The Skaryds started playing music in 1992.

John plays the Webster chromatic dulcimer seen here. They also have an older, lovely Brazilian rosewood Webster dulcimer and Sharon's dulcimer, is a Rick Thum 17/17 Professional. They also have several other dulcimers.  Sharon runs a dulcimer sales business with direct shipment from the builder to the buyer. (No, there's no showroom, but Sharon and John will be glad to have you stop by and visit.)  You can visit Sharon's sales website at http://dulcimers.biz.

John also has fun playing a tenor banjo (a 1920's Bacon and Day Silver Bell) with the Flint Banjo Club, dabbles at upright bass, occasionally plays a "tenor lute" (which is over 70 years old), and has a 1928 Gibson tenor guitar in his instrument collection.

Although her first love is the hammered dulcimer, Sharon's primary instrument is the autoharp, which she uses as back-up to John's melody playing. It was built by George Orthey and it's a truly lovely instrument. (Click here to visit the Orthey's website: Orthey Instruments.)

Sharon also has a pretty 34-string cherry Celtic harp John built. (Click here to see "the harp John built" .) Her first love is still the hammered dulcimer but life's too busy to learn to play the dulcimer so she's left that to John. She retired June 1, 2004.

You'll find the Skaryd's every year at the Evart Funfest, where Sharon has been the workshop chairman since 1996. (2012 will be the 17th year she's organized the massive workshop schedule.) Don't let her kid you, you does it only so she'll get to drive a golf cart around the fairgrounds.

At Evart, look for their fifth wheel (a '94 Jayco) immediately to the left of the entrance to Tent City adjacent to the "Workshop Leader Rest Area". (They'd love it if you'd stop and say "hi".) Your always welcome to pull up a chair and "sit a spell."

For many years, John was the co-chairman of the Midland Dulcimer Festival. After a devestating diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, John submitted his resignation in November 2009. (He's now also added sax to his instruments so he can improve his lung capacity.)

The Skaryds are directors of a performing club, Saginaw Subterranean Strings Hammered Dulcimer Club. The club plays frequently in the Saginaw (Michigan) and the Tri-City area.

With their friends, Wayne and Linda Conklin, they have performing group known as "Kings Strings."  Wayne and John play hammered dulcimer and Linda and Sharon play autoharp/chorded zither. 

Sharon says, "If you are interested in buying a discounted dulcimer (from dulcimers.biz), but feel better speaking to a "real" person, you can reach me at 989-781-0849 or 813-727-0007. No matter where we are, these numbers will be forwarded to us."

In the spring of 2006, the Skaryds took a 6,000 mile trip across this beautiful country. They hit about 14 states in six weeks. As they traveled, Sharon kept family and friends advised of their activities using a blog. She's continued to use this tool almost like a journal. You'll find it at http://sharons-blog.com. (Well over 400,000 folks annually now follow the Skaryd's activities on Sharon's blog.)

In addition to music, John enjoys gardening and wine making. Sharon enjoys anything techie, especially computers and web design.  (She maintains 13 websites.) She is also an avid reader, enjoys photography, and enjoys writing.

The Skaryds' Michigan home is on a pretty, small, man-made lake west of Saginaw (in Thomas Township off M-52). (You can see the view in the left photo of the lake from their deck.) They had it built to their specifications in 1986. In 2009, they added hardwork floors, and John's been doing some exterior renovation.

Starting in 2005, they found themselves spending a lot of time in Florida caring for Sharon's mother who had alzheimers.  They would stay about two months at a time, several times a year.  In September, 2008, Sharon's mom died and they realized that Florida had become an important part of their lives. They had made friends and loved the Florida climate. On October 6th, 2008, they purchased their Kings Point condo. (Kings Point is a gated community within Sun City Center, FL.) They're now staying in Florida more than six consecutive months and totally enjoying their "senior" years.   (The lower right photo of the colorful sky was taken from the back of their Kings Point Condo. You can see one of the two ponds which make a lovely view.

They enjoy their lives no matter where they are. (And you'll notice that the residences they prefer are all on the water.)  

Sharon has recently become an official "Florida resident" while John will remain a "Michigander."  (They now have one vote in each state.)