Walt Michael

Considered to be a virtuoso of tremendous influence in the revival of the hammered dulcimer, Walt Michael's wide repertoire ranges from old-time Southern Appalachian, to Celtic, to original compositions. His various musical incarnations, including Bottle Hill, Michael, McCreesh & Campbell and Walt Michael & Co. have taken him from the coal camps of Appalachia to the Closing Ceremonies of the 13th Olympic Winter Games.

He performed with Bill Troxler for the Hampshire County Arts Council's first fund-raising concert, as well as in three more concerts for HCAC audiences as an ensemble string band, Walt Michael & Co., moving gracefully from folk to Celtic to acapella gospel & bluegrass music, emphasizing at the same time the virtuosity of its individual members. In 2002 Walt Michael & Co. performed at Capon Bridge and Romney Middle Schools "Across the Water" a program exploring the roots of American folk music.

As a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Walt Michael has recorded ten albums, appeared at the Lincoln and Kennedy Centers and toured internationally. His music has been heard on ABC-TV, NBC's Tonight Show, Broadway, BBC, TNN, CBC and PBS. He has touched the hearts of millions with his hammered dulicimer, guitar and voice. Walt is the founder and Executive Director of Common Ground on the Hill.

Walt Michael led Shetland's Young Heritage Fiddlers on their Dream Tour of America in 1993, including appearances at the Smithsonian and the White House (and included a brief stop in Romney for a meal and short concert.) Frequent tours to the UK have recently included headlining the Across the Tweed festival in the Borders, the Sidmouth Folk Festival in Devonshire, England and Scotland's National Folk Festival in Ayrshire.

His most recent release, Legacy, is on the Tradition Bearers label in Scotland. In 1999, Flying Fish Records released Walt Michael - Retrospective.

Walt is the Artist in Residence at McDaniel College, as well as the Founder and Executive Director of Common Ground on the Hill, a traditional arts organization that seeks to promote interracial harmony through the arts.

Walt Michael has established himself as one of the most innovative and expressive of traditional musicians Lincoln Center

The gems of the night were undoubtedly Walt Michael & Co. ......with tasteful panache they stole away all hearts, Walt making his dulcimer sound like a full orchestra ­ tutti virtuosi!
Folk Music News, London

Walt Michael is a master of the hammered dulcimer and has a fine voice with an impressive vocal range. The standard of performance is second to none.
Mid Ocean News, Berm

Walt Michael Selected Appearances:

TELEVISION & RADIO
ABC-TV 13th Winter Olympics,
Closing Ceremonies - Composer & Performer
NBC-TV Tonight Show with Johnny Carson
TNN-Nashville Network, Fire on the Mountain
PBS - Bluegrass from Waterloo
NPR ­ Prairie Home Companion
E-Town
Our Front Porch
BBC Radio II - Live from Culzean Castle

INTERNATIONAL
Bermuda --- Bermuda Fringe Festival
Switzerland--- Festival Folk d'Epalinge-- Mahogany Hall, Berne
Scotland --- Inverness Folk Festival, Both Sides of theTweed Music Festival, Shetland Folk Festival, Girvan Folk Festival, National Folk Festival of Scotland
N. Ireland--- Belfast Music Festival, Sunflower Club, Armagh Folk Club
England--- Sidmouth Folk Festival
France--- The American Center, Paris, La Cour des Miracles, Paris
Italy--- Folk Club de Sarrano
Canada--- Winnipeg Folk Festival, Edmonton Folk Festival, Toronto Folk Festival, Owen Sound Folk Festival, Vancouver Folk Festival, North Winds Festival

UNITED STATES
The White House, Washington, DC
Lincoln Center, NYC
Kennedy Center, Washington, DC
Olympic Arts Festival, Lake Placid, NY
American Dance Festival, Winston Salem, NC
Spirit Square, Charlotte, NC
Merlefest, Wilkesboro, NC
Walnut Valley Festival, Winfield, KS
Kentucky Center for the Arts, Louisville, KY
Philadelphia Folk Festival
Winterhawk Bluegrass Festival, Hillsdale, NY
Clearwater's Great Hudson River Revival, NY
Metropolitan Musuem, NYC
Brooklyn Museum of Art, Brooklyn, NY
Pepsico Summerfare, Purchase, NY
International Celtic Festival, Hunter, NY
Summer Solstice Festival, Los Angeles, CA
Sterling Forest, NY
Musikfest, Bethlehem, PA
Lonestar State Dulcimer Festival, Glen Rose, TX
Blakely Cajun Festival, Blakely, AL
First Night Annapolis, MD
First Night Dover, DE
First Night Frederick, MD
First Night Winchester, VA
Lake Eden Arts Festival (LEAF),
Black Mountain, NC
IBMA Fanfest, Owensboro, KY

STAGE PRODUCTIONS
Molly's Not Dead composer & musician with
Pilobolus Dance Theater on Broadway, NYC and World Tour
Folksay w/ Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

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