Our Story
“True ethical responsibility requires absolute commitment to honorable behavior and practices, even at the sacrifice of personal advantage.”
This will always be my intention. I know what it's like to be a customer and a student, searching for a quality instrument and a knowledgeable teacher. I aspire to treat everyone how I would want to be treated.
Significant recent efforts have been made to evaluate, research, and apprise this inventory. I believe the prices established reflect current fair market values. I am open to negotiating terms within this established range of values, but I do not take trade-ins at this time.
Please note that many items have never been publicly displayed. Therefore, these instruments range from collectible to student grade, consisting mainly of (well-aged) new "old" stock.
I believe in genuine authenticity in a retail environment.
I am confident in my products and services; questions or concerns are always addressed without hesitation to share my current knowledge and experience.
Music is my life.
In addition to teaching violin and Alexander Technique (AmSat certified), I have over 20 years of business experience via Sherry-Brener and Guitarra Tonewood. As the grateful owner of this unique collection, which includes rare instruments and supplies, historical documents, and personal memorabilia original to Sherry-Brener Ltd., I strive to continue to learn.
-Amy M. Foley
Our Origins
The Historical Context of Our Collection.
Sherry-Brener Ltd. was originally established in the late 1950s as a dance instruction studio in Chicago’s Marquette Park neighborhood by James Sherry and his original business partner.
As we understand it, Jim's interest in Flamenco dance led to his importation of related items directly from Spain, such as castanets and guitars. Over time, the guitars became his primary interest, as he related it verbally: "People (visiting the studio) wanted to buy the guitars as soon as they saw them."
Over time, the dance studio evolved from instruction and supplies to an import/retail/wholesale instrument and luthier materials business. Jim traveled to Spain several times and met the famous guitar maker Jose Ramirez III, eventually becoming an importer (and the original US distributor) of these beautiful handmade classical and flamenco guitars. Over his 50+ years in the guitar business, he came to personally know most of the famous classical guitarists of his generation, including Andres Segovia, Julian Bream, Oscar Ghiglia, Michael Lorimer, and Christopher Parkening, among many others.
Emma Lou ("Eve") Warren was Jim's second business partner and longest full-time associate. Eve managed several essential aspects of the business, including accounting and photography for both the catalogs and the magazine ("Guitarra Magazine"), which they published "in-house" from the 1960s through the mid-1980s.
Sherry-Brener's downtown retail location was designed and built by Jim Sherry in 1986; it became known by everyone who loved it as: "The Shop." Located on Michigan Ave, in the former "Santa Fe" (now Motorola) Building next to Orchestra Hall, home of the world-famous Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO). At that location, professional musicians taught classical guitar, violin, viola, cello, and flute. Local luthiers and brass/woodwind technicians were also contracted for instrument repairs. Sherry-Brener Ltd. provided acoustic & folk instruments via sales, rentals, plus accessories and instruction to the downtown Chicago community for over 30 years.
When The Shop closed in 2019, Chicago lost one of its most unique and beautiful retail/service environments.
Jim and Eve will never be forgotten. Their legacy will always be part of the history of these instruments.