Mountain Dulcimer
Bill Collins
Bill Collins has been in love with the Appalachian dulcimer for 20 years, and is equally passionate about playing, teaching, and learning. In his performing and teaching, he seeks to focus on bringing out the dulcet qualities inherent in the dulcimer and on expanding the repertoire of music played on the instrument. Bill has conducted more than 50 dulcimer workshops at festivals in Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, and Connecticut, and has taught week-long sessions at Augusta Spring Dulcimer Week (West Virginia) and Shenandoah University (Virginia). He also offers private lessons. He has been a featured concert artist at several festivals and has performed at weddings, receptions, in museums, and at private functions. He has written four books of dulcimer arrangements: collections of Shaker tunes, O’Carolan tunes, Irish jigs, and a collection of advanced arrangements. He has composed over a dozen pieces for the instrument, several of which are featured on a CD entitled The Sum of the Parts, a recording of dulcimer solos and duets performed by Bill and 2008 National Mountain Dulcimer Champion Nina Zanetti.
Hammered Dulcimer
Adam Sutch
Adam Sutch is from California, Pennsylvania and has been playing the hammered dulcimer for 10 years. He has produced four cd's with his family band Sutch Sounds: two of which are traditional and celtic tunes, one of Christmas favorites, and one of all original songs. This is Adam's second year at the Fort New Salem Dulcimer Festival and he is excited to be here once again.
Adam has placed in the top 5 at the national hammered dulcimer competition in Winfield, Kansas for the past three years. He attends California University of Pennsylvania where he majors in Secondary Education Biology and Theatre with minors in music and musical theatre. After college he plans to teach and continue to perform. Adam performs all over Pennsylvania and has performed numerous times in Ohio and West Virginia. He plays for private events, weddings, festivals, and all other random entertainment venues as well as conducts private dulcimer instruction.
