Diana Coss

Diana earned a Bachelor of Music in 2005 from Belmont University in Nashville  and then completed her Masters in 2008 at Washington University in St. Louis.  Diana moved to Memphis in 2010 where she performed with the Memphis Opera Chorus, taught voice lessons, and sang for Temple Israel.  The “Music in Middle Tennessee 1780-1800” CD project is what first brought Denise and Diana together as musicians.  It was also the first time Diana branched out into folk music.  Once they finished the recording, both Diana and Denise started thinking of doing their own CD.  After performing together at Columbia Tennessee's history festival in 2011, they got into the studio and finished their first CD, "Sweet Mountain Dulcimer".  She nows lives in the Washington D.C. area. 

Denise Gartin

Denise has been playing the mountain for eleven years.  She first heard a dulcimer at her son David’s tuba recital.  After seeing and hearing the dulcimer, she decided someday she was going to learn to play.  Two years later in October 2000, she started lessons with David Schnaufer at Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music. 

Approximately six years ago the Duck River Dulcimer Club was started with Denise and some friends that also love the mountain dulcimer.  The club has grown to about eight active members, playing for local nursing homes and various community events. 

Denise has recorded on the, “Music in Middle Tennessee 1780-1800” CD project with Diana and other musicians.  Denise brings her dulcimer to 18th century living history events and demonstrations, educating the public on the mountain dulcimer.  She also enjoys playing music around the campfire at horse camp! 

Denise volunteers once a week at a local hospital in their volunteer music program playing for patients.  Patients enjoy the music of the mountain dulcimer, sometimes hearing a dulcimer for the very first time!