Florida Gulf Coast Dulcimer Retreat

One summer, on a back porch in Portage, Pennsylvania, after teaching students, Guy George, Sharrie George and Bing Futch all agreed that they should work together more often and began brainstorming on someplace in Florida where they could establish and event. Over a pitcher of margaritas that Sharrie whipped up, the seeds were planted for The Florida Gulf Coast Dulcimer Retreat. The venue turned o

ut to be perfect; The Homosassa Riverside Resort, a slice of Old Florida on the shores of the Homosassa River and home to a world-famous roadside oddity known as Monkey Island. With a full-service hotel, marina, restaurant and meeting area with access to fishing, kayaking, swimming with manatees and nearby campgrounds, it was the perfect place for the trio's laid-back approach to music education. Folkcraft Instruments owner Richard Ash has sponsored the event from its first year in 2013 and was later tapped to teach workshops. The easy interplay and casual atmosphere of the retreat quickly caught fire with attendees who made it a not-to-miss stop on their music festival tours. Aspiring performers can join the Manatee Orchestra and rehearse three pieces to be played as the opening act of the Saturday night concert. There are margarita and mimosa jams, plenty of opportunity to see the sights and a lovely Old Florida slice of living history providing the scenery for it all.