Come and hear the tutors from our Dulcimer course in concert, showcasing the varied and interesting repertoire for both Hammered and Mountain Dulcimers.
This year’s tutors are:
Ken Kolodner (Hammered Dulcimer)
Baltimore-based Ken Kolodner is widely recognized as one of one of today’s most accomplished, musical hammered dulcimer artists and a fine old-time fiddler. For nearly 40 years, Kolodner toured as a soloist and in ensembles with world music trio Helicon (with Robin Bullock and Chris Norman), Greenfire (with Bullock and Laura Risk), Scottish National Fiddle Champion Elke Baker. In the last decade he performs with his son Brad along with Alex Lacquement and Rachel Eddy as The Ken and Brad Kolodner Quartet. Kolodner is thrilled to have teamed up with Mary Lynn Michal to focus on hammered dulcimer duets.
Mary Lynn Michal (Hammered Dulcimer)
Mary Lynn Michal is a hammered dulcimer Teacher & Performer based in Middletown, MD. A professional French horn player by training with a master’s degree from The Eastman School of Music, Mary Lynn Michal (MLM) discovered a passion for playing the hammered dulcimer in 2012. In 2020, Mary Lynn co-authored with Kolodner The Complete Guide to Theory & Mapping for the Hammered Dulcimer. She teaches a year-long (40 session) online class covering the book for more than 325 hammered dulcimer players from around the globe. Her first CD “Out from the Shadows”, in collaboration with Ken, was just released.
Rob Brereton (Mountain Dulcimer)
Rob Brereton is considered one of the pioneers in contemporary mountain dulcimer playing. He has been playing dulcimer for over 30 years and has been an internationally recognized performer and tutor. Also a classical guitar player with a degree in music theory and composition he brings a fresh approach to arranging. He was one of the first dulcimer players to arrange extensively in chromatic and other alternate tunings. He specializes in the standards and early jazz tunes of Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, and the like, and is equally adept at playing the more traditional Celtic, Appalachian, old time, and other dulcimer repertoire. His first CD was released in 1992. David Schnaufer called Rob’s playing “…strong and innovative.” He has won several awards for his playing including a coveted Winfield National flatpicking award. Rob has taught dulcimer at most major music festivals and folk schools across the USA as well as internationally.
Jeff Furman (Mountain Dulcimer)
Jeff Furman (USA) is a multi-instrumentalist and an award winning mountain dulcimer player. He has been playing old time music since the 1980s and has an extensive repertoire which crosses into his interest in music from the Celtic tradition. Aside from an exposure to music from all over the world and all time periods, Jeff provides an intimate understanding of the mechanics of music and instruments, and a spirit of stretching oneself musically. His collaborative albums include ‘Spirit of the Mountains’ with wife Janet and Anne and Rob Lough; and ‘Heartfelt’, ‘Adam’s Delight’ and ‘Celtic Jewels’ with his wife Janet Furman. Jeff’s playing has been described as ‘fluid and expressive – in his hands the mountain dulcimer becomes an instrument capable of creative a wide array of moods, emotions and feelings’. His teaching style is gentle, entertaining and effective and he is much in demand as a tutor from beginner to advanced level.
Janet Furman (Mountain Dulcimer, Fiddle)
Accompanying husband Jeff Furman is Janet a fiddle player, tutor and instrumentalist who has joined Jeff on recordings including their album ‘Celtic Jewels’ featuring haunting melodies, and lush harmonies arranged for the mountain dulcimer and fiddle, with the musical sensitivity and expression for which Jeff and Janet are widely known.