Members of the
Red Hill Dulcimer Society

Joan Brian

I heard my first hammer dulcimer in Elkmont campground in the Great Smokey Mountains. Since then, I have been the owner of three. The one in the picture is Maria, crafted by Joe and Carol Esch of Inspired Instruments. Other musical activities include playing piano and organ. My "day job", at least during 9 months of the year, is teaching 7th grade science. I also enjoy gardening, walking, swimming, and almost anything out-of-doors - especially with family and friends. My husband is Jess, and we have 3 adult children. "Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music."

Darlene Clark

Hello, My name is Darlene Clark. I have been playing around with the dulcimer for about 3 years. My good friend/ neighbor Kathy introduced me to the dulcimer. She had purchased a small one from Walmart, and encouraged me to do the same so we could learn together. Our first festival was in Evansville, three years ago. I got a personal lesson from Lee Rowe, not knowing at the time, how famous he was in the Dulcimer community. I am a Family Service Specialist, and work with the Department of Children & Family Services. I have been married nearly 34 years to my husband Rodger. We have two sons, Rodney & Dillon. Rodney and his wife Jessica, have blessed us with our two grandsons, Wyatt & Jesse. Jesse, who is six, has showed an interest in the Dulcimer, and can play Boil them Cabbages Almost always, when I wear a Dulcimer club t-shirt, someone ask me about Dulcimers. Because I work full time and have two grandchildren, I don't always find the time to play the dulcimer or attend the club meetings, but I am honored to say I am a Red Hill Dulcimer club member.

Kathy Fatheree

Hi, My name is Kathy Fatheree. I have been addicted to dulcimers for almost three years now. I use them for Therapy- both mental and physical. You tend to forget about anything negative when you are playing!! I am a mom to a son & daughter and Grandma to a boy and a girl too..... with one on the way next spring. I also love photography and gardening, and MULE riding! Now if we can just get that mule to cooperate while I am playing and riding.......

Linda Ingram

Linda Ingram, retired Nurse. She had piano lessons when a young girl. She played Saxophone in the high school band. She plays the Saxophone in a Concert Band during the winter months. She also plays the piano and keyboard. She likes Bluegrass music and has fallen in love with the Dulcimer. She has two adult children and four grandchildren. We live in northen Lawrence County.

Dennis Jackman

I found out playing and performing is a lot more fun than ACADEMIA. Lots of old people are playing music, very few football and basketball. I have performed in Choir, Band and Barbershop Quartet at LTHS, SIU Marching Salukis, University Choir, Madrigal Singers, University Mens Glee Club, University Wind Ensemble, Professional Folk Trio (The Kinsmen) 3 years, Traditional (Dixieland) Jazz Band 12 years and the Elks #613 Drum and Bugle Corp in Santa Barbara, CA for 4 years and now the RHDS.

Irene Jackman

I was inspired to learn to play the Hammer Dulcimer when the RHDS came to our church in June of 2007 and I heard Joan play. I remember hearing one at a folk festival in the 1960s and fell in love with its sound way back then. I began to search for an instrument I knew nothing about and found one in Dayton OH on July 7, 2007. Having no music background I struggle to keep up with the group most of the time but I enjoy being able to participate and I am steadily improving (in proportion to my practice time). I am particularly fond of the Gospel Songs as I am already familiar with the melody on most of them. I also delight in attending Festival Workshops throughout our area taught by professionals on my instrument.

Paula Jones

My name is Paula Jones and I am married and have two grown children and three beautiful grandchildren. I got my first dulcimer in December of 2005. I ask Joan Brian and Brenda Dickirson if they could teach me how to play. We got together once and the next time they brought Brad Schilt with them. The next week we met at Joan's house and Jerry Pacholski was there. The rest is history as far as The Red Hill Dulcimer Society goes. Music has always been a major part of my life. I have three sisters and one brother. My mom stood us girls up by the piano as soon as we could stand. She played the piano by ear and had us singing in three part harmony when the oldest one was 7 years old. When my mother passed away in 2002 it left a big void in my life. I missed my mother, but I also missed the music. The dulcimer has helped to fill the music void. In the picture are some of the instruments that I play. The bowed psaltry, lap harp, mountain dulcimer and the dulcimette.

Jackie Maxson

I LOVE MY DULCIMER!!! Ray & I live south of Equality IL, in the middle of the beautiful Shawnee National Forest, where we spend a lot of time trail riding our mules. I am a member and enjoy the Red Hills Dulcimer Society, but am not able to participate as much as I would like to because of the distance. My dulcimer was a Christmas gift from my family. It was made by Mike Clemmer of Wood-N-Strings in Townsend, Tennessee. I also have a Clemmer Ban-Jammer. I attend as many festivals as possible...(although not nearly as many as I would like ). I am striving to become a much better player. My friends and I mostly play for our own enjoyment, but we also play at nursing homes and sometimes at church. Ray and I have been married 49 years. We have three grown children, one granddaughter and three grandsons.

