Mitzie Collins (born August 29, 1941) is an interpreter of traditional
British and
American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
vocal and
instrumental music.
She has arranged songs, including Genesee County waltzes. Collins is a player of the dulcimer and other instruments, including the piano, organ, harpsichord, and banjo. As a recording and concert artist, she is best known for playing traditional music for the
hammered dulcimer
The hammered dulcimer (also called the hammer dulcimer) is a percussion-stringed instrument which consists of strings typically stretched over a trapezoidal resonant sound board. The hammered dulcimer is set before the musician, who in more trad ...
. She is also one of the directors of the Striking Strings Hammered Dulcimer Ensemble, a large ensemble consisting entirely of hammered dulcimerists, who perform around Western New York. Some of her many albums are ''Ornaments—Music for Christmas'', ''Be Thou My Vision—Favorite Hymns for Dulcimer'' and ''St. Patrick's Day in the Morning—Music of Irish Inspiration''.
For ten years, Collins hosted ''Sounds Like Fun'', a children's radio show on
WXXI-FM
WXXI-FM (91.5 MHz) is a public, listener-supported radio station in Rochester, New York, airing a classical music radio format. Its programs can also be heard in Houghton on WXXY 90.3 FM and also on a digital subchannel of WXXI-TV on 22.7. The ...
in
Rochester, New York. Collins is president of Sampler Records Ltd. in
Rochester, New York. She is also on the faculty of the
Eastman School of Music, and she teaches several classes, including hammered dulcimer classes, at the Eastman Community Music School.
Discography
*''The Leaves of Life'' (1979) (folk songs and children's songs) (vinyl only, not on cd)
*''Sounds Like Fun'' (folk songs, games, and poems for children)
*''Scotland the Brave''
*''St. Patrick's Day in the Morning'' (with Roxanne Ziegler)
*''White Dulcimer Christmas''
*''Nowell'' (with Roxanne Ziegler and Glennda Dove)
*''Ornaments'' (with Roxanne Ziegler)
*''Rejoice'' (with Roxanne Ziegler and Glennda Dove)
*''By Thou My Vision'' (with Esther Kreek, Kinloch Nelson, and Glennda Dove)
*''Traditional Irish Music'' (with William Sullivan)
References
External links
Faculty profile (Nazareth College)Sampler Folk Music
American hammered dulcimer players
Old-time musicians
Eastman School of Music alumni
Living people
1941 births
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