New York Dulcimer Orchestra
The New York Dulcimer Orchestra (NYDO, based in Orange County), is a performing organization made up of 20 Appalachian Mountain Dulcimer players. The NYDO repertoire is varied, and includes music from many genres, including classical favorites, hymns and spirituals, Celtic and American traditional tunes, timeless holiday songs, and selections from the American Songbook.
The orchestra is available for performances at schools, libraries, senior centers, churches, community organizations, and outdoor festivals and similar gatherings.
The orchestra is available for performances at schools, libraries, senior centers, churches, community organizations, and outdoor festivals and similar gatherings.
The "Many Hands, Many Dulcimers" concerts are family-friendly events that share the joy of music with the community. Concerts are also educational and inspiring for all -- audience members are often invited to "sit in" with the orchestra for a song or two. Performances run approximately 45 minutes.
The Appalachian mountain dulcimer, a member of the zither family, is a three-stringed instrument that rests in the lap of the player. Although it is soft-spoken and has a sweet voice, it is capable of playing a wide range of music. The instrument first made its appearance in the southern United States in the late 1700s; during the Greenwich Village scene of the 1950s it took its rightful place alongside the guitar and banjo as a popular folk instrument.
Please enjoy this slide show of some of our recent activities that include performances at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library, The Oaks at Denville (NJ), and Woodland Pond (NY); and a live rehearsal at the Moffat Library (NY).
Below are some video clips from a concert presented on a snowy Sunday afternoon at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library in March of 2023.
Testimonials:
"Thank you for the March 2023 Clifton Park library performance. My whole family enjoyed it. Your orchestra is very inspiring and a real joy,"
"My wife really enjoyed herself and now she wants to learn how to play the dulcimer."
"I had heard of a dulcimer before but never knew it could play in an orchestra. Bravo!"
"Thank you for the March 2023 Clifton Park library performance. My whole family enjoyed it. Your orchestra is very inspiring and a real joy,"
"My wife really enjoyed herself and now she wants to learn how to play the dulcimer."
"I had heard of a dulcimer before but never knew it could play in an orchestra. Bravo!"
This program is typical of the group's current repertoire. New material is being added all the time by conductor and arranger, Carol Walker. New pieces joining the lineup for future programs will include Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus," Pachelbel's iconic "Canon in D," a Strauss waltz, and several more traditional American and Celtic folk songs.
This photo (taken at the Albany, NY Dulcimer Festival in March, 2023), was a very rare opportunity to combine forces with a another dulcimer group whose members are located in CT, RI, VT, and MA, and joined by former members from NC.
Carol Walker, founder and conductor of the New York Dulcimer Orchestra, is a nationally-recognized mountain dulcimer teacher, performer, and arranger. Her professional experience includes a 32-year position as a high school choral teacher in northern NJ, earning the Governor's Teacher of the Year Award in 2003. She has published 10 books of dulcimer arrangements. More info is available by clicking "Home" at the bottom of this page.
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