Karl Schröder started playing the Steirische harmonika when he was six years old. Among the first places he played was in Milwaukee at the old Sternewirt brew pub, located in the original Pabst Brewing facility. Before founding Steirkraft Karl led several Bavarian music groups and has played with many others. Karl spent many years on the concert stage performing on the piano, but his heart has always belonged to the ethnic music he grew up with.

In Karl's free time, he enjoys making his own sausage, smoking meats and cooking. He is also an avid gardener and sportsman.

Karl plays steirische Harmonika, accordion and keyboards. He plays both four finger and five finger style Harmonika and a number of different scales. He is musical and technical leader, as well as office technical administrator and secretary for Steirkraft. He also operates his own recording studio where he works on the group's music.

Karl's favorite music group is die Kasermandln.

Jane "Hanna" Schröder, Karl's wife, is the other half of the duo and made her debut on stage as a dancer when she was four years old. At eight years of age, she began training on her first musical instrument. She started singing when she was in college where she also learned to play keyboards.

In Jane's free time, she enjoys doing math and being around horses, riding huntseat and jump. She is also an accomplished home brewer and won first place for her beer at the Wisconsin State Fair.

Jane plays guitar and steirische Harmonika and also serves as joint musical and technical leader of Steirkraft along with Karl.