught for many years for Old Songs and The Heldeberg Workshop, in the Albany, NY, area; and in 1985, she founded the Dulcimer Association of Albany.

Born and raised in Quakertown, PA, Sue likes to think that her love for the mountain dulcimer was rooted in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country even before she knew about dulcimers or their German zither heritage.  After years of playing piano and organ, Sue finally felt "at home" when she picked up a dulcimer for the first time, knowing that this was the instrument she had been unconsciously searching for all her life.

Sue will also be teaching several afternoon electives in addition to her morning skills class.

Gary Gallier (Springfield, Missouri) Level IV Skills - Gary Gallier is nationally recognized as a pioneer and innovator on the Mountain Dulcimer, along with his brother Les. Gary has redefining not only how the instrument is played but also has expanded it’s musical realm. Both Gary and brother Les have won the title of National Champion at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas with Gary taking the top honor in 1987. Gary flatpicks melodies on all the strings, much like a guitarist.

When you listen to Gary's music, you can hear the influences, a hint of New Grass and Dawg for a progressive edge, flavored with Classical and Celtic in smooth precision. Add a taste of Mountain styles and a true signature sound is created. Anyone familiar with the lap dulcimer would expect an accomplished player to coax beautiful, flowing music from the instrument, and Gary does; but he has also shown that power and energy is well within reach. The Gallier Brothers 1993 album “On the Wing” has been called “a landmark dulcimer album” and Russell Cook of Wood N’ Strings Records states ” definitely stands alone in the world of dulcimer music”. Further expressing the cutting edge of dulcimer music, their 2001 release “Craft of Kin” has been reviewed as having ” a powerful and highly original vision of where the dulcimer can go” ….”should inspire us well into the future.”

Sarah Morgan (Sharps Chapel, Tennessee) Afternoon Electives - Sarah Morgan started her musical journey at 7 years old and has fallen in love with traditional and folk music through the years. A native of East Tennessee, Sarah has incorporated the rich musical heritage of the area into her music. In July of 2010 she released her self-published, debut album, Simply Sarah and has just released her second album, Run to the Window.

Sarah has performed at numerous festivals and venues across the country including, Kentucky Music Weekend Folk Festival, the Tennessee Fall Homecoming at the Appalachian Museum, and the WDVX Blue Plate Special. Also an enthusiastic teacher, Sarah has shared the joy of the dulcimer with many workshop students across the country, including Kentucky Music Week, Dulcimer Chautauqua on the Wabash, and the Ohio Valley Gathering.

Sarah is the reigning National Mountain Dulcimer Champion, having won the honor at age 18. Prior to that, she also won multiple titles including Mid-Eastern Regional Mountain Dulcimer Champion, Kentucky State Champion and Southern Regional Champion.

 

Bob Magowan (Memphis, Tennessee)

Dulcimer Building Class – Bob’s job at Dulcimer U will be to show participants how to build their own mountain dulcimer from the parts he will provide.
 
Bob began his luthier career in August, 2000 when he purchased a mountain dulcimer kit, assembled it and began to learn how to play it.  Following that experience he started designing and making his own mountain dulcimers.  He currently constructs Magowan Mountain Dulcimers, which are custom made instruments, at his home in Memphis.
 
Over the years he has developed an interest in other stringed instruments by repairing all types of bowed instruments including violins, violas, cellos, and he has also worked on guitars, mandolins and concert zithers. To date Bob has built over 100 instruments, mostly mountain dulcimers, but also pickin’ sticks, cookie can instruments, a mandolin and a number of experimental instruments.  His musical interests include old time and bluegrass music and playing dulcimer, fiddle, viola, mandolin and tenor guitar.

Marsha Harris (Morehead City, North Carolina) – Learning To Play By Ear – Marsha has played the mountain dulcimer for the past eighteen years and the bowed dulcimer for eight years.  Her varied musical interests include traditional old-time, Celtic, contemporary, classical, Swedish, Cajun and original compositions.  She plays beautiful, intricate melodies on the mountain dulcimer and is an excellent dulcimer player.  Her easygoing style in teaching and patience are a favorite with students. Dulcimer instructors have taught her original composition, ‘Red Dog’, published in the Dulcimer Folk Association of Connecticut newsletter, to students for its ease of learning and it can be heard in jam circles.
 
Marsha’s varied interests are seen in instrumentation as well as genres of music.  She also plays the fiddle, Native American flute and tenor banjo. She has taught at various dulcimer workshops in Winston-Salem, Shelby, Kinston, and WCU Winter Weekend in North Carolina; Lagniappe Festival in Louisiana; and August Dulcimer Daze in Vermont. 
 
Marsha attends fiddle festivals where she uses her ability to learn new tunes by ear adapting them to the dulcimer and bringing them to the dulcimer community.  She has received several awards and a dulcimer championship in NC.  She is a two-time dulcimer champion at Fiddler’s Grove and her ‘First Teardrop’ composition has won second place at the Mt. Airy Fiddler’s Convention.  To compliment her music Marsha also is a caller for contra dances and Civil War reenactment balls.

