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 Cathy Barton & Dave Para - Cathy and Dave have created dynamic performances acclaimed for 35 years for their variety and expertise in vocal and instrumental music. They have celebrated the musical traditions and folklife of Missouri and the Ozarks in festivals, clubs, concert halls, schools and studios across the U.S. and Europe. Their audiences are as diverse as their repertoire. Dave and Cathy play several stringed instruments including hammered and fretted dulcimers, banjo, guitar and Autoharp, as well as "found" instruments like bones, spoons, mouthbow and leaf. Their concerts present a range of music from the lively dance tunes they have collected in their home region to old ballads to new songs. They have conducted several instrumental workshops as well as those about songs from the Civil War, from American rivers, old gospel songs, children's songs and Christmas music. Dave and Cathy are caretakers of a long musical heritage, and they are known for deep understanding and affection for traditional music. They also keep their minds and ears open as the roots and branches of folk music run deep and spread wide. Missouri is a social and geographic meeting place, and its rich cultural diversity continues to inspire Dave and Cathy's music and broaden their repertoire. In their mission to introduce new audiences to folk music, Dave and Cathy have participated in the artists-in-education program for the Missouri Arts Council since the early 1980s. They have done folk arts residencies and assembly programs in schools across the state. They also created and serve as artistic directors of two annual folk festivals, the Big Muddy Folk Festival, in their hometown of Boonville, and the Boone's Lick Country Folk Festival, in Arrow Rock, Mo.
Bonnie Phipps - Bonnie Phipps' innovations on the Autoharp won her the Winfield Autoharp Championship in 1982. Since then she has toured the Western States for Columbia Artists Management with The Colorado Folk Ensemble and made 2 recordings, "Autoharpin" and "Colorado Folk Ensemble." The ensemble also performed at the Philadelphia Folk Festival, The Hudson Revival Festival, and the Winnipeg Folk Festival. Bonnie wrote the well known "Beginning Autoharp Instruction Book" published by Alfred Publishing Co. Bonnie founded The Elastic Band who performs for family audiences nationally and internationally. They have recorded two CDs, "Monster's Holiday" and "Dinosaur Choir," and each won Parent Choice Gold awards, and the National Parenting Award.
 Will Smith - Will Smith has been teaching and performing autoharp on both sides of the Atlantic for more years than he cares to remember - okay, almost forty. He has been on albums by numerous artists, including those of three different winners of the CMA Female Vocalist Award - Pam Tillis, Kathy Mattea, and Reba McEntire, and once performed as a sideman on the Grand Ole Opry, prompting "Whispering" Bill Anderson to shout, "Who is that guy with the autoharp?". Twice his playing was featured on songs that won the Canadian Country Music Association Song of the Year Award. Back in the 1980s, he recorded an autoharp-centric album *Across The Seven Seas*, and his versions of "End of the World" and "Ghost Riders in the Sky" were included on the *Autoharp Legacy* anthology in 2003. He is currently working on a recording, for 2012 release, to demonstrate advanced diatonic techniques as well as a unique chromatic chord bar design that adapts classical, bossa nova, modal Appalachian, pop standards, and other genres to the autoharp. As a songwriter, Will has had success several times on the country charts with cuts by John Anderson, Mark Chesnutt, Wade Hayes, Shelby Lynne, and others, including a pair of albums by Shawn Camp released by Warner/Reprise in 2010. He is also web master for sites for the legendary producer/songwriter/publisher Cowboy Jack Clement and master percussionist Kenny Malone.
 June Maugery - June first fell in love with the autoharp in 1975 while singing with the Seattle-based band "The Mountain Oysters." Since then, work and romance have taken June (with 'harp in hand) to various corners of the globe, including refugee camps in Thailand and rural villages in Western Africa. Today she lives in the French Alps and performs with the popular folk dance band J'attendsveille. Mountain Laurel champion in 1996, June more recently won 2nd place in the memorable 20th anniversary contest. Her distinctive and ever-evolving instrumental work, partnered with her deep passion for song, have brought June critical acclaim for several recordings, including an early country duet collaboration with Mike Fenton. Her "Shining Bright Like Gold" album was noted in MusicHound Folk as one of eight essential autoharp albums. June's smiling face and musical grace have delighted audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. Mountain Laurel in 2012 will be a unique occasion to hear June with French singer and guitarist Ana. Together they form the duo AnaJune, offering a bouquet of songs d ici et d' ailleurs (from here and there). Brush up on your French and join them!
 Les, Gwen & Sadie Gustafson-Zook - Les & Gwen Gustafson-Zook are folk musicians, playing a variety of traditional and contemporary Gospel and folk songs. Les has performed for thousands of school children, introducing a variety of instruments and singing Songs of the Pioneers in hundreds of schools over the past 20 years. Les is the 2001 International Autoharp Champion, but also plays mandolin, jawharp, and a variety of other entertaining instruments. He's a frequent instructor and performer at festivals across the country. Gwen plays guitar and sings both lead and harmony vocals. They will be joined by their 17 year old daughter, Sadie, on fiddle, guitar and vocals. Their music is energetic, fun and engaging. Combining it with stories from their variety of experiences, their performances are a entertaining experience for everyone.
 Ray Choi - Ray Choi was born in Chuang Ju in South Korea in 1959. When he was a teenager he taught himself to yodel and went on to start ayodeling club and began a yodeling and singing career, winning anational competition inKorea. He found he had a natural ability for music, theory and perfect pitch, and soon taught himself guitar. In 1968 he heard his first chromaharp, and was so impressed by its sound that a few years later he got his first autoharp, teaching himself strums, finger and thumb picking. In 1984 he followed Jane to California, where they later married, and had two children, David and Esther. Together Ray and Jane own and operate The Grace Music Store in Garden Grove. After collaborating with mentor Paul Cramm, a luthier in Orange County, Ray became a luthier, building beautiful, rich resonating tones with full volume into the warm and exotic woods of his own autoharps. Currently Ray has built over 500 autoharps, each taking about 100 hours to craft. Through the years Rayhas given lessons to as many as 300 students. Ray is also Music Director of his church, performing at many other churches and public events, including weddings, funerals and celebrations. Ray conducts autoharp workshops and concerts and currently has two local autoharp groups that he meets with monthly. In his spare time Ray is compiling three new books for autoharpists: one of approximately 650 hymns, and another of approximately 1000 popular, folk, religious, western and classical songs, all in authoharp tabluature; and finally, a booklet illustrating his finger techniques. In addition, Ray is making two new CD's to be available spring 2012.
This document maintained by
Neal Walters.
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