Menucha Mountain Dulcimer Festival

2020 Instructors

Steve Eulberg

Steve Eulberg’s a 5-time national mountain dulcimer winner and 3-time national hammered dulcimer finalist who weaves old-timey with blues and contemporary tunes adding original songs into a tapestry of “smile-inducing, toe-tapping folkgrass” that captivates and energizes audiences of all ages.

Steve’s music has been featured on United Airlines’ Inflight Audio, PBS’s Roadtrip Nation and National Public Radio. An active touring musician, film and theater composer, he has had several songs in the Top 10 Independent Country Chart (and one #1 “war is sweet”) reported by The Music Review.

He is a popular guitar instructor for JamPlay.com and has taught and performed at festivals and folk schools across the US and Canada. He is the host of the Colorado Dulcimer Festival and is active as the Western Regional Board Representative of Local 1000, the non-geographical local of the AFM, specifically created for traveling musicians. His elementary school programs are engaging, informative, uplifting and fun!

Steve Eulberg’s website

Joellen Lapidus

Joellen Lapidus is one of the pioneers of contemporary fretted dulcimer playing, songwriting, and instrument construction and is the author of the dulcimer instruction book “LAPIDUS ON DULCIMER 2”. Joellen blends Appalachian, Indian, Arabic, jazz, classical, and pop musical styles to give the dulcimer a new range of rhythmic, melodic, tuning and improvisational possibilities.

As a dulcimer maker, her work influenced many of the dulcimer builders of the 70’s and 80’s. Her instruments were known for their innovative shapes and exquisite soundhole and peghead inlay work. She introduced the dulcimer to Joni Mitchell and made three instruments for her between 1968 and 1976. She has also made instruments for David Crosby, Jackson Browne, Wendy Waldman, Garth Hudson and Kevin Roth.

Joellen teaches dulcimer in West Los Angeles and runs the Los Angeles Urban/Mountain Dulcimer Club. She performs on dulcimer and accordion with her contemporary folk band:  “THE URBAN GYPSIES” and with her new klezmer band “SCHMALTZ”.

Joellen Lapidus’s website

Janita Baker

Janita Baker has been playing mountain dulcimer for over 30 years. Through her recordings, books, and appearances at festivals and workshops across the United States she has become well-known for her teaching skills and Blue Lion Dulcimers, which she builds with her husband Robert.

As a solo performer, Janita also presents her audiences with a wide range of musical experiences including classical, traditional, delta and country blues, ragtime, swing, and original instrumental pieces. A gifted storyteller, Janita delights her listeners with a warm and personal sharing of her music and introduces to her audience and her students the incredible complexity, variety and beauty of the mountain dulcimer.

Janita Baker’s website