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Donna Germano Biography
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Donna studied both music and speech/language pathology at Cleveland State University where she
received her masters degree in speech pathology. Music studies included voice and classical guitar.
Donna began her professional music career in the 1970’s as a singer and guitarist. She performed in
coffeehouses in the Cleveland, Ohio area. After moving to North Carolina for her work in speech
hammered dulcimer. She began by building an instrument from a kit. She learned the pathology,
Donna performed as a church musician for six years and began to learn to play the hammered
dulcimer. She began by building an instrument from a kit. She learned the structure of the instrument
as well as a good deal of respect for the professional instrument builders! Due to that there is limited
music written for hammered dulcimer, Donna began transcribing music from classical guitar and other
instruments for the dulcimer. She has attended master classes in in the performance of both classical
and Celtic music on the hammered dulcimer. The instruments she hammered dulcimer technique but
has been primarily self taught on the instrument. Her interests are uses include 3½ and 4½ octave
hammered dulcimers built by Jerry Read Smith.
In 1993, Donna began to study the Celtic harp and gradually moved to the classical pedal harp as
well. This has included formal training with the Salzedo method for pedal harp in order to develop the
required technique and hand skills for this instrument. She plays a Celtic harp built by David
Thormahlen and a Lyon and Healy pedal harp. Donna’s harp training includes a formal classical
approach and workshops with Celtic harpists, Kim Robertson, Sue Richards, Tina Tourin and Laurie
Riley. In addition to those Celtic harpists, Donna’s influences include Loreena McKinnett, for Celtic
singing and Celtic harp, No Strings Attached for hammered dulcimer, Alisdair Frasier for Scottish
music and Maire Brennan of Clannad.
Currently, Donna performs as a soloist and with various ensembles. Donna has played pedal harp with
the Blue Ridge Harp Ensemble and currently performs with Classic Touch, a dulcimer and classical
guitar duo (David Stevenson, classical guitar) and Highland Fling (fiddle, Celtic harp and hammered
dulcimer.) . As a soloist, Donna may perform with hammered dulcimer, Celtic harp or pedal harp.
plays regularly at the Biltmore House and Grove Park Inn in Asheville.
Donna’s recordings include:
“Harmonious; classical and Celtic music for harp and hammered dulcimer,
Lo, How a Rose the companion Christmas recording,
Celtic Echoes
Highland Fing with fiddle, harp and dulcimer,
World Music Favorites
On Wings of Song
Spirits on the Wing
Winter Star
She has also completed Hospice training and has used her music for critically ill and dying patients.
She teaches harp and hammered dulcimer to adults and children of various ages and interests.
“I love both the harp and hammered dulcimer and they have taken over my life! I have a weakness
for beautiful melodies, whether classical or folk, and love to bring these sounds to people who have
previously been unfamiliar with these instruments. Hammered dulcimer music is more than just jigs
and reels!” Donna
received her masters degree in speech pathology. Music studies included voice and classical guitar.
Donna began her professional music career in the 1970’s as a singer and guitarist. She performed in
coffeehouses in the Cleveland, Ohio area. After moving to North Carolina for her work in speech
hammered dulcimer. She began by building an instrument from a kit. She learned the pathology,
Donna performed as a church musician for six years and began to learn to play the hammered
dulcimer. She began by building an instrument from a kit. She learned the structure of the instrument
as well as a good deal of respect for the professional instrument builders! Due to that there is limited
music written for hammered dulcimer, Donna began transcribing music from classical guitar and other
instruments for the dulcimer. She has attended master classes in in the performance of both classical
and Celtic music on the hammered dulcimer. The instruments she hammered dulcimer technique but
has been primarily self taught on the instrument. Her interests are uses include 3½ and 4½ octave
hammered dulcimers built by Jerry Read Smith.
In 1993, Donna began to study the Celtic harp and gradually moved to the classical pedal harp as
well. This has included formal training with the Salzedo method for pedal harp in order to develop the
required technique and hand skills for this instrument. She plays a Celtic harp built by David
Thormahlen and a Lyon and Healy pedal harp. Donna’s harp training includes a formal classical
approach and workshops with Celtic harpists, Kim Robertson, Sue Richards, Tina Tourin and Laurie
Riley. In addition to those Celtic harpists, Donna’s influences include Loreena McKinnett, for Celtic
singing and Celtic harp, No Strings Attached for hammered dulcimer, Alisdair Frasier for Scottish
music and Maire Brennan of Clannad.
Currently, Donna performs as a soloist and with various ensembles. Donna has played pedal harp with
the Blue Ridge Harp Ensemble and currently performs with Classic Touch, a dulcimer and classical
guitar duo (David Stevenson, classical guitar) and Highland Fling (fiddle, Celtic harp and hammered
dulcimer.) . As a soloist, Donna may perform with hammered dulcimer, Celtic harp or pedal harp.
plays regularly at the Biltmore House and Grove Park Inn in Asheville.
Donna’s recordings include:
“Harmonious; classical and Celtic music for harp and hammered dulcimer,
Lo, How a Rose the companion Christmas recording,
Celtic Echoes
Highland Fing with fiddle, harp and dulcimer,
World Music Favorites
On Wings of Song
Spirits on the Wing
Winter Star
She has also completed Hospice training and has used her music for critically ill and dying patients.
She teaches harp and hammered dulcimer to adults and children of various ages and interests.
“I love both the harp and hammered dulcimer and they have taken over my life! I have a weakness
for beautiful melodies, whether classical or folk, and love to bring these sounds to people who have
previously been unfamiliar with these instruments. Hammered dulcimer music is more than just jigs
and reels!” Donna
| Harpist, hammered dulcimer player, harp teacher, recording artist, hammered dulcimer teacher. Asheville, North Carolina |