Dulcimer musician to perform Wednesday
Concert at UNM-Gallup

Independent Staff

Walt Michael

GALLUP — Walt Michael and Alexander Mitchell, two nationally recognized musicians, will be appearing in concert this week in Gallup.

Both talented vocalists and multi-instrumentalists, Michael will be performing on the hammered dulcimer, and Mitchell will be playing the fiddle in a 7 p.m. concert on Wednesday, Jan. 24 at the Calvin Hall Auditorium at UNM-Gallup. The concert is free and open to the public.

Michael's musical career has taken him from coal mining camps of Appalachia to the White House to the closing ceremonies of the 13th Olympic Winter Games. A virtuoso of considerable influence in the revival of the hammered dulcimer, a traditional American folk instrument, Michael has a wide repertoire that ranges from old-time Southern Appalachian tunes, to Celtic music, to original compositions.

In his 35 year musical career, Michael has recorded 14 albums and instructional videos. He has appeared at the Lincoln Center and Kennedy Center, performed on numerous television programs. Michael was the musical producer, composer, and recording artist for the Outdoor Living Network's documentary, "Cowboy 101," which premiered in October 2004. In 2005, he collaborated with five-time Tennessee State Fiddle Champion Jim Wood to produce two instrumental albums featuring Michael on the hammered dulcimer.

Michael will be joined on stage by Mitchell, a versatile musician whose fiddle styles range from Celtic, to Bluegrass, Swing, and Jazz. Mitchell, a Berklee graduate, has performed with the Missouri Repertory Theatre on the "Woody Guthrie's American Song" tour and has appeared in the film "Gettysburg." In addition, Mitchell has composed music for numerous soundtrack and theatrical productions.