Autoharps & both Hammered and Mountain dulcimers come together for a weekend of playing and singing. Join as hosts Anne Dilker and Norm Williams welcome a perfect trifecta of talented teachers: Stephen Seifert, Will Smith, and Rick Thum. And of course, Rich Kuklentz will return with the always popular Rise Up Singing sessions.
A limited number of loaner instruments will be available and other instruments are always welcome. Come join us for a weekend of workshops, singing, and jamming.
Staff includes: Rick Thum, Stephen Seifert, Will Smith, and your hosts Norm Williams, Anne Dilker and Rich Kuklentz!
WILL SMITH
Autoharp
Will Smith has appeared as a sideman on the Grand Ole Opry and on numerous albums by such artists as Loretta Lynn, Reba McEntire, Kathy Mattea, Collin Raye, Randy VanWarmer, Pam Tillis, Hobo Jim, and others. His autoharp was featured on a recording with Prairie Oyster that won the Canadian Country Music Assn. Song of the Year as did “26 Cents” by The Wilkinsons, which was also nominated in 2000 for a Country Song of the Year Grammy. McEntire, Tillis, Mattea, and Lynn have all been CMA Female Vocalist at one time or other. Loretta Lynn’s FULL CIRCLE recording, which features his autoharp on “I Never Will Marry”, was Grammy-nominated for Country Album of the Year in 2017.
He was included on the Autoharp Legacy anthology CD, has performed internationally, and a clip from one of his videos was recently featured in an exhibit at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix. You can subscribe to his YouTube channel “autoharp-music”. In June of 2016, he was named to the Autoharp Hall of Fame. The TENNESSEE ARTS COMMISSION named him one of six musical acts to receive a grant for their 2019 Traditional Arts Mentorship program to guide an apprentice in various facets of autoharpistry.
Will’s first taste of the “music business” was as manager of the Prism Coffeehouse in Charlottesville VA back in the 70s where he booked a number of people who went on to be notable folk musicians including the late John Jackson, Bill Staines, Liz Meyer, Bryan Bowers, and Emmylou Harris.
As an act himself, after touring the NACA college coffeehouse circuit through most of the U.S., he settled in Nashville in the mid-80s to concentrate on songwriting and session work playing autoharp.
He recorded an album in Charlottesville ACROSS THE SEVEN SEAS (1984). For the summer of 2012 festivals, a limited edition CD called AUTOHARP ROOTS AND BRANCHES was released. His current projects include running web sites and Facebook pages for the author/producer Jim Rooney, an Americana Music Assn. Lifetime Achievement Award winner, as well as legendary producer/songwriter/publisher the late Cowboy Jack Clement, and master percussionist Kenny Malone .
The autoharp used on some of the recordings uses a revolutionary chord bar set up which enables altered chords and progressions not possible on a conventional instrument.
As a songwriter, Will has had success several times on the country charts with cuts by John Anderson, Mark Chesnutt, Wade Hayes, The Remains, Dude Mowery, Shelby Lynne, Shawn Camp, and others. Will made contributions as songwriter and instrumentalist to the Shawn Camp CD titled 1994, which ironically came out in 2010 on Warner Reprise. In 2015 and 2017, Shawn was named IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year .
RICK THUM
Hammer Dulcimer
Ranked as the most influential dulcimer player of the last decade by readers of Dulcimer Player News, Rick Thum has made his mark on every aspect of the hammered dulcimer world. Rick is perhaps best known for his festival performances, which have regularly earned him the “most popular performer” title at the largest national dulcimer festival. He brings a combination of passion and friendly accessibility to his teaching that makes his workshops and master classes favorites at festivals across the country, and has tapped this teaching experience to produce the best-selling instructional CD series for hammered dulcimer, the “Original Song of the Month Club”. Rick is also the designer of the highly-regarded ‘Professional’ hammered dulcimer, bearing his name. Yet for all his time in the studio, onstage, in the classroom, and in the luthier’s shop, Rick is most at home at a late-night jam session, where you might even find him playing an instrument other than the dulcimer from time to time.
