2024 Featured Performers
* Click on each performer's name or image for biographical information
2024 WORKSHOP LEADERS:
Sam Edelston-
Sam Edelston plays rock, pop, blues, country, classical, a bit of jazz, assorted other styles, and even some original songs on acoustic and electric dulcimer. Oh, yes, and folk music, too. He aims not just to expand the horizons of dulcimer players, but to expand the common repertoire of the instrument and to bring dulcimers to the attention of the general public. Sam draws his musical inspiration from rock bands, symphony orchestras, modern a cappella, and anything else that crosses his path. His online videos have gotten 1,000,000 views, in over 190 countries. Sam is chair of the Nutmeg Dulcimer Festival, held every fall in Milford, CT. He has performed or taught at numerous dulcimer festivals, folk festivals, other venues in the Northeast and beyond. His 2022-2024 schedule includes performing/teaching in Colorado, Connecticut, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virgina -- plus QuaranTUNE and several other online festivals. He's delighted to be coming back for the new incarnation of the “Days.” www.SamTheMusicMan.com
Sandy Lafleur-
Known for her fun-loving and relaxed teaching style, Sandy Lafleur from southern NH has been playing the dulcimer for over 25 years, and teaches out of her home and at festivals around New England. Also a contra dance caller, she enjoys a wide variety of music, much of it played for contra dancing. Sandy strives to have her students learn to express themselves musically, while learning new tunes and having fun! Sandy's arrangements are accessible and highlight the innate beauty of the Appalachian dulcimer.
Bonnie Leigh, CMP-
Bonnie Leigh, CMP - a Certified Music Practitioner, performer/teacher and singer/songwriter, actively performed and taught her gentle style of playing with the mountain dulcimer across the northeast coast. Bonnie has taught and performed at French Creek Dulcimer Retreat, French Creek Music Retreat, Music by the Bay, August Dulcimer Daze, Pocono Dulcimer Festival, Mountain Dulcimer Music Festival, Nutmeg Dulcimer Festival, Swannanoa Dulcimer Gathering, and Cranberry Dulcimer Festival and has been teaching and performing since 1991. You would find her at historical villages, libraries, clubs, meetings, coffeehouses and nursing homes. Her easy manner makes learning to play fun and relaxed. As a Music Practitioner Bonnie played the dulcimer and small harp at the bedside of hospice patients. Bonnie's original songs of life, family and nature can be found on her 3 recordings and accompanying dulcimer tab songbooks. She has also written 3 poem books. Bonnie is a co-coordinator of New England Dulcimer Days with Ellen Pratt. You can reach her at [email protected].
Ellen Pratt-
Ellen Pratt has been playing dulcimer for twenty-five years. She began writing her own music in 2004. She has performed at numerous open mics and taught at festivals throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states and at online festivals.Ellen’s style of playing is a mix of traditional and contemporary. In the last few years, she has been arranging and composing multipart pieces for ensembles.Ellen plays dulcimer and banjo in the elementary school where she teaches second grade. She has worked with students and their families to build cardboard dulcimers so that students could learn to play them and has
taught several after-school dulcimer programs.Ellen played with the Northeast Dulcimer Orchestra in Connecticut for several years. She is a composer, conductor and session leader for the First National Dulcimer Orchestra. She co-coordinates New England Dulcimer Days with Bonnie Leigh. You can reach her at [email protected].
Sedona Pratt- Sedona has been playing dulcimer for 15 years. She is new to instructing on dulcimer, but is not new to teaching. She teaches high school biology in her home town in Connecticut. She has played at open mics and attended many dulcimer festivals in the northeast.