Bill Minton

I was born in Bloomington, Indiana, attended Indiana University and Greenville College. Married to Beverly Barcroft from Lawrenceville on August 12, 1950. I was an Auto Claim Superintendent for State Farm Insurance Company for 32 years in Indianapolis. I enjoy woodworking, wood carving, water color painting and playing the guitar and banjo. I am a member of the Lawrenceville Free Methodist Church. Bev & I like to travel and have been in all the states except Oregon. We have been in most of the European countries plus Israel, Egypt and Greece. We are "Snow Birds" and spend some time in Ft. Myers, Fl, in the winter. I enjoy playing music with the Red Hills group and have made many friends there, plus have learned more about music by plalying with them.

Jerry Pacholski

I first "heard" the mountain dulcimer in 2003 and decided I had to learn to play. As one of my hobbies is woodworking, I decided to build my own instrument which was completed in February 2004. Since then I have built 2 other MD's and keep planning the next one. As a result of a newspaper article I wrote in 2006 about my luthier experiences, I was invited to the first organizational meeting of the RHDS. Thursday night's practices are the highlight of my week. I recently retired after 36 years in social work and am deciding what to do when I grow up. As I have a little experience in newspaper and radio, I function as the group's public relations rep. I also get to serve as the announcer for our performances and occasionally help repair the group's instruments. I love going to music festivals. Dulcimer World is full of the nicest people.

Gerry Poff

I started going to the dulcimer practices in 2006 when there were but 5 members. I bought a dulcimer, which I knew nothing about. After about a year, I decided I wanted an autoharp, and knew nothing about it either. I soon found that it was the instrument for me, because learning to play came very easy. I enjoy going to festivals and learning from the talented instructors. I also enjoy being associated with the Red Hill Dulcimer Society. They're the greatest. - Gerry

Mary Jane Rand

I have lived in Lawrenceville all my life except for 12 1/2 years in Florida. I have always loved music. I play the organ, native flute, handbells and some piano. I am a member of the First United Methodist Church in Lawrenceville and am involved in several activities there. In early 2004 I was willed a McSpadden dulcimer. I had no idea what it was other than a musical string instrument. As I had no family and was a recent widow for the second time in 2005, I started self taught lessons on the dulcimer for a while, and then joined the Red Hill Dulcimer Society in September 2006. I have never been sorry and besides learning so much more about the dulcimer, I am so happy to have met and made so many friends, along with talented musicians during the past 2 years with the club. I am now planning on taking ballet and tango lessons to keep up with the gang.

Chris Schafer

My love for music goes back to my grade school teacher in Owensville, Indiana. Even though I was only in 5th grade, "Miss Speck" let me play in the high school orchestra. I always loved her for that. Today I'm a retired teacher living in Allendale with Bill. Our daughter Patty is married. She and Jed have 2 sweet little girls. The Dulcimer Club gives me a chance to share music with others and stay in touch with good hearted people. Bill is learning to play too and that makes it even better. A big "thank you" to Mary Jane Rand for showing me her dulcimer over a year ago! We hope to show God's love to others on "our musical journey".

The Schilt Family

We really enjoy being a part of the Red Hill Dulcimer Society. It is nice to have our own little dulcimer community here. We have met lots of super people through our club and festival involvement. Music is an important part of our family - it is actually what brought us together. Brad first picked up a mountain dulcimer in 1993 and hasn't stopped strumming since. He likes to work with beginners and tabs out new music for the club on occasion. He also enjoys playing the piano, banjo, guitar and messing around with the mandolin. He has served as president of the club from 2007 - 2008. Jennifer has played mountain dulcimer for almost ten years. She has always loved to sing and enjoys singing with the club. She also plays the piano and is learning the hammered dulcimer. She has loved helping organize the festival for the past two years and serving as the festival registrar. We have two beautiful girls who have taken to the mountain dulcimer and singing as well. Every once in a while, they ask Daddy to give them a lesson. They teach him a lot more than he teaches them. Our family loves music and sharing it with others. God has richly blessed us!!

Paul Umfleet

I know, the photo is kind of old and I will try to find a newer one. I have been a musician since I was about 10 years old and started playing the trumpet. Like too many of us I did not play much in the middle years of my life but the stereo. Five years ago I started playing tuba. They would not let me play tuba in the Dulcimer Society so I bought and learned to play the Bodhran. Since being in the group I have gotten more interested in the dulcimer and have since built two of them. I am learning to play them also. My wife Ann and I live outside of Lawrenceville and I still work as a woodcarver. www.umfleet.net