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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 recalls her first meeting with the mountain dulcimer on a hiking trip in the mountains in the mid-’70s: “First I was enchanted by its sound, then its appearance, next by its history.” Her journey of learning and musical enrichment has been greatly enhanced by learning most of her music from musicians within old-time, Irish, Cajun and international folk music traditions.
As a musician Lois’s versatility and expression shine, and she has helped to introduce with authenticity several different styles of music to the mountain dulcimer’s repertoire. Her playing skills have been recognized with several dulcimer championships, including those at the Galax, VA, Mount Airy, NC, and Fiddlers Grove, NC fiddlers conventions, and being named an honorary Kentucky Colonel for her work with the mountain dulcimer.
“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 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 she has organized a complete university-level curriculum for mountain dulcimer, first at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, and since 2000 with the Western Carolina University Mountain Dulcimer Week in Cullowhee, NC. http://dulcimer.wcu.edu Since the early 1990s Lois has been Coordinator of the Swannanoa Gathering’s Dulcimer Week (for both mountain and hammered dulcimer players). www.swangathering.com
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.)
Representative Performances & Teaching:
. Smithsonian, Washington, DC
. Cecil Sharp House, London, England
. John C. Campbell Folk School, NC
. Western Carolina University, NC
. Appalchian State University, NC
. Warren Wilson College, NC
. Augusta Heritage Center, Davis & Elkins College, WV
. Sidmouth International Folk Festival, Devon, England
. Whitby Folk Festival, Yorkshire, England
. Mardi Gras Dulcimer Festival, LA
. Foothills Dulcimer Festival, GA
. Downeast Dulcimer Festival, ME
. Housatonic Dulcimer Celebration, CT
. Redwood Dulcimer Day, CA
. Common Ground on the Hill, MD
. Ozark Folk Center, AR
. Southwest Acoustic Festival, AZ
. Lone Star State Dulcimer Festival, TX
. Gebard Woods Dulcimer Festival, IL
. Claremont Folk Festival, CA
. Silver Dollar City, MO
. Winter Festival of Acoustic Music, TX
. National Symposium on Multicultural Music, TN
. Active artist with SC Arts Commission. Arts-in-schools residencies since 1986.
. Clinician for Silver Burdett Gin (textbook publishers)
. Workshops & performances at dulcimer clubs across the U.S.
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