Bio

Diane Ippel has been performing music on the hammered dulcimer since 1982, coming to it from a background of singing and playing guitar since 1965. Diane holds a BSEd. in Art from Illinois State University. In addition to her performance work, she teaches hammered dulcimer to private students and gives workshops at festivals and arts organizations.

Her passion for the hammered dulcimer motivated her to start the Hammers and Noters Dulcimer Society of Illinois, Inc. in 1985, which is the sponsoring organization for the Gebhard Woods Dulcimer Festival. She is the founder (1987-1988) and Coordinator (1987-89 and 1999-2005) of this nationally recognized festival now going into its 18th year.

Over the past few years, Diane has performed nine pieces (some of them multiple times) arranged by Malcolm Dalglish with junior and senior high school choirs. Diane has appeared at venues and events throughout the midwest, has been a featured performer on both radio and TV, has produced 4 vocal and instrumental album-length recordings, and appears as guest artist on 13 others.

Diane was a founding committee member of the Morris Arts Council (1999-2004) and established the Morris Old Time Dance now in it's 6th year.

Diane began showing and selling her photographs in 1998, and currently has both retail and studio space at the Woelfel House Galleria in Morris. She had her first gallery exhibition in August of 2003. She was also accepted into her first juried Fine Arts Fair as both musical performer and visual artist in September 2003. Her award-winning color photographs bear witness to her ability to capture an ordinary subject in artistic and unusual ways. Her themes include landscapes, architecture, individual flowers, still life, wild and domestic animals, and antique cars. Her original beaded jewelry designs, also available at the Woelfel House, are created with fine quality glass and gemstone beads using traditional stitching and wire techniques.