Today we’d like to introduce you to Sharon Hartmann.
Sharon, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have been a violinist/fiddler for over 50 years. I grew up in SW Ohio until 1990 when I moved to Daytona Beach area. Started playing in a folk band, bluegrass band, and playing for contra dances in the area. I moved to Orlando in late 90’s. I had a band called Barnstorm for 20 years. I also had a band called Just Twistin Hay that played traditional Irish and Scottish music for 10 years. Covid killed that band.
Currently, I play in a band called McIntyre. for past 9 years. We actively play at festivals and at Stephies Irish Pub. (1061 N. OBT, Apopka) once a month.
I also teach fiddling in several styles from my home a couple days a week.
I started an Old-Time jam in 2010 at the now closed Orlando Brewing on the 2nd Sunday of the month. It went on till their closing in 2021. that session has moved a few times over the last couple years but is now at The Broken String, 1012 W Church St) from 2-5 pm. on the 2nd Sunday. I also started an Irish session at Stephie’s Irish Pub in Apopka on the 3rd Sunday 3-6pm and The Castle Irish Pub, (2625 Edgewater Dr, Orlando) on the 4th Sunday from 2-5 pm.
I dubbed it the Sunday Afternoon Session Society (SASS). Our tip money goes to raising funds for Florida Old-time Music Championships.org and the Florida State Fiddlers Assoc. Both which are preserving the traditional music and getting the next generation to play. traditional music.
i also play for contra dances since 1992. There is a local dance in Winter Park at 6904 Aloma Ave, 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month from 7-10:30 pm. They have live music with various trad bands play. It’s a great social activity.
My mission in life is to make people move I guess,
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Nothing is ever smooth. But through it all I kept playing. I lost my 2nd husband, Bruce Hartmann in January 2009 from a rare cancer. We met through music and he played guitar. He was my right hand and taught me so much about things other than music. We had a construction company by day, and we worked from home. We had a second story in our home with a band room and would have 2 Wednesday night sessions a month, we recorded a CD and, we had house concerts for traveling musicians there.
I started teaching after his death and moved from the house to my present location in 2012.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I pretty much summed that up a couple of questions ago, but my specialty is teaching Appalachian dance music, trad Irish and Scottish music. It keeps people playing after doing classical in schools when they are little.
My other gig is teaching water aerobics at the Central Fl YMCA for past 15 years. like I said, I love to make people move.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Playing in the orchestra at school. I started playing violin in the 5th grade. I stopped playing when I graduated high school. I started playing fiddle in 1986 after not playing at all. I knew I wanted to be a musician since I heard my kindergarten teacher playing on the piano. I went home that day and started picking out tunes on the family organ.
Pricing:
- $35 for 30 minutes fiddle instruction
- $50 for an hour fiddle instruction
Contact Info:
