Ann & Phil Case capture the feeling of the original artists when they sing early old-time duets. They accompany themselves on period instruments to further enhance the old-time sound. Ann generally sings lead and plays guitar. Phil generally adds harmony vocals and may play guitar, clawhammer banjo, mandolin, or fiddle. Their sound draws on the influences of the Carter Family and their contemporaries, early country blues, ragtime, and traditional ballad singing. They have a recording, The Springtime of Life, available. This is their third time at a Dulci-More festival.
Lois Hornbostel from Bryson City, NC has introduced generations of mountain dulcimer players to playing techniques and has expanded the repertoire of the instrument through her books, recordings and teaching. Over the years, players have assimilated Lois's techniques, contributing to the growth of the instrument.
Her award-winning musicianship has been developed through her participation in Celtic, Cajun and old-time Southern Appalachian musical traditions.
Lois's two contrasting recordings present the many voices and feelings that can be conveyed on the mountain dulcimer. Dulcimer Enchantment portrays the melodious, lyrical sounds that draw many people to the mountain dulcimer. Dulcimer Jubilee! presents 32 traditional old-time fiddle tunes played rip-roarin', whimsical and sweet.
Lois's nationally-published dulcimer books include American Fiddle Tunes for the Mountain Dulcimer; Anthology for the Fretted Dulcimer; Dulcimer Fiddle Tunes; The Irish Dulcimer; Dulcimer Duets, Rounds, & Ensembles (all from Mel Bay publications), and her beginner tutor The Classroom Dulcimer (Backyard Music). Lois has two new books in the works for Mel Bay Publications.
Teaching dulcimer playing to youngsters is another area Lois enjoys. Over the past 15 years she has taught over 14,000 children the basics of dulcimer playing through school residencies in the Southeast. On the university level, Lois has developed college level curricula for the instrument through her work as Director of the Appalachian State University Dulcimer Playing Workshop in Boone, NC, and as Coordinator of the Swannanoa Gathering Dulcimer Week at Warren Wilson College in Asheville, NC.
Bob Lewis is the 1992 Mountain Laurel Autoharp Champion and the 1996 Winfield International Autoharp Champion, titles earned at the Mountain Laurel Autoharp Gathering in Newport, PA and the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, KS. Bob is one of the originals in a small, but growing, group of performers who show that the autoharp is a solo instrument that can be used for all styles of music. Additionally, Bob is an autoharp teacher, writer, instrument designer/builder, and merchant. Many of the instruments that he plays are diatonic autoharps which he has won as prizes in competitions.
Mark Wade is the 1998 National Hammered Dulcimer Champion, a title earned in competition at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, KS last year. Mark has two recordings: Just as I Am and Foggy Mountain Favorites. They feature hymns performed in a variety of styles and fiddle tunes on the hammered dulcimer. He is joined by his father, Roger Wade, on rhythm guitar. This will be the fourth time for Mark and Roger to be at a Dulci-More festival where they are real favorites. Mark is a music major at Ohio Wesleyan.
Susan Weber is a singer/songwriter and storyteller. She is known for her performances for all age groups. Susan sings and plays guitar. She has been active in trying to raise the level for area songwriters by forming and leading NEOSC, the Northeast Ohio Songwriters Circle. Her recording of originals is Cosmic Dust. This is her second Dulci-More Festival.
The Whitehills are Dulci-More members from Hookstown, PA. They have been a part of all Dulci-More Festivals. Earl and Alice Whitehill sing and play dulcimers, autoharps, guitars, and more. They are sometimes joined in performance by Rachel Huff, Deb Boyd, or others. They also lead the Dulcimer Players of the Upper Ohio Valley. They have won a variety of competitions at Roscoe Village Dulcimer Days. Alice has a music store at Just for You Gifts in Chester, WV and is a vendor at Dulci-More Festival.
Don McCoy & E-Z Duz It
E-Z Duz It Band and caller Don McCoy play for square dances around Columbiana County and beyond. They are back for a second year on Friday evening.
Bill Schilling is a high-energy folk-style singer and multi-instrumentalist who believes that this type of music should be inclusive. He is the founder and leader of Dulci-More and the Dulci-More Festival and a member of many other groups which share or support the music. Bill will be joined in perfomances and workshops this year by Carol Ellis. At Dulci-More Festivals, he has performed as Bill Schilling with Carol Ellis; Bill Schilling, Linda Sigismondi, and Marge Diamond; Bill Schilling & Folks; Threes Co.; Whistler's Lane; and presented his Schilling's Slides, Songs, & Stories program. Bill has put together the music that Dulci-More uses and has it available in several volumes and formats: Dulci-More Public Domain Songbooks -- Volumes 1, 2, 3, Christmas Volume (all with numbers for lap dulcimer mleody strings as well as music, chords, and lyrics), and Autoharp Volume (with melody chords in place of the dulcimer numbers).
Carol Ellis
Carol Ellis is from Cuyahoga Falls. She grew up listening to a variety of music and singing harmonies with her family and in the school choir. For many years she has sung with Bill Schilling whenever he has been in the area. A couple of years ago they started performing out regularly. Carol plays keyboards on her own (but does not perform with them), so she was able to quickly pick up some things on the autoharp, bowed psaltery, and hammered dulcimer for performance.
