Doug Pratt – has been playing chromatic autoharp for nearly 70 years, having first learned from his grandmother. His unique style grew from his North Carolina roots, where he grew up listening to the Carter Family, Flatt & Scruggs, and Ian & Sylvia, to encompass a wide range of genres, often outside the “autoharp box.” His music is upbeat, lighthearted, and often described as “happy.” He often says “I don’t do sweet and pretty.” Having played mostly in ensembles, he has developed a bold style that cuts through even in bluegrass. His CD You Can’t play THAT on the Autoharp! (first winner of the Cohen-Grappel Recording Grant) is a sampler of everything from bluegrass to pop to ragtime. He won the International Autoharp Championship (Winfield) in 2006 and 2018 and the Mountain Laurel Autoharp Championship in 2025. Doug is also well known for playing dobro in late-night jams at MLAG. In “real life” Doug is a semi-retired ornithologist and bird illustrator with numerous books and articles to his credit. He is currently finishing his latest book Birds of the Tropical Pacific: Hawaii, Micronesia, and Polynesia for Princeton University Press. Check out his website www.hdouglaspratt.com.