About the Teachers
Patti Amelotte
After attaining a bachelor’s degree in piano performance from Chapman University, Patti became interested in the hammered dulcimer and in Irish music. She has performed throughout Southern California as a soloist, with several duos, and with the bands Blackthorn, Granuaile, Better than One, Crannog and her current band, Looney's Fortune released their CD "West Coast Irish" last year. In 1990 she won the State Hammered Dulcimer Championship. Patti has performed on many television and movie soundtracks as well as releasing a well-received recording with Granuaile. She teaches private and group lessons in Southern California.
Cindy Ribet
has been singing and performing for most of her life and has over 25 years experience performing, recording, teaching, and composing for the hammered dulcimer. She also plays and teaches fiddle, recorder and guitar. She has recorded 6 CDs and has taught at the Swannanoah Gathering, John C. Campbell Folk School, the Augusta Heritage Festival, and the first ever County Cork Dulcimer Festival in Ireland. Her enthusiasm when she teaches and plays is evident and contagious.
Sam Rizzetta
is a musician and instrument maker whose many design innovations helped to define the contemporary hammered dulcimer. He builds custom instruments, designs for Dusty Strings and has written the Technical Dulcimer column in Dulcimer Players News for many years. In 1975, he formed the renowned dulcimer quartet Trapezoid. He’s performed widely and has taught workshops for over 30 years and has over twelve recordings to his credit.
Andy Young
from Chicago, IL performs Gypsy Jazz, Irish traditional, and Quebecois tunes on Hammered Dulcimer, Irish Flute, Tin Whistle, and Guitar. He has performed and taught at dulcimer and folk festivals around the Midwest, including Gebhard Woods, Evart, Chicago Celtic Festival, Kentucky Music Winter Week, Fox Valley Folk Festival, Blissfest, and Saline Celtic Fest. His thoughtful, engaging, simple style of teaching workshops makes even more advanced concepts seem easy.
Paul Oorts
a native of Belgium, is adept at musette accordion and almany things with strings. His instrumental versatility and knowledge of many different styles of music has made Paul the accompanist of choice for many hammered dulcimer players and dance bands. He plays English, Scottish, vintage and contra dance with Goldcrest, Gigmeisters, Cabaret Sauvignon and numerous DC area bands.
Upper Potomac Music Weekends