Jim Miller (Hampton, Tennessee) Master of the Jam – Jim has been playing and performing traditional music for more than 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 (Jam-Meister, Master of the Jam, etc.) who likes to get everyone involved. He plays guitar, banjo, octave mandolin, bass, steel drum, percussion, autoharp, hammered and mountain dulcimers as well as his own off-the-wall musical inventions, which are always entertaining.
 
Jim holds a Master’s degree in Elementary Education and has completed the course work for certification in music education. He teaches 4th grade at Cloudland Elementary School in Roan Mountain, Tennessee, where he leads an after school traditional string band program. He also teaches dulcimer and autoharp in the Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music program at East Tennessee State University.

Anne Lough (Waynesville, North Carolina) Afternoon Electives - Anne Lough joins the Dulcimer U staff this year to teach some afternoon electives. She is a nationally known traditional musician with over thirty-five years experience in performance and teaching. A native of Springfield, Virginia, Anne has been around music all her life and began playing and singing folk music as a young teen. She has continued to share her love of music through the years while raising four daughters and completing a Music Education Degree from Murray State University, Murray, Kentucky, and a Master of Music Education Degree from Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC. She now devotes all her time to festivals, workshops, performances and school residencies.

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, Augusta Heritage Dulcimer Week and at numerous other festivals and workshops throughout the country. Equally at home on guitar, autoharp, mountain and hammered dulcimer, Anne's mastery is impressive. Her artistic interpretation, sensitive playing style, versatility and skill as an instructor have earned her national acclaim.

Anne is well known as an instructor and performer of traditional singing, storytelling, folklore, folk dance and the shaped-note tradition, but her repertoire ranges from classical music to old standards, show tunes and sacred music. Her programs have delighted and inspired all ages from day-care and pre-school children to Elderhostelers. Active in schools as a Visiting Artist, Anne is also on the Touring Artist Roster for the North Carolina Arts Council.

Anne's music can be heard on a number of recordings, Smoky Mountain educational videos, public radio and a recent PBS Christmas Special. She has also published several collections of arrangements for the mountain and hammered dulcimer.

Gary Sager (Waverly, Ohio) Dulcimer Doctor - Gary is the resident “Mr. Fix It” at Dulcimer U, making himself available to do repairs or upgrade work on your dulcimer throughout the week. He will also be one of the largest merchandise vendors in attendance.
 
Gary became interested in the Mountain Dulcimer in 1991 after seeing David Schnaufer's "Fischer's Hornpipe" video on CMT. He built a dulcimer in late 1991, then began building seriously in 1992 and has been building and playing since that time.
 
Gary, along with wife Toni are the owners of "Prussia Valley Dulcimers Acoustic Music Shop". Gary has taught playing workshops at Fort New Salem Dulcimer Festival, Dulcimer Doin's in Dayton, Ohio, Buckeye Dulcimer Festival in Ashley, Ohio, The Great River Road Dulcimer Festival in Grafton, IL, Yellowbanks Dulcimer Festival in Owensboro, KY, Chestnut Ridge Dulcimer Festival in Greensburg, PA, Western Carolina University Dulcimer Week and several other regional festivals. Gary and Toni perform occasionally at these festivals.
 
Gary and Toni have one CD to their credit, "Rats In the Fence Corner", which features an eclectic blend of tunes. Gary can also be heard on Doug Felt's "A Little of This & A Little of That" CD. His first tablature book, "Other Tunes For Appalachian Dulcimer" was published in March of 2009 and features many tunes not normally heard on mountain dulcimer.

Denise Borens (Tennessee Ridge, Tennessee) Administrative Assistant – Denise is the heartbeat of Dulcimer U, working behind the scenes while everyone is in class to address all of the small details that make the week run smoothly. She can be found in the vendor area selling raffle tickets or helping participants with room assignments, in the classrooms making announcements or in nearby Sylva running errands.
 
Denise has been playing the mountain dulcimer for 14 years as a member of Three Rivers Dulcimer Club in Waverly, Tennessee and 12 years as a student of Conger Music Studio in Paris, Tennessee. She is a retired generating plant operator and instructor for the Tennessee Valley Authority. If you have a question about anything regarding Dulcimer U, Denise is the one to ask as she probably knows the answer.

 

Joe Collins is the 2007 National Mountain Dulcimer Champion. He 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.

He loves working with and performing for people.  His eight books of dulcimer tablature grew out of a desire to teach others to play.  He is a popular mountain dulcimer clinician at festivals, offering clear instruction supplemented by easy-to-follow instructional material.  He is a songwriter, vocalist, and an occasional guitarist.  His performances are sprinkled with a lot of humor and some excellent mountain dulcimer playing - sure to bring a smile to audiences of all ages.

Joe graduated from East Carolina University with Bachelor and Master degrees in English, from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity with Religious Education, and from NC State University with a Doctorate in Adult Education. He has worked in Religious Education for most of his professional career and now serves as Assistant Professor of Religion at Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, NC.  And, of course, he continues to occasionally build dulcimers as therapy for his busy life and accepts as many opportunities to teach and perform as he can!

As much as he loves sharing his music and craft, he loves the opportunity to share his faith in Jesus Christ even more. He currently resides in Shelby, North Carolina. See what's going on with Joe at www.jcdulcimer.com.