Our 2025 Instructors:
Susan Trump
Susan Trump has been a favorite instructor and performer on the dulcimer scene for the past thirty-five years. She is known for her inspirational songs, her clear teaching style and interesting, playable arrangements. She has won awards in both mountain dulcimer and banjo competitions. Susan is a woman of many talents; performer, composer, recording artist, producer, teacher and author of books for the mountain dulcimer.
Susan comes to the dulcimer from a background in piano, with a degree in music education and a love of folk music, both traditional and contemporary. In the early 1970’s she taught guitar at the Guitar Workshop, where she got to know and was influenced by Jean Ritchie, the first person she heard play and sing with the mountain dulcimer. That inspired her to spend time traveling and meeting musicians and instrument makers in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, becoming immersed in the culture that produced the music and the instrument that she loves to play and share through her teaching.
Susan has produced three volumes of the widely acclaimed CD series, “Masters of the Mountain Dulcimer,” compilations which include music from the best dulcimer players in the country. She has also released four best-selling solo CDs. Her newest CD, “Songs of Faith and Hope,” a collection of “inspirational, uplifting songs for everyone” is being touted as her best ever!
She has written four books of music for the mountain dulcimer including two book/CD sets; one of the music of Turlough O’Carolan, and “Music from the Muse” a collection of twenty-one original compositions for intermediate level players.
Susan loves to teach and help people learn to play and enjoy making their own music. Since 2008 she has produced “Lessons in Your Living Room,” a monthly subscription series of lessons, which includes arrangements for novice, intermediate-plus, back-up chords, duet parts, introductions and endings, with TAB and instruction for all parts on CD.
Susan says this about her music, “The music I play is a combination of Americana and uplifting songs. Spending summers with my grandparents in a small town in Ohio instilled in me a love and appreciation for the front porch-friendly existence of life in a gentler time. That is the feeling that I hope to share with my students and audiences of today.”
Linda Weber Collins
Linda Weber Collins earned a Bachelor of Music Education in piano and cello at Florida State University before being seduced by Celtic music during 10 years living in Ireland. On her return to the U.S., Linda’s heart was captured by the sweet sound of the dulcimer.
A Florida State Champion on Mountain Dulcimer and in Old Time Singing, Linda teaches dulcimer, piano, strings and voice in the piney woods of North Florida. She performs and teaches at festivals from Florida to New England and online, promoting a musical genre which she calls “chamber folk.” Her two dulcimer books in the Beyond the Basics series are highly regarded. Two books, Melodies of the Scottish Isles and Mainland and Melodies from the Celtic World, were published during the pandemic. Her 2022 project was Tunes from the Roaring ‘20s. In 2023, she published Celtic Duets. Teaching music is Linda’s passion. Her goal is to make music a meaningful part of her students’ lives.
Bing Futch, Director
Using Appalachian mountain dulcimer, Native American flute, ukulele and a board full of stomp-boxes, Bing Futch celebrates traditional and modern Americana music with passion, humor and boundless energy. Known for his musical shape-shifting, Bing switches the channels on style and tone with every new song, from his roots-rock and blues originals to The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Disney covers.
Bing’s music has been featured in film, video, on stage and in exhibits at the Orlando Museum of Art. He was composer and musical director for “The Jungle Book: A Musical Adaptation” at Stage Left Theater in Orlando, Florida. He also contributed music to the soundtrack of The Castle of Miracles attraction at Give Kids The World Village in Kissimmee, Florida.
In 2014, Bing won the Solo/Duo Artist award in the Central Florida Blues Challenge competition, earning a coveted entry into the 2015 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN, where he advanced to the semifinals. Several months later, Bing competed in the 2015 Central Florida Blues Challenge and won his category for the second year in a row, which led him back to Memphis to compete in the 2016 International Blues Challenge. There, he advanced all the way to the finals and was given the award for “Best Guitarist” in the Solo/Duo category, despite competing solely on the mountain dulcimer.
Laurie Alsobrook, Co-Director
After a full career in elementary education, Laurie Alsobrook has found a perfect blending of her two passions, teaching learners and playing the dulcimer.
Laurie has participated in a variety of festivals, online and in-person. Festival credits include Dulcimer U, the QuaranTUNE Virtual Dulcimer Festival, Black Mountain, Nonsuch, NGFDA, Dutchland, and Dulcimer Daze. She has also served as co-host/organizer of the Stephen Foster Digital Dulcimer Retreats.
Laurie has been a regular contributor to the Send in the Music Virtual Jam, offering tab to the participants and serving as a song leader. She also hosts a weekly more informal zoom jam.
With a heart for the beginning player, Laurie has produced a series of books…jam survival books! With title like “No Frills,” these books certainly live up to their name. Nothing fancy, just the facts.
Stephen Foster Dulcimer Retreat 