Rick Thum taught himself to play guitar and drums at age twelve and played the trumpet in his high school band. Throughout high school and college (B. S. Industrial Administration) Rick played in rock bands, eventually playing regularly on the upper deck of the Admiral in St. Louis. While raising his family Rick directed his church choir. Rick’s interest in traditional music was sparked when he bought a hammered dulcimer on a whim and found himself in a three-piece folk band. In 1991 Rick became co-owner of a large midwestern acoustic instrument shop. In 1994 he sold his interest in the shop to devote more time to being a traveling musician. He placed first at the 1994 Southwest Regional Dulcimer Contest and third in the 1995 National Championship at Winfield, Kansas. Rick was voted Best Performer and Favorite Teacher for several years running at the prestigious Evart Dulcimer Funfest. (The oldest and largest dulcimer festival in the nation.) He has shared the stage with Mike Seeger, The Tony Rice Unit, Steve Kaufman, Norman Blake, and Bryan Bowers and opened for John Hartford, Norman & Nancy Blake, and Leo Kottke. Rick is a popular teacher on the festival circuit and travels across the country playing solo and teaching at music festvals. He currently has five recordings; “Hammered Fiddle Tunes”, “A Reason to Dance”, “Front Porch Waltz”, “Down the Old Dirt Road” and “Seifert & Thum Live at Mt Dora 2014”. Mel Bay Publishing Inc. has published the companion book to Hammered Fiddle Tunes. Rick is currently manufacturing hammered dulcimers (Rick Thum Dulcimers) which can be seen at a retailer near you and has, by demand, started the Song of the Month Club. Mail order lessons by audio Cd.
NORM WILLIAMS
Norm Williams is a performer/teacher of the mountain dulcimer who also plays guitar, banjo, ukulele, native flute and vocals. He is a co-founder of The Pocono Dulcimer Club and a coordinator of their DulcimerFest held annually in Stroudsburg, PA: a co-founder of the Maiden Creek Old Time Music Festival.
Norm began teaching mountain dulcimer in 2002 and has been faculty at festivals throughout the Northeast. Additionally, he coordinates music for Quiet Valley Historical Farm & Living History Museum in Stroudsburg. He is also a volunteer host for news and folk programming at WDIY 88.1FM, Lehigh Valley Community Public Radio.
Norm also performs & records with the bands Wayfarers & Company, Tom & Betty Druckenmiller, and most recently with Cliff Cole & Rob Yoder in the band, Dulcimer Boys. He recently released his first solo recording entitled “…a wayfarer; songs of hope and encouragement”
ANNE DILKER & RICH KUKLENTZ (Slow Deer Crossing)
Slow Deer Crossing is the duo of Anne Dilker & Rich Kuklentz. Anne is, both through natural aptitude and formal training, a dancer so rhythm is a natural for her. Rich is well steeped the tradition of folk music and had been playing and singing for over 40 years. Rich will be leading the Rise Up Singing workshop and providing backup guitar for various classes and performances. Anne will be leading the novice hammered dulcimer class and I’ve Got Rhythm on the autoharp.
This protocol meets or exceeds current CDC and NY State Department of Health guidelines and is subject to revision based on changing conditions and changes in those guidelines. We’ll notify registered campers if there are any significant changes before camp begins. We trust our caring community to find the right balance of caution and fun within these parameters, to make safe decisions, and to treat fellow campers with respect.
In Advance:
We request everyone test for COVID-19 in the 24 hours before arrival.
If you test positive, do not attend.
If you’ve recently recovered from COVID and have been symptom free for 5 or more days without the use of fever-reducers, you may attend.
All refund requests due to COVID exposure, or COVID-related concerns will be honored.
On Site:
The Ashokan Center will provide onsite rapid testing upon request.
Anyone who tests positive or develops symptoms consistent with COVID will be asked to leave the event and will be entitled to a refund.
You may pay in full or hold your place with a deposit of 25% per person if registering 4 or more weeks before camp. Full payment is due 4 weeks before camp begins. To cancel your camp registration, email events@ashokancenter.org
• We retain $50 per person for cancellations requested up to 4 weeks before camp begins, and for COVID-related cancellations made at any date.
