SHENANDOAH UNIVERSITY’S 2014 MOUNTAIN DULCIMER FESTIVAL SPECIAL GUEST MAY 16-18, 2014 Ralph Lee Smith has developed a love for and a personal bod to the Appalachian dulcimer and Appalachian folk music. I play traditional songs of the Appalachian Mountains, on the dulcimer in easy and simple styles. You can too! Welcome to the wonderful heritage! Madeline MacNeil, audiences hold their collective breath as the last notes of her songs drift into the tableau of stages large and small. Since 1972, when she began performing in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park, Madeline’s goal has always been to bring listeners into the song. Her interest in stories first brought the mountain and hammered dulcimers to her attention, for they are part of this country’s musical history. This is part of Madeline’s treasure as a performer: she sings and tells the stories with her beautiful voice and exceptional dulcimer skills. Jeff Furman is a multi-instrumentalist (mountain dulcimer, claw hammer banJo, guitar, autoharp, and string bass) who has been playing old-time music since 1980. Primarily a banJo player for many years, Jeff developed a rhythmic and melodic style of playing which has heavily influenced his dulcimer playing. He has an extensive repertoire of old-time fiddle music, which crosses over to a strong interest in Celtic music. Jeff has performed individually, along with his wife, Janet, and with several old-time string bands at numerous fiddle festivals, public and private concerts, public schools, and dances throughout the Carolinas, Virginia, West Virginia, Georgia, and Ohio. He has played on multiple recordings including music from Ireland, Scotland, the Appalachian Mountains, and American folk tunes 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. Nina plays regularly at churches, historic sites, and community events and has taught and performed at dulcimer festivals throughout the country, including Western Carolina University, Arkansas Dulcimer Jamboree, Dulcimerville, Colorado Dulcimer Festival and Kentucky Music Week. Jody Marshall is a native of the Washington, D.C. area, grew up in a musical family. Enchanted by the sound and visual appeal of the hammered dulcimer, she developed a passion for the instrument. She has been performing and teaching dulcimer since 1988 and was a founding member of the popular folk trio, Ironweed. Jody currently performs with the award-winning Celtic bands, MoonFire and Connemara. Her debut solo album, "Cottage in the Glen," was released by the Maggie's Music label in Spring 2005. 3-Day Mountain Dulcimer Festival $129 per person Campus Meals availaBle Special Hotel Rates: Call to reserve your room! Best-Western Lee Jackson (540) 662-4154 or Hampton Inn, Pleasant Valley (540) 665-0405 .