John
and Kathie Hollandsworth are natives of Christiansburg in southwest
Virginia, and have been performing and teaching since the early 1980's,
with a repertoire that includes, but is not limited to, traditional Appalachian,
old-time, and Celtic music. John has been developing his own autoharp
style since childhood, when he became familiar with traditional music
through hearing friends and relatives play stringed instruments. His playing
style incorporates both chromatic and diatonic techniques, and he is sought
after as a workshop leader and classroom teacher of his style and repertoire.
Kathie sings and plays hammered dulcimer and upright
bass, and they are popular performers and clinicians, both in the
Virginia/North Carolina region and nationally. They enjoy finding out
about their musical heritage and sharing the vibrant culture of the Appalachians
with their audiences. John and Kathie are also in the (mostly) old-time
band Mountain Fling, with
partners Jim Lloyd and Ed Ogle adding the sounds of banjo, guitar, and
harmonica.
Availability
The summary of experience below includes different ways we have taught or performed. We prefer to perform together, even if only one of us is teaching at a festival. The members of Mountain Fling can all teach their respective instruments.
In addition to performing and teaching often in the local area, John and Kathie have appeared at the following regional and national events:
International:
- Sore Fingers Summer Schools, Kingham, Oxfordshire, England: John taught a week-long chromatic autoharp course in April 2002, and the duo presented a midweek concert to the students.
- Autoharp-Themed Cruises, 2004-2006: John taught workshops and the duo performed in concert on the ships for the travel group of autoharp enthusiasts. In 2004 and 2005 we enjoyed the sunny skies of the Caribbean, and in 2006 we explored the wilds of Alaska.
Regional/National:
John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown, North Carolina: John has taught a week-long beginning autoharp session every March since 2000. John and Kathie do the weekly Friday night concert each year, with Jim and Eddie joining them to play as the full band, Mountain Fling.
Augusta Heritage Workshops, Elkins, West Virginia: John taught week-long Autoharp Old-Time Repertoire classes in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, and 2004; his class regularly fills to capacity. In 2007 he will be featured during Spring Dulcimer Week. Kathie has been a Guest Instructor in his class, helping with topics such as vocal backup, playing with others, and music theory, in addition to being a staff band member on bass. The duo has helped lead workshops and jams and performed at the Augusta Festival.
Swannanoa Gathering: In 2006 John taught a well-attended and enthusiastic week-long class during Old-Time Week and the duo performed in concert.
Mountain Laurel Autoharp Gathering, Newport, Pennsylvania: Featured performers and workshop leaders in 1992, 1996, and 2000 (with Mountain Fling); taught 3-4 workshops each year; two to three concert appearances each year. John has taught workshops in several other years since 1991, and the duo has appeared on stage almost yearly in invitational concerts. John is an annual vendor at the festival with his new line of Blue Ridge Autoharps. Kathie has joined the festival's Board of Directors.
In a related venue, Mountain Fling appears about every other year in the Mini-Mountain Laurel Concert Series in Newport, PA, with an autoharp workshop in the afternoon, and a concert in Reidsville, PA, the previous night. See our schedule for details.
Willamette Valley Autoharp Gathering, Oregon: John as featured autoharpist in 2001 and 2007, teaching several workshops at this wonderful festival, and the duo performs in concert.
Summer Solstice Festival, Calabasas, California: Featured performers in 1994, 1995, and 2001; John taught several autoharp workshops and the duo performed on the ongoing concert stage. John participated in the autoharp style demonstration.
Cranberry Dulcimer Gathering, Binghamton, New York: Featured performers in 1992 and July, 2005; John as featured autoharp workshop leader; Kathie teaches hammered dulcimer workshop, and the duo performs in concert.
Autoharp Jamboree, Ozark Folk Center, Mountain View, Arkansas: In 1992 and 2002 John and Kathie were featured performers and workshop leaders.
Chestnut Ridge Dulcimer Festival, Greensburg, Pennsylvania: In 2001, 2003, and 2005, John and Kathie taught autoharp and hammered dulcimer workshops, respectively, and performed. Mountain Fling was featured in 2001 and 2005.
Winston-Salem Dulcimer Festival, North Carolina: In 1998, 2000, and 2001 Kathie taught three hammered dulcimer workshops. John was the first autoharpist asked to teach at this festival, providing instruction in 1998, 1999, and 2001. They were featured performers on the main concert in 1998.
Stringalong Weekend, East Troy, Wisconsin: John was the autoharp instructor and performer in November of 1996.
Fiddler’s Grove, North Carolina: John and Kathie have both given well-attended workshops on autoharp and hammered dulcimer, respectively, several times through the years at this regional festival. Both are at least two-time winners of the contests on their respective instruments.
SummerFest, Carthage, Missouri: Featured performers and workshop leaders in 1997, 1998, and 1999. John taught autoharp workshops and Kathie bass workshops; stage performances each year.
Publications
John has had several articles and musical arrangements published in the Autoharpoholic, Autoharp Quarterly, and Autoharp Clearinghouse, all publications devoted to his instrument. Currently he is editor of the Interaction Lesson feature in Autoharp Quarterly. He has been interviewed several times for regional television and newspaper stories.
Awards
Mountain Laurel Autoharp Championship, Newport, Pennsylvania: In 1991 John was the first champion of this most prestigious autoharp contest.
Walnut Valley Championship, Winfield, Kansas: John was a finalist in the International Autoharp Competition in 1989, his only visit to Winfield.
Galax (Virginia) Old Fiddler’s Convention: In 1992, ‘93, ‘97, '99, 2001, and '02, John took first place in the autoharp contest at Galax, and also was named the "Best All-Around Performer" of the convention three of those years, being the only autoharp player ever to win this recognition. Kathie has won several ribbons on dulcimer through the past several years at Galax, the oldest and largest festival of its kind.
Maury River Fiddler's Convention, Buena Vista, Virginia: John was named "Best Performer" at the annual Rockbridge County Convention in 1994 and again in 1997. Kathie was named "Best All-Around Old-Time Performer" in 2000.
John has won numerous ribbons at many of the other regional "fiddler’s conventions" that are sprinkled throughout the Virginia/North Carolina mountains at places like Elk Creek, Vinton, and Fries, VA, and Mt. Airy, NC.
Contact Information
John and Kathie Hollandsworth, 700 Tower Road, Christiansburg, VA 24073
Phone 540-382-6550
E-mail John --- E-mail Kathie