NYDO - Music Lady Carol

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.

For booking information, please contact Carol Walker: [email protected]
201-715-5296 - call or text

NYDO Concert Appearances

September 10, 2022 -- Woodland Pond Retirement Community, New Paltz, NY
December 17, 2022 -- The Oaks Retirement Community, Denville, NJ
March 4, 2023 -- Albany Dulcimer Festival, Latham, NY
March 19, 2023 -- Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library, Clifton Park, NY
September 24, 2023 -- Putnam Ridge Nursing Home, Brewster, NY
October 28, 2023 -- Nutmeg Dulcimer Festival, Milford CT
November 12, 2023 -- Unitarian Universalist Church, Albany, NY
February 24, 2024 -- Carmel Public Library, Carmel, NY (Hogfiddle Consort only)
March 1, 2024 -- Albany Dulcimer Festival, Latham, NY
April 28, 2024 -- Mahwah Public Library, Mahwah, NJ
July 6, 2024 -- Rail Trail Cafe, New Paltz, NY (Hogfiddle Consort only)
September 15, 2024-- Winchester Gardens, Maplewood, NJ (Hogfiddle Consort only)
October 26, 2024 -- Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library, Clifton Park, NY
(Many concerts are open to the general public -- please contact the venue directly.)

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 early 1800s; during the Greenwich Village scene of the 1950s it took its rightful place alongside the guitar and banjo as a popular folk instrument.

Below are some photos and a video from our recent show at the Mahwah NJ library on April 28, 2024.

Below are some videos of the Hogfiddle Consort performing in the Great Hall at Winchester Gardens, Maplewood, NJ -- September 15, 2024.

Appalachian Fiddle Tune Medley
     Hangman's Reel
     Rochester Schottische
     Old Joe Clark

Barcarolle (1881)
from Tales of Hoffman
Jacques Offenbach

Gagliarda (1921)
Galilei wrote the original lute melodies in the 1500s; Ottorino Respighi arranged them into suites for orchestra -- Ancient Airs & Dances -- in 1921. This arrangement by Carol Walker is taken from Respighi's full score.

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!"

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, award-winning mountain dulcimer teacher, performer, and arranger. Her professional experience includes a 32-year career as a high school choral teacher in northern NJ, earning the Governor's Teacher of the Year Award in 2003. She has published 12 books of dulcimer arrangements. More info is available by clicking "Home" at the bottom of this page.