Press

Bio:

Les Gustafson-Zook has been a popular autoharp instructor, performer and multi-instrumentalist at festivals and music schools across the U. S. since 1990.  He’s an engaging entertainer, having performed in elementary schools for over 20 years introducing traditional instruments and music to multi-generation audiences with a presentation of Songs of the Pioneers. More recently, Les has been performing with a variety of homemade novelty instruments, bringing smiles and intrigue to all ages. Les is the 2001 and 2018 International Autoharp Champion at Winfield, KS, the 2023 Winner of the Mountain Laurel Autoharp Championships as well as the 1989 National Autoharp Champion. In 2014 he was inducted into the Autoharp Hall of Fame. 

He has taught at Augusta Heritage Center, John C. Campbell Folk School, Kentucky Music Week, Mountain Laurel Autoharp Gathering, Walnut Valley Festival, Sore Fingers Summer School and many other festivals across the U.S. He is known for his patient, clear and encouraging teaching style, his fast, clean picking of fiddle tunes, his energetic performance and for his creative arrangements of hymns, waltzes and Christmas carols.

Les has recorded six CDs, is a core member of a contradance band called Band o’ Goshen and often performs with his wife, Gwen. When not doing music, Les works for Mennonite Central Committee (mcc.org), an international relief, development and peacemaking organization, and volunteers as a bike mechanic with Chain Reaction Bicycle Shop, a non-profit Community Bicycle Organization (crbp.org).