2013 WORKSHOP LEADERS

George Haggerty - George is an accomplished dulcimer builder, teacher, and player. His enthusiasm for this versatile instrument is apparent in his workshops which build a solid foundation for even the most inexperienced player. His love of old-time music and his creative nature bring out feeling and expression in his music whether it is in his workshops, recordings, or performances. George has taught students from first grade to senior citizens. He owns and operates a music shop, FOLK CRAFT MUSIC, in Jacksonville, Vt, where he sells hand-crafted dulcimers and other related musical items. His CD's, Just Friends...One More Time and The Best of Just Friends, a compilation of George's 2 cassettes Just Friends and Just Friends Again, are dulcimer instrumentals. He is director of his annual festival in Vermont, now in it's twenty second year.

Lori Keddell - Lori has been teaching children to build and play the dulcimer for many years. She has also taught workshops at numerous festivals including Cranberry Dulcimer Gathering and August Dulcimer Daze. She has published four books of dulcimer arrangements: Night Songs and Lullabies, A Treasury of Christmas Music and A Mountain Dulcimer Potpourri (Songs in DAA), and Dulcimaniacs Delight.

Bonnie Leigh, CMP - Bonnie, a Certified Music Practitioner and performer/teacher, actively performs and teaches her gentle style of playing with the dulcimer across the northeast coast. Bonnie has taught at eleven dulcimer festivals in the east and has been giving lessons, teaching at festivals and performing since 1991. You'll find her at historical villages, libraries, clubs, meetings or doing house concerts. Her easy manner makes learning to play fun and relaxed. As a Music Practitioner Bonnie plays the dulcimer and small harp at the bedside of hospice patients. Bonnie's original songs of life and family can be found on her 3 recordings and 3 songbooks to accompany the recordings, all in dulcimer tab. Bonnie has also written 3 poem books and From My Heart to Yours - Thoughts and experiences of a Music Practitioner Intern a booklet. www.bonnieleigh.com

Ellen Pratt - Ellen has been playing dulcimer since 2000. She began writing her own music in 2004 and has performed in several dulcimer festivals throughout the Northeast and Southeast. Ellen began teaching dulcimer to 3rd and 4th graders a few years ago at the elementary school where she works and expanded her teaching to adults soon after. She has taught at the Albany Dulcimer Festival in Latham, NY.

Carol Walker - Carol's formal training includes a degree in Music Education, with majors in piano, harp, and voice. For 32 years Carol was a high school choral teacher with an active and successful program. In 2003 she was honored to receive the NJ Governor's Teacher of the Year Award. She is now happily retired! She branched out from her formal classical training after purchasing her first mountain dulcimer in 1999. It wasn't long before she found a way to combine her love of teaching with her new direction in folk music, and has been a popular workshop leader at many different festivals. Carol has made two trips to the Isle of Man (a small island in the Irish Sea) where she has done extensive research into traditional Manx music, producing a book of arrangements for mountain dulcimer (Tailless Tunes) and a CD (Alas! The Horse Is Gone), both exclusively devoted to this delightful Celtic-flavored music. Carol also plays upright bass and travels with her husband, guitarist Toby Walker, during his US, UK, and Canadian tours. www.musicladycarol.com

Toby Walker - Toby is an award-winning guitarist who performs both nationally and abroad. On numerous occasions Toby has traveled to the deep south where he learned the finer points of blues guitar playing from old time, traditional players. Jorma Kaukonen (of Hot Tuna and Jefferson Airplane) says, "Flat out, you have to hear this musician... I'm blown away." www.littletobywalker.com