Maria Petersen was warmly received on stage this month accepting the honor of Traditional Folk Music CD of the Year for Zither Extravaganza, one of three CDs recorded at Tesco Productions. The USA Rural Roots Music Commission, a subsidiary of the National Traditional Country Music Association presented her the award at the 35th National Convention in LeMars, IA. Bob Everhart, who presented the award says “This is an incredible accomplishment. Maria Petersen, perhaps our only zither player left in the upper Midwest, has taken an incredible amount of time, patience, and expense to record her ‘history’ of the zither. [Maria goes] all the way back to when she was a small girl in Bavaria, learning from her zither-maker father how to play well, to her own growing up with the music, leaving her beloved homeland, traveling to America, becoming a citizen, and adding her own American favorites to the brew. And what a brew this is.”
Zither Extravaganza (exclusively instrumental), Hausmusik and Fond Memories of My Bavarian Childhood comprise the three recordings by Maria. Bob adds “Maria is also an accomplished yodeler in the old Bavarian style, as well as a lovely vocalist of the old songs. This is indeed an incredible journey through time… My suggestion, get all three.” (Tradition Magazine, Fall 2010 Festival Issue) To hear a sampling of all her music drop over to our audio clips gallery. If you would like to contact Maria send us an email on our contact page and we’ll be glad to put you in touch with her.