Stephen Seifert began playing the mountain dulcimer in 1991. He is now a favorite at festivals and clubs around the country. Besides authoring a long list of books and videos, serving as dulcimer soloist with symphonies around the country, and organizing the world's first chromatic dulcimer festival, he also hosts Mountain Dulcimer Folk, a live weekly podcast featuring music and interviews with mountain dulcimer players around the world. Stephen also dabbles with Irish whistle, Harmonica, Jaw-Harp, Clawhammer Banjo, Old-Time Fiddle, Piano, Guitar, and Bass. He believes that music is for everyone, not just famous folks.
Performances
-Mainstage performer at Winfield
-Dulcimer Soloist with the Nashville Chamber Orchestra, Paul Gambill conducting, since 1996.
-Guest Dulcimer Soloist with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, the Columbus Symphony, the Charlotte Symphony, and others.
-Featured performer at American Music Festival in Tono, Japan, 2001.
Teaching
-Teacher and performer at various festivals including Swannanoa, Augusta, John C. Campbell, Stringalong, Boone/Cullowhee, Kentucky Music Week, Mardi Gras Dulcimer Fest., Housatonic, Northeast Dulcimer Symposium, and more.
-Visiting instructor and performer at over 150 dulcimer clubs in the United States.
-Online, all-day video workshops and performances inculding a live chatroom with participants.
-Group lessons and performances for the Rennaisance Center in Dickson, TN
-Adjunct Instructor of Mountain Dulcimer with David Schnaufer and Vanderbilt's Blair School of Music from January of 1997 to May of 2001.
-Assistant dulcimer teaching with Professor Ron Penn of University of Kentucky for the Donovan program.
-Group lessons for YMCA Camp Kern, Dayton Branch, for 3 summers with ages 7 - 15.
-Music curriculum for homeschoolers.
-Private lessons with students of varying levels.
Recordings and Instructional Materials
-Monthly DVD/CD/Book series with hundreds of subscribers around the U.S. and abroad.
-Author of ten books and 12 DVDs for the dulcimer.
-Has recorded four solo CDs.
-Featured Dulcimer Soloist on the Warner Classical release by the Nashville Chamber Orchestra, Conversations in Silence.
Other Stuff
-Host of MOUNTAIN DULCIMER FOLK, a weekly live podcast featuring music and interviews with folks from the mountain dulcimer community world-wide.
-Hosting a chromatic mountain dulcimer festival at Cedars of Lebanon State Park in October, 2008.
-Bought first dulcimer and joined the Cincinnati Dulcimer Club, 1991.
-Several 1st place wins at various regional contests around the U.S.
-School music programs for Paul Gambill of the Nashville Chamber Orchestra.
-Nashville session work.
-Currently playing and learning to play many forms of traditional music, fast and slow, including, but not limited to fiddle tunes, string band music, ballads, and hymns. Also experimenting with classic Country songs, Blues, Jazz, Irish, and Middle Eastern.
Education
-Studied classical and jazz piano at University of Kentucky for two years.
-Middle Tennessee State University Recording Industry Major Graduate.