Sounds of the season

Jimmy started playing guitar at 8 years old. After seeing the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show at age 10, he decided he wanted to make a living playing guitar, and at age 12, he started his own band. By 21 years of age, Jimmy was a full-time musician and guitar instructor. Now, at age 67, he is still a student of the guitar, and he makes his living teaching and playing music. Jimmy is blessed to have turned his passion into a career in which he has never grown tired of.

Patti Haller studied English and Music at Ohio Northern University. In recent years she has been a musician/director of music for several churches in the Piqua/Troy area.  She is currently the Music Director at St. James Episcopal Church.

Jane Knighten Kretschmann grew up in Alabama and lived in other southern states before finding her way to Piqua 28 years ago. Retired from teaching English at Edison, Jane says she has four talents--reading, writing, singing, and driving friends to medical appointments.

Don Kuchta [COOOk-ta], originally from Chicago, has lived in Piqua just 19 days short of 37 years as of Sunday, December 5th. He is the Executive Director of Meals on Wheels of Piqua, Inc., and a member of St. James Episcopal Church. He has been acting and singing since he was in the second grade. There have been periods when he actually stopped and sat down for a while, but not for long. 

Ryan is from the town of Portsmouth, Ohio and currently resides in Sidney, Ohio with his partner, Evan. Throughout his high school career, he was very active in the music department. Ryan took part in Select Choir, All-County Honors Choir, High School Band, and Theater. He is currently a senior at Shawnee State University and majoring in Health Sciences. Ryan plans on pursuing a community-based outreach career in the field of health care.

John uses finger-style guitar to blend many genres of American music, including soul, country, rock, and blues. Born and raised in small-town Iowa, John Simon brings a “shirt-off-his-back” approach to artfully blended styles of American music.

Moving seamlessly through blues, jazz, country, and soul, John can nurture a phrase with his voice and then turn it on end with his guitar.  His music adopts the influences of Chet Atkins, Tommy Emmanuel, Ray Lamontagne, and Martin Sexton but at the same time finds its own way.

Born and raised in Iowa, John moved to the Dayton area in 2006 and works as a guitar player for a variety of acts and events. His second solo album, Heartsick in the Rearview was released in 2020 and is streaming everywhere.  

Victoria (Vicki) Smith is a resident of Piqua; however, she was raised primarily in Columbus. She has been happily married to her best friend, Craig, for nearly 52 years. Together they have produced 4 beautiful daughters, who have in turn blessed Craig & Vicki with 19 of the world’s most adorable grandchildren and 3 amazing great grandchildren thus far. Victoria & Craig have had the privilege of living in Ohio, Indiana, New York, Florida and Pennsylvania, but Vicki’s loyalty is still Ohio State!

Victoria is a contributing author for several publications. She has been a speaker & singer for conferences, banquet events, workshops, & women’s groups. Victoria has recorded 3 vocal CD’s, and vocationally, Vicki is excited to be a Certified Health Coach.