Norm Williams-
Norm Williams is co-founder of The Pocono Dulcimer Club, a coordinator of the Pocono DulcimerFest held each year in April in East Stroudsburg, PA; and is a co-founder of the Maiden Creek Old Time Music Festival held each July. Norm began teaching in 2002 and has been faculty/performer at festivals throughout the Northeast since (including the Pocono
DulcimerFest; DAA Mountain Dulcimer Music Fest, August Dulcimer Days, Nutmeg Dulcimer Festival, Music by the Bay, French Creek Music Retreat, Cranberry Dulcimer Gathering, Maiden Creek Old Time Music Festival, Ashokan Music & Dance Camps & the Augusta Heritage Center, WV). He also offers private, personal instruction in person or via ZOOM. In addition to mountain dulcimer he plays guitar, ukulele and banjo. Norm is a lover of Old Time music and performs solo and with the bands Wayfarers & Company, Tom & Betty Druckenmiller, and the Dulcimer Boys with Cliff Cole & Rob Yoder. He has also recorded several CDs and is an occasional radio host at WDIY 88.1 FM in Bethlehem, PA. Norm is currently retired and resides with his wife, Erin, in Emmaus, PA.
Nina Zanetti-
Nina Zanetti is the 2008 National Mountain Dulcimer Champion. She comes to the mountain dulcimer from a diverse musical background, including choral music, violin, viola, piano, and shape note singing. She plays regularly at churches, historic sites, and community events. She is a sought-after dulcimer instructor and has taught workshops at in-person festivals throughout the country, including Western Carolina University, John C. Campbell Folk School, Kentucky Music Week, as well as for online festival, such as Quarantunes. Nina is especially fond of the “softer side of dulcimer”. She has produced several books of solo arrangements for mountain dulcimer and has co-authored four books of duet/ensemble arrangements (the Tunes for Two or More series, with Beth Lassi.) She has a strong interest in American folk hymns, many of which appear in her tablature book Glories Immortal: A Collection of Hymns from America’s Past and in a book of Shaker music (co-authored with Bill Collins), The Humble Heart. Her other musical love is Early Music, featured in her tablature book, Heart’s Ease. Nina is featured on Masters of the Mountain Dulcimer Play Music for Christmas (CD) and has also recorded a CD of solos and duets with Bill Collins (The Sum of the Parts), as well as a solo CD, Beside Still Waters. Her newest CD, Winter’s Light and companion book Winter Variations celebrate the quiet joys and consolations of the winter season. www.ninazanetti.com
Sam Edelston-
Sam Edelston plays rock, pop, blues, country, classical, a bit of jazz, assorted other styles, and even some original songs on acoustic and electric dulcimer. Oh, yes, and folk music, too. He aims not just to expand the horizons of dulcimer players, but to expand the common repertoire of the instrument and to bring dulcimers to the attention of the general public. Sam draws his musical inspiration from rock bands, symphony orchestras, modern a cappella, and anything else that crosses his path. His online videos have gotten 1,000,000 views, in over 190 countries. Sam is chair of the Nutmeg Dulcimer Festival, held every fall in Milford, CT. He has performed or taught at numerous dulcimer festivals, folk festivals, other venues in the Northeast and beyond. His 2022-2024 schedule includes performing/teaching in Colorado, Connecticut, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virgina -- plus QuaranTUNE and several other online festivals. He's delighted to be coming back for the new incarnation of the “Days.” www.SamTheMusicMan.com
Sandy Lafleur-
Known for her fun-loving and relaxed teaching style, Sandy Lafleur from southern NH has been playing the dulcimer for over 25 years, and teaches out of her home and at festivals around New England. Also a contra dance caller, she enjoys a wide variety of music, much of it played for contra dancing. Sandy strives to have her students learn to express themselves musically, while learning new tunes and having fun! Sandy's arrangements are accessible and highlight the innate beauty of the Appalachian dulcimer.
Bonnie Leigh, CMP-
Bonnie Leigh, CMP - a Certified Music Practitioner, performer/teacher and singer/songwriter, actively performed and taught her gentle style of playing with the mountain dulcimer across the northeast coast. Bonnie has taught and performed at French Creek Dulcimer Retreat, French Creek Music Retreat, Music by the Bay, August Dulcimer Daze, Pocono Dulcimer Festival, Mountain Dulcimer Music Festival, Nutmeg Dulcimer Festival, Swannanoa Dulcimer Gathering, and Cranberry Dulcimer Festival and has been teaching and performing since 1991. You would find her at historical villages, libraries, clubs, meetings, coffeehouses and nursing homes. Her easy manner makes learning to play fun and relaxed. As a Music Practitioner Bonnie played the dulcimer and small harp at the bedside of hospice patients. Bonnie's original songs of life, family and nature can be found on her 3 recordings and accompanying dulcimer tab songbooks. She has also written 3 poem books. Bonnie is a co-coordinator of New England Dulcimer Days with Ellen Pratt. You can reach her at [email protected].
