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Hammered Dulcimer Music . . . . Band Performances |
 With Skip Sittig on guitar and Joy (Sittig) Ortiz on upright bass, the trio’s focus is on toe-tapping, lively instrumentals |
Whether for a stage concert or informal background music setting, hammered dulcimer music is sure to add a lively sense of fun to your event! |
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| Additional instruments such as banjo, mandolin or fiddle are often added to complement bluegrass style tunes. Here, Dan Hoehn joins us on mandolin at the Sandwich Opera House |
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Sherri Farley Sherri's love of dulcimer music grew from a Christmas recording of handcrafted mountain instruments. In 1990, she purchased a mountain dulcimer and familiarized herself with playing in the traditional mountain style. Attending a dulcimer festival a year later, she came upon the larger, multi-stringed hammered dulcimer and was taken with its beautiful tones and visual playing patterns. She was awarded an Illinois Arts Council Master/Apprentice grant to study with Bill Robinson, a third-generation hammered dulcimer musician reknown for his lively and unique bluegrass style of playing. This distinctive style is evident in Sherri's music, as are the curious flexible corset stay hammers and obscure right bridge tuning method she uses (traditions dating back to Robinson’s grandmother). An accomplished performer, Sherri has been called a "true artist" and her presentations reflect her enthusiasm for this distinctive art form. An active supporter of HANDS (Hammers and Noters Dulcimer Society), Sherri co-organizes annual spring fundraising concerts benefiting the Gebhard Woods Dulcimer Festival. In the bluegrass community, she assists with monthly jam sessions, and formerly served on the board of directors of the Northern Illinois Bluegrass Association. One of the greatest surprises and pleasures the music has brought into her personal life is the circle of wonderful people and ensuing friendships. She is reminded of her first major bluegrass festival, where a friend commented on how much he enjoyed returning to the festival year after year. "It's like a family reunion," he said, "except you like everyone!" An anecdote Sherri enjoys sharing is to pass along a WARNING! she read in one of her early dulcimer books. It warned, "Dulcimer playing is addictive!" ...something to which she readily agrees, but quickly adds that as addictions go, one could do worse. Skip Sittig An original member of the group, Skip's versatile talents lend much to performances, including guitar, bass, vocals, and whatever he makes up off the top of his head. Skip's bio coming soon... Joy (Sittig) Ortiz Joy has been playing bass since her sophomore year in high school. Taught by her father, Skip Sittig, Joy's lessons consisted mostly of jamming with bluegrass musicians at the monthly Harding Bluegrass Jam while Skip called out chords to her. She is accustomed to the fast-paced drive of bluegrass music as well as the diversity offered by Sherri Farley's band. Through the course of the past several years, Joy has played (in alphabetical order) bluegrass, blues, Christmas, classic rock, cowboy, gospel, old-timey, originially composed, plain old rock, polka, praise and worship, punk rock, texas swing, and waltzes, as well as others she cannot remember off the top of her head.
In her spare time, Joy enjoys sewing, reading, and polishing her boots. She received her Associates in Design from the College of DuPage. Joy utilized her design talents by creating her own wedding gown when this past summer, she was wed to Brandon Ortiz. The couple happily resides in Ottawa. (See wedding photos.) Jim Johnson The newest member to our group is Jim Johnson, an extremely accomplished flat-pick guitar player. Jim's bio coming soon... Performance Highlights
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