Dulcimer Day in Duluth 2005 - Instructors / Performers

The instructors / performers are also described in the printable PDF file on the brochure download page

	Karen Ashbrook and Paul Oorts Karen Ashbrook built her first hammered dulcimer as a high school project in 1972. In search of Irish music, she spent 5 years playing in Europe and Asia. Karen is considered one of the finest Irish hammered dulcimer players anywhere. Add her wooden flute and penny whistle playing, and you have the consummate Irish musician. Based in the Washington, DC area, Karen teaches and performs in the region and at festivals all over the U.S. Her husband Paul Oorts plays lead and accompaniment drawing from world music rhythms driving, exotic, syncopated, presenting Karen's lilting, ornamented melodies in unique ways.

	Shelley Stevens Shelley Stevens (from Ohio) has been playing music for most of her life. Shelley was introduced to the Appalachian lap dulcimer in 1984 and has been in love with the instrument ever since. She has arranged music of many styles to the instrument and has taught workshops at many prominent dulcimer festivals. Shelley has written over a dozen mountain dulcimer song books. She is a founding member of Sweetwater, a trio of women who have played and sung their way across the United States, Canada, Ireland and the British Isles.

	Neil Woodward Neil Woodward is known as Michigan's troubadour. Neil is an award-winning multi instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and folk historian. His tunes and tales, ancient and modern, form compelling testimony of our shared human heritage. Featuring the voices of virtually every traditional North American folk instrument, Neil Woodward s performances reflect America's living history. Neil applies his talents to centuries-old ballads, dance music and his many compositions.

	Ross Sutter Ross Sutter performs on an assortment of folk instruments at folk festivals throughout the Midwest. He has performed at the Winnepeg Folk Festival, Two Harbors Folk Festival, and the St. Paul Irish Fair. He has shared music regularly with children and has been doing residencies for 21 years in schools throughout the Mid-West. He has traveled extensively in Europe and North America collecting music and performing at folk clubs and festivals. Ross was at Dulcimer Day in Duluth 2002 and we re glad to have him back!