270 SHAKE OFF THOSE WINTER DOLDRUMS WITH A DULCIMER DIVERSION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 15, 2007
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Dr. Mary Nichols, 615-898-5677 or mnichols@mtsu.edu

Free Evening of Dulcimer Music Set Feb. 23 at MTSU; 2 Workshops Follow Feb. 24

(MURFREESBORO)—The MTSU Distinguished Lecture Series and the Department of Electronic Media Communication are sponsoring an evening of dulcimer music with Nashville’s own “Sarah Elisabeth and The Initials” and the Missouri-based Gallier Brothers Friday, Feb. 23, at 7 p.m. in the State Farm Room of the Business and Aerospace Building.
“A Dulcimer Diversion,” which will be opened by the Stones River String Band, an MTSU student ensemble, is free and open to the public.
And on Saturday, Feb. 24, Sarah Elisabeth and Gary Gallier will offer two free mountain-dulcimer workshops at MTSU. These workshops, also sponsored by the MTSU Distinguished Lecture Series, are open to the public.
Dulcimer wunderkind Sarah Elisabeth, age 15, is celebrating a decade of playing the historic instrument in 2007. After years of studying with virtuoso David Schnaufer, she currently studies with Janita Baker of California and is a scholarship student of Karen Krieger at the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University. She recently co-wrote and recorded “Soul Central Railroad” as the title track for The Chigger Hill Boys’ latest CD. The song was submitted for consideration in the Dove Award nomination process. Sarah will be performing with guitarist TJ Larkin and bassist GR Davis.
Les and Gary Gallier, nationally recognized as pioneers and innovators on the mountain dulcimer, are redefining not only how the instrument is played but also are expanding it's musical realm. Each won the title of National Dulcimer Champion at the Walnut Valley Festival by introducing two very unique playing styles. Gary flatpicks melodies on all the strings, much like a guitarist, while Les, playing in a different tuning, slips on fingerpicks to produce surprisingly intricate passages.
The Stones River String Band includes students who are enrolled in a course on traditional music of the rural South taught through the university's McLean School of Music. Members of the band include Rebekah Weiler and Ben Bateson on banjo, Brian Vollmer on fiddle and banjo, Jessica Watson and Matt Petree on mandolin, Emily Cavender and Chandlin Ringgold on bass and Josh Philpott on fiddle and guitar. The students bring different levels of involvement with old-time music to the class, and many have other musical interests as well. Instructors for the class are Paul Wells of MTSU’s Center for Popular Music/McLean School of Music and Amy Macy, a professor in the university’s Department of Recording Industry.
At the free Feb. 24 events, Sarah Elisabeth will teach a hymn workshop designed for beginners, focusing on “I'll Fly Away,” “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” and “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.” The workshop will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. in Room 155 of the Bragg Mass Communication Building.
Gary Gallier will teach a two-octave, flat-picked version of “Whisky Before Breakfast," all taking place mostly in the first seven frets. Described as “intricate but pretty easy” and with dAD tuning, the workshop is designed for intermediate players but advanced beginners also will enjoy it. It is set from 12:30-1:45 p.m. in Bragg 155.
The workshops will each be limited to 20 participants. Reservations can be made by e-mailing Dr. Mary Nichols at mnichols@mtsu.edu. For more information about the performance or workshops, call 615-898-5677.

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NOTE: For a color jpeg of Sarah Elizabeth and the Initials and/or a color headshot of Gary Gallier, contact the Office of News and Public Affairs via e-mail at gfann@mtsu.edu or by calling 615-898-5385. Thanks!