About Lois:

Lois's newest recording is "A MELODIOUS MEETING," with England's International Autoharp Champion Mike Fenton. (See "Store" page of this website.)

Lois's first recording, "Vive le Dulcimer," featured international folk music played on the mountain dulcimer, and was a finalist for an "Indie" Award in the World Music category. Her more recent instrumental recordings, "Dulcimer Enchantment" and "Dulcimer Jubilee" dynamically present the versatile sounds of the mountain dulcimer. She was chosen for the recordings "Masters of the Mountain Dulcimer, Volume I" and the new "Masters of the Mountain Dulcimer Play Music for Christmas," and in live performance on "Dulcimer Celebrations!" (The latter three CDs are currently available in Lois's 'Store' on this website.)

Lois has authored six books containing mountain dulcimer playing instruction and repertoire for the mountain dulcimer. They have been published internationally by Mel Bay Publications and Backyard Music. (See ordering info in Lois's 'Store.') In 2003 Mel Bay Publications appointed Lois editor of their on-line "webzine," www.DulcimerSessions.com .

A natural and inventive teacher, Lois fills her dulcimer playing classes with good sense, encouragement, enthusiasm and organization.

Since 1987 Lois has organized mountain dulcimer weeks at the university level, first for 13 years directing the Appalachian State University Dulcimer Playing Workshop, then founding and directing the Western Carolina University Mountain Dulcimer Workshop for 10 years. Concurrently for 17 years, Lois was the Program Coordinator for the Swannanoa Gathering's Dulcimer Week. All this experience led to Lois's founding and independent production of DULCIMERVILLE in 2010. (See Links page for information on Dulcimerville.)

Children are enchanted with the mountain dulcimer, and since 1984 "Miss Lois" has taught over 19,000 of them to play mountain dulcimers in her arts-in-schools residencies. (See "Arts-in-Schools" page of this website.)

Awards:

. Galax Old-Time Fiddlers Convention – Champion Dulcimer Player

. Fiddlers Grove Old-Time Fiddlers Convention – Champion Dulcimer Player

. Dublin/Pulaski Old-Time Fiddlers Convention – Champion Dulcimer Player

. Mt. Airy Fiddlers Convention – Champion Dulcimer Player

. Kentucky Colonel Award was presented to Lois for her work with the mountain dulcimer.

. Lois's album "Vive le Dulcimer!" was a finalist for an "Indie" award in the "World Music" category - National Association of Independent Record Distributors. 

Reviews:

The DULCIMER PLAYERS NEWS has written: "Lois Hornbostel enjoys a well-deserved reputation as one of the most influential mountain dulcimer performers, teachers and organizers in the country ... her instruction books and recordings of fiddle tunes, Irish tunes, and dulcimer duets, rounds and ensembles have been an inspiration to an entire generation of dulcimer players."

"Lois is an incredible talent. When I sit and play the music with her I see and hear the passion she has for it." ... Al Berard, Basin Brothers, 1992 Cajun Fiddler of the Year, Cajun Music Association.

"She is giving a new dimension to our [traditional Irish] music." ... Dan Coen, EVENING HERALD, Dublin, Ireland

"It's rare for someone as gifted as a musician as Lois is, to have such good organizational and interpersonal talents as well."...Bonnie Carol, legendary dulcimer player

"Lois is a very expressive dulcimer player ... The passion and power she puts into "Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms" ... is sure to move anyone." (Her fiddle tunes) ..."are played with great spirit - sometimes delicate, sometimes more firey, but always with superb control of the dynamic range of this subtle instrument." ... Jerry Rockwell, DIRTY LINEN MAGAZINE

"Lois's classes were packed with students–a testimony to her popularity."...Susan Howell, Harvest Festival of Dulcimers, Dana Point, CA

Representative Performances & Teaching:

. Smithsonian, Washington, DC

. Cecil Sharp House, London, England

. Sidmouth International Folk Festival, Devon, England

. Whitby Folk Festival, Yorkshire, England

. Dulcimerville, Black Mountain, NC

. Swannanoa Gathering, Asheville, NC

. Augusta Heritage Center, Elkins, WV

. John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown, NC

. Appalachian State University, Boone, NC

. Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC

. Common Ground on the Hill, Westminster, MD

. Indiana Dulcimer Festival, Folkcraft Instruments, Woodburn, IN

. New Mexico Dulcimer Festival, Albuquerque, NM

. Mardi Gras Dulcimer Festival, Covington, LA

. Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville, NC

. Oconaluftee Visitors Center, Great Smokies National Park, NC

. Downeast Dulcimer Festival, Bar Harbor, ME

. Midwest Dulcimer Festival, Woodburn, IN

. Stephen Foster State Park Dulcimer Retreat, White Springs, FL

. Housatonic Dulcimer Celebration, New Milford, CT

. Redwood Dulcimer Day, Santa Cruz, CA

. Ozark Folk Center, Mountain View, AR

. Southwest Acoustic Festival, Tucson, AZ

. Silver Dollar City, Branson, MO

. National Symposium on Multicultural Music, Knoxville, TN

. Gebhard Woods Dulcimer Festival, IL

. August Dulcimer Daze, Mount Snow, VT

. Lone Star State Dulcimer Festival, TX

. Winter Festival of Acoustic Music, TX

. Foothills Dulcimer Festival, Helen, GA 

. Active artist with SC Arts Commission Arts-in-Ed school residencies since 1986