Heartstrings is a local Monterey County, California band that performs for a myriad of private and public events. For over 20 years, they have brought their fresh & unique sound to traditional acoustic string music from all over the world. On this site, you can find a calendar of events (What’s New?), music, photos, and videos as well as purchasing information for CDs.
Heartstrings is a local Monterey County, California band that performs for a myriad of private and public events. For over 20 years, they have brought their fresh & unique sound to traditional acoustic string music from all over the world. On this site, you can find a calendar of events (What’s New?), music, photos, and videos as well as purchasing information for CDs.
Laura Burian (Violin) has played music for as long as she can remember, and is extremely grateful for the world it has opened up for her. When she’s not busy playing fiddle with Heartstrings or violin (from classical to rock) with the Monterey String Quartet, she teaches at the Monterey Institute of International Studies, freelances as a Chinese/ English translator and interpreter, and enjoys spending time with her family and menagerie of pets at their home in Seaside.
Paulette Lynch (Hammered Dulcimer) is a founding member of Heartstrings, and has been singing since she was a baby, and played guitar since she was 12. When she first saw someone playing the hammered dulcimer at a concert venue in San Francisco, she was totally fascinated and just had to start playing right away. She is used to being the only hammered dulcimer player for miles around but recently enjoyed the company of dozens of players and teachers at the Swannanoa Gathering in North Carolina. Her day job is Executive Director the Arts Council for Monterey County where she eagerly shares the message that “The Arts Are the Answer” to all who will listen. Otherwise, she enjoys time running around the Monterey Peninsula with husband Ken and son Gabriel.
Marj Ingram Viales (Guitar) is a founding member of Heartstrings & Las Cuerdas del Corazon. She is thankful for the extensive repertoire of songs the band compiled over 20 years. Raised in Carmel Valley, her parents instilled the love of music, which she passes to her children & grandchildren. At age 12, Marj and brother Bill began playing guitars and never stopped. She especially enjoyed a guitar/piano/singing duo with “Safeway Sue” Marcott. Recently the two reunited in the Jamesburg Players Reunion Band, accompanying the wild show tune performances. She occasionally sings in her husband Bob’s blues/rock band, and loves country music jams. Marj works as a building designer & permit facilitator for her company, Carmel Valley Design.
Rick Chelew (Bass) plays and sings with The Cachagua Playboys, Andrea’s Fault, “Nico and Rick” with Nico Georis, and as a solo performer. He is a guitarist, songwriter, and sound mixer for film, video and live music and lives in Pacific Grove. He composed the soundtrack and was a writer and editor on the 2010 film “Pink Smoke Over the Vatican” and played bass on the 2010 release “Jarrod Dickenson—Live at the Roost House”. He also co-produced the album “Heartbreak” by the legendary British musician Bert Jansch, to be re-released in a deluxe 30th anniversary edition in November, 2012.
Mike Osgood (Mandolin) the newest member of Heartstrings, Mike has been playing since the seventies, with many bands including The Bluegrass Monarchs, Homefire and The Hayboys. Of the instruments he has collected, his Collins F5 mandolin is the one he plays most often. Born in Detroit, he moved to Carmel Valley in 1960, where he resides with his wife & family. Mike works as an auto Mechanic.
Heartstrings is a local Monterey County, California band that performs for a myriad of private and public events. For over 20 years, they have brought their fresh & unique sound to traditional acoustic string music from all over the world.
Heartstrings Monterey
P.O. Box 1
Carmel Valley, CA 93924
