Instructors
Butch Ross
Butch Ross has been gleefully smashing disparate genres of music together for over ten years. Using the mountain dulcimer like a prism, he has used the instrument to conquer everything from Bach to the Beatles to Radiohead (and everything in between). His restless musical curiosity and virtuosity, coupled with his innate ability to break complex concepts into simple ideas, have made him an in-demand teacher and performer at many folk festivals both in the States and abroad. www.butchross.com
Dave Haas
Dave Haas lives in Charleston, WV and has been playing the mountain dulcimer since 1990. He teaches dulcimer in both private and group settings, and was the founding member of the Almost Heaven Dulcimer Club in Charleston. Dave loves to share the mountain dulcimer and its history with schools, churches, civic organizations, and has even brought the dulcimer to those in prison!
More information on Dave can be obtained at www.davehaasmusic.com
Laurie Alsobrook
After retiring from a 42-year public school teaching career, Laurie was able to dive into a new educational venture, teaching the mountain dulcimer.
She has been a dulcimer instructor and jam leader at WCU’s Dulcimer U Summer Week, Winter Weekend and will anchor the Advancing Beginner’s Class in July 2020.
Her traveling “Dulcimer Petting Zoo” lets Laurie share the joy of playing the dulcimer with those who have never played before at the Alabama Folk School and PAMfest, in Peacham Vermont.
Marya Katz
Marya taught music for 33 years before retiring in 2009. She earned National Board Certification in Early/Middle Childhood Music in 2002. Currently, she teaches private dulcimer lessons, directs the choir at her church, and enjoys performing with the folk group Simple Gifts of the Blue Ridge. She has produced 9 books of original compositions as well as arrangements of traditional music. Several of her original tunes have been featured in Dulcimer Players News. http://www.dulcimations.com
Judy House
Judy is from Winston-Salem, NC. A graduate of Campbell University, she has had an interesting career as an educator. Retiring from public education after 35 years, she began teaching dulcimer students, in group lessons, private lessons, and festivals.
Judy is the music director for The Camel City Strummers Dulcimer Club, as well as director for the Triad Dulcimer Orchestra. She has written 7 dulcimer music books, and has also presented at the NC Music Educators Association.
Carol Crocker
Carol lives in Winston-Salem, NC. Her first introduction to the mountain dulcimer was at a school heritage day program. For over 20 years since then she has enjoyed sharing her love of the dulcimer and singing with children and adults at schools, churches, and senior homes. Carol has a certification in Teaching the Mountain Dulcimer from WCU-Dulcimer U.
Carol is a graduate of Western Carolina University in music education and voice. She also holds a MM in music education from UNC-G.
Ken Bloom
Ken Bloom has been a professional musician since the age of 16 (a LOOOONG time ago!) playing first woodwinds and then stringed instruments. He worked as a studio musician in Hollywood and toured as a soloist for decades. He now lives quietly in Pilot Mountain, NC, mostly building bowed dulcimers, a few odd instruments and teaching. He has also participated in Revolutionary War re-enacting as Regimental Sergeant Major, 84th Foote, 2nd Battalion, 7th Company.
Kirk House
Kirk House has been playing the dulcimer for 12 years; for the last six years he has specialized in the bass dulcimer. He is a certificated dulcimer teacher, through Western Carolina University (Dulcimer U program). Kirk plays several different styles and designs of bass dulcimer, including 3-string, 4-string, and double-bass. He performs as part of a duo with his wife Judy House, as well as a member of the trio 'Cantabile-Jubilee', and the quartet string section, 'SASSy'.