Faculty & Staff
Rick Thum
"A gifted and charismatic performer!"
Rick Thum Bio
Artist, builder, performer
Ranked as the most influential dulcimer player of the last decade by readers of Dulcimer Player News, Rick Thum has made his mark on every aspect of the hammered dulcimer world. Rick is perhaps best known for his festival performances, which have regularly earned him the “most popular performer” title at the largest national dulcimer festival. He brings a combination of passion and friendly accessibility to his teaching that makes his workshops and master classes favorites at festivals across the country, and has tapped this teaching experience to produce the best-selling instructional CD series for hammered dulcimer, the “Original Song of the Month Club”. Rick is also the designer of the highly-regarded ‘Professional’ hammered dulcimer, bearing his name. Yet for all his time in the studio, onstage, in the classroom, and in the luthier’s shop, Rick is most at home at a late-night jam session, where you might even find him playing an instrument other than the dulcimer from time to time.
Erin Mae Lewis
Bluegrass Mountain Dulcimer Virtuosa
"Erin Mae can do more with three strings than I can do with six." -- a bluegrass guitar player
"I really appreciate [Erin Mae's] teaching style. She is able to make hard things easier and explain nuances in playing clearly and helpfully." -- an online mountain dulcimer student
Erin Mae plays "Orphan Girl" with her duo Scenic Roots
Erin Mae Lewis Bio
Erin Mae has been playing mountain dulcimer since the age of 7. In 2004 she became the youngest national mountain dulcimer champion at the time. Trained in both classical piano and commercial music with an emphasis in bluegrass, she has an associates of applied arts in commercial music from South Plains College. Erin Mae toured full time for five years with the duo Scenic Roots, has recorded 8 full-length albums, and contributed to several other projects including a feature-length television program and a video game soundtrack. Now, she teaches mountain dulcimer lessons full-time, both online and for local school residencies. Erin Mae also serves on the board of directors for the Kansas Bluegrass Association and Great Plains Dulcimer Alliance.
Whenever there is an opportunity to jump into a bluegrass jam, Erin Mae will be there with her chromatic mountain dulcimer! She has been steeped in this music for her whole life and feels most at home with the banjos, fiddles, mandolins, guitars, and basses.
Benjamin Barker
"Pete Wernick Quote"
Benjamin Barker Bio
Bio
Elaine Conger
"It's all about that Bass!"
“Review
Elaine Conger Bio
Bio
Mark Alan Wade
"Quote"
Mark Alan Wade Bio
Bio
Susan Trump
"Quote"
Susan Trump Bio
Bio
Staff
Erin Mae Lewis
Pre-Festival Technical Support
" Technology is our friend!"
Erin Mae will be available before the festival to provide technical support.
Erin Mae Lewis Bio
Steve Eulberg
Festival Technical Support
" Technology is our friend!"
Steve will be available throughout the day to provide technical support.
Steve Eulberg Bio
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This day is designed to be an interactive experience with a dedicated opportunity for players to interact with each other and share the bluegrass music and styles they've been exploring with both hammered & mountain dulcimers.