Category: News

News, Sharing Music

“More than Fireworks” — 250 Years of Folksong and Freedom

Our Blue Ridge Mountain Dulcimer Players Celebrate, Appalachian Style! At our July 18 jam Dinah Ansley led our fantastic hosts Merrifield Music Makers from Ruckersville, Viginia, and Joyful Noise from Bridgewater, Virginia, through our deepest roots of song at the Bridgewater Retirement Community Studio. We kicked off our musical journey with “The Water is Wide,” a 400-year-old folk tune that has been beautifully transformed into … Continue reading “More than Fireworks” — 250 Years of Folksong and Freedom

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DulciCats leading the May 2026 Gathering
News, Sharing Music

DulciCats of Charlottesville Demonstrate Diversity

DulciCats of Charlottesville led off the May 16 gathering with pieces they have been working on all spring as hosts of our Blue Ridge Mountain Dulcimer Players jam at the Studio at Bridgewater Retirement Village Community in Bridgewater, VA. The group has five players: Jim Albert, Sharon Baiocco, Lynn Gould, Penny Reighart, and Trisha Taylor. Penny Reighart, coordinator, introduced the group, and Sharon Baiocco introduced … Continue reading DulciCats of Charlottesville Demonstrate Diversity

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Gaskins, Heritage Award Recipient

Congratulations to Blue Ridge Dulcimer Players Club member Phyllis Gaskins, recipient of the 2025 Fries Musical Heritage Award This award, sponsored by Legends of Grayson, is presented to a person who has excelled in preserving, promoting or performing the unique traditional music of Fries and the surrounding communities of Grayson and Carroll counties. Master musician, author and educator, Phyllis Gaskins is known as the foremost … Continue reading Gaskins, Heritage Award Recipient

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News, Sharing Music

BRMDP Begins 2026 Jam Sessions With a New Format

How does “Bile Dem Cabbage Down” sound when a group of about 30 dulcimer players becomes an orchestra?  Dinah Ansley, our coordinator, taught us! The Club launched a short session she calls “Becoming an Orchestra” on chording at different positions on the fretboard as our March jam session took on a different look with the additions of some learning opportunities. Becca Chalam, club secretary, warmly … Continue reading BRMDP Begins 2026 Jam Sessions With a New Format

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Dulcimer U Registration is Open

Several of our club members have reported enthusiastically about their experiences at Dulcimer U, and are planning a return trip this summer, July 19-24, 2026, at Cullowhee, NC. There are morning and afternoon classes, daily jam sessions, and evening concerts by instructors. Housing, dining and lessons are at Western Carolina University. Registration is now open, online. Review the classes and make your choices here: https://www.wcu.edu/engage/professional-enrichment/conferences-and-community-classes/dulcimer-u/dulcimer-u-summer-week/index.aspxhttps://www.wcu.edu/engage/professional-enrichment/conferences-and-community-classes/dulcimer-u/dulcimer-u-summer-week/index.aspx … Continue reading Dulcimer U Registration is Open

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Joyful Noise for the Holidays

BRMDP – Make a Joyful Noise for the 2025 Holidays Our Blue Ridge Mountain Dulcimer Players, emceed by intrepid coordinator, Dinah Ansley,  opened our annual holiday gathering with a large group performance of “Jingle Bells” and “Good King Wenceslas” at Bridgewater Retirement Community in Bridgewater, VA, on Dec. 13.  Before a roomful of dulcimer players and residents, we sang and played a host of sing-a-long … Continue reading Joyful Noise for the Holidays

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2026 Schedule is Proposed

Club leaders made the decision at a Sept. 30 meeting to revise our schedule to FOUR gatherings a year, with the possible addition of a  Christmas program, and to host them all at THE STUDIO at the Bridgewater Retirement Village Community (BRC) in Bridgewater, VA.  Look for directions on our webpage: Gatherings. These will occur on the THIRD SATURDAY from 1:30 to 3:30 in March, … Continue reading 2026 Schedule is Proposed

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Jeff Furman Workshop

We welcomed the opportunity to have Jeff Furman of Chapel Hill, NC for a workshop and concert weekend September 12 and 13, 2025. Jeff’s Friday morning workshop included some essential right hand techniques, the practice of which can form the basis of good playing. In the second workshop, some left hand techniques were introduced and we tried these out using several new pieces introduced by … Continue reading Jeff Furman Workshop

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