Ted Yoder, a hammered dulcimer player from Goshen, will perform a free, 90-minute concert at Bremen Public Library this Saturday, Sept. 15 from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
Yoder is a National Hammered Dulcimer champion who has released five critically-acclaimed solo albums. He has been profiled in the Kearney Hub, Huffington Post, and on NPR’s All Things Considered show, among many other features, profiles, and reviews in regional and national tastemaking outlets.
In 2016, Ted became something of a household name when a Facebook Live video of him from his Live From The Orchard series playing Tears For Fears’ “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” went viral. The video rocketed up to 53 million views in four days. Watch the video here: https://www.facebook.com/tedyoder/videos/10153787061705895/
Yoder has dazzled audiences nationally in diverse settings. In intimate gatherings, performing art centers, theaters, festivals, and comfy bar and grill performances, Ted forges meaningful bonds with the audience. His charisma and warm candor come through as he tailors each set to the energy of the audience. Ted is also generous with unlocking the majesty and mystery of the hammered dulcimer before their eyes and ears. During shows he’s been known to take questions about the rarefied instrument, and sometimes even explain his unique approach to music making on the hammered dulcimer—a rare treat for fans and first timers experiencing this complex instrument.
His performance style in popular songs including Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing,” The Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby,” and classics such as “Amazing Grace” and “The Little Drummer Boy” has become known as “Yoderizing.” Why? Because until you hear Ted Yoder, it’s impossible to imagine that one wooden stringed instrument can sound like an entire rock band or a whole symphony orchestra all in one.
What’s most remarkable about Yoder (besides the magic he brings to the mallets) is how his career has flourished at a time when the traditional corporate music industry is in decline. With his wife Donna, Yoder has created a family culture of creativity and teamwork that puts his music making at the center of its activities. From website and social media to music distribution and touring, Yoder’s family has helped him build an authentic life as a working musician and a blueprint for the lives of young musicians who want to learn what it means to play an instrument for a living in the second millennium.
Everyone is invited and refreshments will be available.
