Karen Alley, one of the Festival’s local performers and instructors, has won the National Hammered Dulcimer Championship at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas! She is THE 2014 National Champion! Karen received a trophy as well as a new Russell Cook Dulcimer. This win follows her Third Place win at the 2011 Championship.
Karen’s wins are added to the list of our instructors who have won First, Second, and/or Third Place multiple times at the National Hammered Dulcimer and Mountain Dulcimer Championships: Bonnie Carol, Steve Eulberg, and Tina Gugeler.
Karen has also announced the release of her new album, Sunlit Strings—a compilation of favorite solo Hammered Dulcimer tunes, ranging in style from calming to upbeat and percussive. Six of the tracks are original compositions, while the rest are from American and Irish traditional pieces and favorite hymns.
There are three ways to get a copy of Sunlit Strings:
- Online through Karen’s Facebook Page, by clicking on the “Music Store” tab: https://www.facebook.com/karenalleydulcimer(You can also listen to a few of the tracks by clicking on the “BandPage” tab.)Or directly from the BandCamp website: https://karenalley.bandcamp.com/album/sunlit-strings
- In person: If you live in the Boulder area, send Karen an email ([email protected]). She will also have her CD available at the New Mexico Dulcimer Festival in October.
- From iTunes, amazon, and other music sites.
Way to go, Karen! Congratulations!