Episode #019: National Dulcimer Championship 2016
Listen Now (Duration 29 min.)
One of the best places to hear new talent in the mountain dulcimer world is at the National Mountain Dulcimer Championship. This annual event takes place at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas. We spoke with 2016 winners Mark Gilston, Cassandra Damper, and Wendy Songe, as well as Jim Woods from McSpadden Dulcimers.
Guests:
Jim Woods
Mark Gilston
Cassandra Damper
Wendy Songe
Music:
• Banish Misfortune -- Mark Gilston from The Green Dulcimer (2012)
• Srpkinja -- Mark Gilston from Travel with Dulcimers (2007)
• Shenandoah Falls -- Cassandra Damper
• Planxty Fanny Poer -- Wendy Songe from Test Drive (2015)
• Suzanna Gal -- Cassandra Damper
• This Dance We Do -- Wendy Songe from Driven (2016)
• Trip to Durro/Boy in the Gap -- Mark Gilston from Travel with Dulcimers (2007)
Website Resource Links:
Walnut Valley Festival - National Mountain Dulcimer Championship
McSpadden Dulcimers
Correction note: Cassandra Damper was 24 years old when she competed at the National Mountain Dulcimer Championship. She played Whiskey Before Breakfast and John Stenson's #2.
Videos & Photos
Cassandra Damper, Mark Gilston and Wendy Songe at Walnut Valley National Mountain Dulcimer Championship 2016
Wendy Songe performing at the Walnut Valley National Mountain Dulcimer Championship 2016
Mark Gilston receiving his koa custom dulcimer from Jim Woods of McSpadden Dulcimers at Walnut Valley National Mountain Dulcimer Championship 2016
Cassandra Damper (R) and Margaret Wright (L) at the Walnut Valley National Mountain Dulcimer Championship 2016.
Mark Gilston's CD Travel with Dulcimers (2007)
Mark Gilston's CD The Green Dulcimer (2012)
Wendy Songe's latest CD Driven (2016)
Wendy Songe's CD Test Drive (2015)
Over the Rainbow performed by Wendy Songe. For more videos of Wendy playing dulcimer, go to her YouTube Channel.
Cassandra Damper and Margaret Wright playing dulcimer together.
Banish Misfortune performed by Mark Gilston. For more videos of Mark playing dulcimer, go to his YouTube Channel.