“Heart Strings” will concertize to the Fairfield audience with a program of Celtic arrangements by Kristi Ruud who founded the group and has been to Ireland many times. They have recorded two CDs, one of all Celtic music.

Performers are Kristi Ruud on dulcimer, Celtic harp, whistle and recorder; Janet Stodd, flute, piccolo and whistle; Amy Patton, guitar, and Amy Klutho, violin.

Kristi Ruud has studied piano since she was a child and is the founder of Heart Strings.

As an adult she has learned to play the tin whistle, the low D whistle, recorder, mountain dulcimer, bodhran and the Celtic harp. She has arranged all the music for Heart Strings, and her first Celtic collection has been published by Alry publications.

Amy Patton has played guitar in Heart Strings since its birth. She plays piano and has served 20 years in a handbell choir, also directing another handbell choir for several years. She also coaches tennis and has coached high school and US diving. Amy owns and operates two restaurants and does volunteer work at her church.

Janet Stodd is flute instructor at Augustana College and St. Ambrose University. She plays piccolo in the Quad City Symphony and is flutist for the Woodwind Outreach Concerts. She is founder and director of the Augustana Flute Choir and a member of the National Flute Choir. She is also principal flutist and orchestra manager for the Quad City Opera.

Amy Klutho is a graduate of Bowling Green State University in music performance.

She has played with the Toledo, Quad City, and Knox-Galesburg Symphonies.  She also does freelance playing for weddings, pit orchestras, etc. Amy recently returned to the Quad Cities with her husband and two sons after several years in North Carolina.

Heart Strings

Chamber Music Society Fairfield appearances:

03-09-2008 Celtic Chamber Music