Sam Rizzetta is a musician and instrument maker whose many design
innovations have helped to define the contemporary hammered dulcimer. His
performance credits include The Kennedy Center and The National Cathedral,
as well as TV and radio appearances such as A Prairie Home Companion and
Mountain Stage. Sam began teaching at the Augusta Heritage Center in 1974. He started their dulcimer program, and has taught there for over 25 years. In 1975 Sam formed the renowned dulcimer quartet, TRAPEZOID. His many recordings include 12 CDs featuring hammer dulcimer, and there are three book collections of his original compositions. Rizzetta dulcimers have been exhibited at the Smithsonian Institution and the National Folk Festival, and featured in Fine Woodworking Magazine. Sam also builds custom instruments, designs dulcimers for Dusty Strings Company, and writes the Technical Column for the Dulcimer Players News. Many top performers play Rizzetta instruments. Sam has recently been nominated for a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship for lifetime achievement in the arts.

For more information, visit www.samrizzetta.com.