Dennis Lichtman - mandolin/fiddle
A native of suburban Boston, Dennis Lichtman began his musical career with violin lessons at the age of 5. Over the next decade, Dennis took up serious study of a number of instruments, making smooth transitions from Suzuki violin kid to clarinet stud to guitar wanker, and eventually to mando-blaster. In 2001, Dennis graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Hartt School of Music, where he studied clarinet under New York legend Charles Russo and filled the principal clarinet chair in the Hartt Symphony. Now a New York resident, Dennis performs regularly with a variety of groups, ranging from bluegrass and folk to classical, rock, Klezmer, and Celtic.

While at Hartt, Dennis formed the genre-defying jazz-fusion quartet Mori Stylez, with whom he toured the eastern states with reckless abandon for three years. During this time, the band shared bills with such acts as The Roots, Busta Rhymes, and Yonder Mountain String Band, and performed in renowned venues such as Boston’s House of Blues, New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom, and the 40 Watt in Athens, GA.

In addition to Astrograss, Dennis is a regular member of the Bill Bell Band, Keep‘er Lit, and the Jen Milich Band, and maintains a busy schedule of performances, recording sessions, and private lessons.