Walt Michael will perform in concert on the hammered dulcimer on Wednesday, Jan. 24, at 7 p.m. in Calvin Hall Auditorium at the University of New Mexico-Gallup. The concert is free and open to the public. Michael’s career has spanned 35 years – taking him from the coal camps of Appalachia to the White House to the closing ceremonies of the 13th Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid, N.Y.
A virtuoso of considerable influence in the revival of this traditional American folk instrument, Michael has a wide repertoire ranging from old-time Southern Appalachian, to Celtic, to original compositions.
A vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, he has recorded 14 albums and instructional videos. He has appeared at the Lincoln Center and Kennedy Center, and has toured throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and the United Kingdom. His music has been heard on ABC-TV, NBC’s Tonight Show, Broadway, NNC, TNN, CBC, OLN and PBS. He has also composed and performed collaboratively with both the Pilobolus Dance Theater and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
Michael was the musical producer, composer and recording artist for the Outdoor Living Network’s documentary, Cowboy 101, which premiered in October 2004. In 2005 he collaborated with five-time Tennessee State Fiddle Champion Jim Wood to produce two instrumental albums featuring his hammered dulcimer playing.
He is also the artist in residence at McDaniel College in Westminster, Md.
Michael will be joined by fiddler and multi-instrumentalist Alexander Mitchell, who plays styles from Celtic to Klezmer, to Swing, Bluegrass and Folk. Mitchell has done a national tour of Woody Guthrie’s American Song with the Missouri Repertory Theatre, appeared in Ted Turner’s movie, Gettysburg, and has created music for numerous soundtrack, stage and theatrical productions.
Media Contact: Linda Thornton, (505) 863-7565; e-mail: lthornton@gallup.unm.edu
Posted by scarr at January 17, 2007 05:19 PM