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Performance:
Greg Latta is a mesmerizing singer, songwriter, and award winning performer on the hammered dulcimer, banjo, guitar, Irish bouzouki, cittern, harmonica, recorder, Appalachian dulcimer, and concertina. A hammered dulcimer virtuoso and champion, he is a three time winner of the Mid-Eastern hammered dulcimer championships and has twice been a runner up in the National Hammered Dulcimer Championships held at Winfield, Kansas.

Greg performs an eclectic mix of carefully chosen Irish, traditional and contemporary folk, Broadway, bluegrass, and original music. His repertoire includes original works, old coal mining songs, whaling songs, contemporary and traditional topical songs, and children's songs, to name just a few. His diverse performances have included a private performance for the Hungarian Presidential Cabinet, and performances at the US Olympic Canoeing and Kayaking Trials, the Rocky Gap Country Bluegrass Festival, the Garrett Lakes Arts Festival, numerous school performances, and a performance with the prestigious modern dance company Dance Alloy of Pittsburgh celebrating the centennial of Frostburg State University.

A finger style guitar player who has played guitar nearly his entire life, Greg.plays both 6 and 12 string guitars, and open tunings on the 12 string guitar are a particular specialty of his.

Recordings:
Greg Latta's has released two recordings, "Headed for Home" and "My Favourite Things".

Headed For Home: With a total running time of over 60 minutes, "Headed for Home" is an acoustic tour de force featuring vocals and instruments such as the 6 and 12 string guitar, hammered dulcimer, recorder, harmonica, Appalachian dulcimer, and electric bass guitar. The album also includes unusual sound effects and percussion instruments such as the Mexican rain stick. The fine mandolin playing of Frostburg musician Randy Bandura is also featured on several selections. The album features 6 original works by Greg and 9 other works, some traditional, others by composers such as Lerner and Loewe, Jean Ritchie, Ewan McColl, David Olney, and Tim DeFrange..

My Favourite Things:
"My Favourite Things", is a collection of hammered dulcimer solos featuring both standard and soprano hammered dulcimers. His eclectic tastes are reflected in the variety of styles that appear on the recording. Broadway tunes, traditional and contemporary Irish tunes, a traditional American tune, an ancient Galician, or Spanish piece, plus his arrangements of a Rossini theme, a Finnish polka, and a Beatles tune, "Here Comes the Sun" are on the album. He has also included his own composition "Mid-Spring".

Other:
Greg is accredited as a Visiting Performer in the Maryland State Arts Council Artists in Education Program. In addition to his stage performances and recordings Greg is also host and producer of the popular radio show "Just Plain Folks", which can be heard Saturday afternoons on WFWM - 91.9 FM, the Frostburg State University public radio station. He is also a member of the Frostburg State University faculty.

Brochure Cover

Brochure Contents

If you are interested in learning the hammered dulcimer or Appalachian dulcimer, expanding your repertoire, or refining your technique, then you might like to take private lessons. Private lessons are available on an hourly basis. Greg is located in Western Maryland in the town of Frostburg, Maryland. Frostburg is about 2 hours from Frederick, MD and 1 hour from Morgantown, WV. It is easily accessible from Interstate 68. For more information (rates, setting up lessons, directions, etc.) you can leave E-mail for Greg at glatta@frostburg.edu