Kurt Simerman was a woodworker looking for a craft that he could make and sell, to supplement his income; what he found was a community of dulcimer players that helped him perfect his craft and taught him to build fine mountain dulcimers, which are played by professional and hobbyist players throughout the United States. Often folks think of dulcimers as simple folk craft, but Kurt’s instruments are elegant in shape, exquisite in tone, and built for contemporary dulcimer styles. “Part of the community that I became involved in was the people that go from festival to festival to sell dulcimer books, and tapes, and instruments, and dulcimer bags. So that was, almost became my travel family. Almost like gypsies wandering around from place to place. And you’d meet up with people every six weeks, eight weeks, at another festival somewhere in the country. They sort of became the community that I started to build for and build with. I don’t think what I build today would be anything without that community.”
Kurt passed away unexpectedly on Nov. 7, 2007, at the age of 45.