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About Mary LynnA professional French horn player by training, Mary Lynn Michal discovered a passion for playing the hammered dulcimer in 2012. And she has not looked back, now performing and teaching as a full-time hammered dulcimer player for the past five years. She maintains a flock of nearly 100 hammered dulcimer students privately and over Zoom/FaceTime.
For booking, please contact Mary Lynn or call 919-414-1491 Mary Lynn Michal is available for workshops, private parties, weddings, concerts, and educational programs. |
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Sassafras RidgeSassafras Ridge sits atop a hill in Middletown, MD. Part house, part studio, part refuge, totally and undeniably Mary Lynn's home. The sassafras trees stand guard and serve as a constant reminder of ML's Dad and his love of fine root beer. Mary Lynn found solace and safety in a friend's home which is affectionately known as “The MapleRidge.” It seems fitting that those relationships and their lasting impact on ML's life have culminated in a corner of paradise now known as Sassafras Ridge.
Make plans NOW to spend some time with Mary Lynn—limited solo/small group intensive learning opportunities available on request. |
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Sandbridge Hammered Dulcimer RetreatMentored by Ken Kolodner, Mary Lynn co-teaches for five weeks of Kolodner's Sandbridge Hammered Dulcimer Retreats, an elite hammered dulcimer retreat held in Sandbridge Beach, VA. She prepares many of the Sandbridge participants. In 2020, Mary Lynn co-authored with Kolodner The Complete Guide to Theory & Mapping for the Hammered Dulcimer.
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Teaching and PerformingPerformances and teaching appearances include The QuaranTUNE Dulcimer Festivals, The Evart FunFest, The National Cathedral (DC), The Black Mountain Music Festival, Kentucky Music Week, Common Ground on the Hill, The Poconos Dulcimer Festival and with Kolodner in Chicago, NY, Texas, online and elsewhere.
Mary Lynn teaches online through HD Homeland, including her signature class based on the Theory book (more than 325 hammered dulcimer players from around the globe have participated). |
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Musical BackgroundMary Lynn began playing piano at the age of 6 and studied for 14 years. In sixth grade she played trumpet but discovered her true passion the next year when she heard a french horn. She earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from UNC-Chapel Hill and a master’s degree from The Eastman School of Music. Prior to discovering the hammered dulcimer, Mary Lynn performed with the Durham Symphony for 20 years, serving as Principal Horn for five of those years. She has also taught flute and piano.
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