Ellen Pratt-
Ellen Pratt has been playing dulcimer for twenty-five years. She began writing her own music in 2004. She has performed at numerous open mics and taught at festivals throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states and at online festivals.Ellen’s style of playing is a mix of traditional and contemporary. In the last few years, she has been arranging and composing multipart pieces for ensembles.Ellen plays dulcimer and banjo in the elementary school where she teaches second grade. She has worked with students and their families to build cardboard dulcimers so that students could learn to play them and has
taught several after-school dulcimer programs.Ellen played with the Northeast Dulcimer Orchestra in Connecticut for several years. She is a composer, conductor and session leader for the First National Dulcimer Orchestra. She co-coordinates New England Dulcimer Days with Bonnie Leigh. You can reach her at [email protected].
Sedona Pratt- Sedona has been playing dulcimer for 15 years. She is new to instructing on dulcimer, but is not new to teaching. She teaches high school biology in her home town in Connecticut. She has played at open mics and attended many dulcimer festivals in the northeast.
Norm Williams-
Norm Williams is co-founder of The Pocono Dulcimer Club, a coordinator of the Pocono DulcimerFest held each year in April in East Stroudsburg, PA; and is a co-founder of the Maiden Creek Old Time Music Festival held each July. Norm began teaching in 2002 and has been faculty/performer at festivals throughout the Northeast since (including the Pocono
DulcimerFest; DAA Mountain Dulcimer Music Fest, August Dulcimer Days, Nutmeg Dulcimer Festival, Music by the Bay, French Creek Music Retreat, Cranberry Dulcimer Gathering, Maiden Creek Old Time Music Festival, Ashokan Music & Dance Camps & the Augusta Heritage Center, WV). He also offers private, personal instruction in person or via ZOOM. In addition to mountain dulcimer he plays guitar, ukulele and banjo. Norm is a lover of Old Time music and performs solo and with the bands Wayfarers & Company, Tom & Betty Druckenmiller, and the Dulcimer Boys with Cliff Cole & Rob Yoder. He has also recorded several CDs and is an occasional radio host at WDIY 88.1 FM in Bethlehem, PA. Norm is currently retired and resides with his wife, Erin, in Emmaus, PA.
Nina Zanetti-
Nina Zanetti is the 2008 National Mountain Dulcimer Champion. She comes to the mountain dulcimer from a diverse musical background, including choral music, violin, viola, piano, and shape note singing. She plays regularly at churches, historic sites, and community events. She is a sought-after dulcimer instructor and has taught workshops at in-person festivals throughout the country, including Western Carolina University, John C. Campbell Folk School, Kentucky Music Week, as well as for online festival, such as Quarantunes. Nina is especially fond of the “softer side of dulcimer”. She has produced several books of solo arrangements for mountain dulcimer and has co-authored four books of duet/ensemble arrangements (the Tunes for Two or More series, with Beth Lassi.) She has a strong interest in American folk hymns, many of which appear in her tablature book Glories Immortal: A Collection of Hymns from America’s Past and in a book of Shaker music (co-authored with Bill Collins), The Humble Heart. Her other musical love is Early Music, featured in her tablature book, Heart’s Ease. Nina is featured on Masters of the Mountain Dulcimer Play Music for Christmas (CD) and has also recorded a CD of solos and duets with Bill Collins (The Sum of the Parts), as well as a solo CD, Beside Still Waters. Her newest CD, Winter’s Light and companion book Winter Variations celebrate the quiet joys and consolations of the winter season. www.ninazanetti.com