• We retain your 25% deposit between 4 and 2 weeks before camp.
• We retain the full registration amount within 2 weeks of camp.
No schedule has been posted yet. Check back soon.
You may choose to pay up front or pay a deposit and balance. Balance payment is due 4 weeks before the event.
Registration includes all activities and meals. Lodging is optional and camping is free.
Children under 5 attend for free (under 3 for Family Camp). Campers under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
All meals are included. You may indicate your dietary restrictions when registering. We make every effort to include a range of allergen-free dishes and to inform diners of meal ingredients.
The Ashokan Center is licensed to serve beer and wine in Esopus Lodge (the main building). The bar is generally open from late afternoon to early evening. Sorry, by law, guests are prohibited from bringing their own alcoholic beverages into this licensed building.
LONGHOUSE BUNKS: Rooms hold up to 24 people and are designated women, men, or all gender. Place your belongings on a top or bottom bunk after you check in to claim it. Pillows are available, please bring your own blankets, sheets, pillowcases, and towels. There are a small number of light blankets for those bunkhouse residents who are unable to bring one of their own. If you will need us to provide one, please let us know well in advance.
PRIVATE ROOMS: There are a limited number of private rooms that must be reserved in advance at extra charge. Pillows are available, please bring your own sheets, pillowcases, and towels. There are light quilts in each private room.
CAMPSITES: Camping is available with access to bathrooms and outdoor showers. Please park by your campsite only if you plan to leave your car in place for the duration of the camp.
If you’re lodging with us please remember to bring a blanket and linens (or sleeping bag), towel, toiletries, soap, flashlight, earplugs (for light sleepers). There are light quilts in each private room and we have a small number of light blankets for bunkhouse residents who can’t bring one of their own. Let us know well in advance if you’ll need one.
Flashlight, recording device, camera (or maybe those are all your phone!)
Comfortable informal clothing for wet and dry weather. Some may also bring dressy, wild or fun clothing as well but that is up to you! There’s no laundry on site so bring enough clothes for the camp.
Please, no pets or drop-in guests.
Incoming mail
Your Name c/o Ashokan Music & Dance
477 Beaverkill Rd,
Olivebridge, NY 12461
Outgoing mail leaves each weekday at 4pm.
Music & Dance Camp Phone (845) 657-8333 x 3
Cell phone reception is available but spotty. Calls may be dropped but texts are reliably received.
High speed Wi-Fi is available in all buildings.
Physical Address:
Ashokan Center, 477 Beaverkill Rd, Olivebridge, NY 12461
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
Take NY State Thruway (1-87) to Kingston exit #19.
From traffic circle take Route 28 West (toward Pine Hill).
In 12 miles (shortly after Mobil & Citgo) turn left onto Reservoir Rd.
Cross the Ashokan Reservoir, turn left at the Tee.
Head down the hill, pass the first left (Rt 28A East) and merge onto 28A West.
Take next left onto Beaverkill Rd.
Follow Beaverkill for about one mile, then turn right into the Ashokan Center driveway and follow the signs.
AIRPORT Albany, NY (ALB) is the closest major airport (about 1.5 hours away). Public transportation is available from the airport to the Kingston bus station, where you can take a taxi to Ashokan. Or contact us at least one month before your program begins for a list of people driving from the Albany area who may be able to give you a ride.
If there are no camp spots or private rooms available above, you may add your name to this waitlist. If space opens up we will contact you.
The Ashokan Center builds community through shared experiences in nature, history, music and art. We have hosted traditional Music & Dance Camps at our 385 acre nature preserve for over 40 years. In 2020 we learned how to host them online and in 2021 we began to reimagine how to gather in person once again.
Come join the Ashokan family to celebrate, learn, connect, deepen your music, make new friends, and brighten your day. Our events are open to all folks, all ages and all orientations.
M&D Need-Based “Pay it Forward” Grant approx 2 months before the event we open applications for 5 free spots (includes tuition, meals & bunk). This offers a learning opportunity to gigging musicians and music, vocal, and dance teachers who will be sharing out their newly learned skills with a wider community. We prioritize new applicants each year. We notify all applicants 1 month before camp begins.
