Dean Shostak Biography

Dean Shostak began his music career in Colonial Williamsburg, VA at age 14 performing violin in the Music Teacher’s Shop. Over the years, Dean’s musical responsibilities expanded to performing in evening concerts throughout the historic area. Dean earned a B.A. in Music from the University of Virginia while continuing to perform in Williamsburg during his summer and holiday breaks. After college, Dean began exploring some of the more unusual instruments that were popular in the 18th century. He began playing the pocket violin, which was a miniature fiddle gentlemen would keep on their person. Then he began performing with the hurdy-gurdy, a French instrument similar to the violin but uses a wheel to rub the strings instead of a bow.



In 1991, Dean became involved in the revival of the rare and beautiful glass armonica, invented by Benjamin Franklin in 1761. Today, there are only eight glass armonica players in the world. Dean is credited with bringing the lost art of playing the glass armonica back to Williamsburg, where it was performed on many occasions over 200 years ago. Instead of using an electric motor to spin the glasses, Dean is the only glass armonica player since the 18th century to use a flywheel and foot treadle as Franklin originally designed. He has now incorporated spectacular new and antique glass instruments into his show that include the glass violin and crystal handbells.

Dean has emerged as a nationally acclaimed touring artist performing in theaters, schools, universities, and festivals throughout the country. His music has been featured on Voice of America, The Weather Channel, The Discovery Channel and at The Arena Stage in Washington DC. Dean and his music have been featured on NPR's All Things Considered, BBC's Good Morning Television, on Haven with Joy Philbin, Home and Garden Television's Christmas of Yesteryear, NBC's Nightside, PBS's The Victory Garden, and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. See list below for recent live performances. Dean has written numerous original music scores for award winning films for The National Park Service, City of Chattanooga, State of Tennessee, and The Norfolk Botanical Gardens.

Dean’s solo recordings Crystal Carols, Crystal Christmas, Revolutions, and Celtic Crystal have received critical acclaim in such publications as American Music Teacher, The Washington Post and Audio Magazine His children’s recording, Colonial Fair has been named “Notable Children’s Recording of the Year” by the American Library Association. 18th Century Mother Goose Songs was released soon after following the success of the first children’s CD. Recently, Dean traveled to Texas to make a recording entitled Davy Crockett’s Fiddle using the actual fiddle owned and played by Davy Crockett. His CD/DVD The Glass Armonica features classical works for the glass armonica by composers such as Mozart, Beethoven, Saint Saens, Schultz, and others. Some of these works have never been recorded.  His latest CD, World Glass, is his most ambitions effort yet.  The music and instruments come from all over the world with ensemble ranging from The Raleigh Ringers to traditional Japanese musicians on authentic instruments.

Dean makes his home in Williamsburg, VA with his wife, Valerie and their three daughters.

Contact Information
Dean Shostak  P.O. Box 465 Williamsburg, VA 23187  1-800-588-3326