About Us

Jeri Halford and son, Cole, at Fiddle Sticks School of Music

Meet Jeri Halford
by Julia Landry
     Teacher Jeri Halford was born in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and raised in Polson. Jeri began her music education at age 7, learning classical piano and studying ballet. By age 9, she had taken on the clarinet.
     In 1964, at age 12, she added a third instrument, the guitar. That year, she played professionally with her friends as "The  Girls Next Door."
     In 1969, she attended Montana State music camp at the University of Montana, where she studied music theory and the performing arts. Graduating in 1970, she moved to Kalispell and enrolled at Flathead Valley Community College, majoring in Art and Anthropology. She also performed in the community band, playing clarinet.
     One evening while out dancing, Jeri heard a young lady fiddler in the band announce, "All aboard for the 'Orange Blossom Special!'" Jeri not only boarded that night, but in two weeks had borrowed a fiddle and was taking lessons. She went on to become the Montana State Ladies Champion Fiddler in 1991.
     Jeri began teaching in 1983 in Kalispell, where she organized a group of young students who became "The Flathead Junior Fiddlers." The group performed professionally for many organizations, but the highlight was its performance for "The Academy of Achievement" in 1993. Present were many celebrities, including Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, Tom Selleck, David McCullough, Charles Kuralt, The Judds, Colin Powell, General Schwartzkopf, Dr. Robert Schuller and many others.
     In 1998, Jeri and her son, Cole, moved back to the ranch near Polson where she was raised. In addition to teaching music lessons, she has written several songs, many of which are available on CDs. She also formed "The Front Porch Swing Band" which plays swing, blues, country/western, old west, old-time fiddle, mariachi, 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s music, along with original tunes.