Alphabetical Listing

Office locations, phone numbers and e-mail addresses are listed as appropriate. All regular mail should be sent c/o UMD Music, 1201 Ordean Court, 231 Humanities, Duluth, MN 55812.

Ann Anderson - Violin & Viola, Music Education, Ethnic Music

Office: 236 Humanities
Office Phone:726-8213
E-mail:aanderso@d.umn.edu

Professor Anderson teaches violin and viola in the Music Department and is also the instructor for the Ethnic and Folk Music of the World class at the University. Before coming to UMD, Professor Anderson was a professional violinist with the New Orleans Symphony, the Indianapolis Symphony, the Metropolitan Opera National Company, New York and the American Arts String Quartet. Her major teachers were Norman Carol, concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Josef Gingold, Indiana University and Ivan Galamian, Meadowmount. Coaches who influenced her teaching methods were Paul Rolland, Yehudi Menuhin, and Nina Belina. Presently, she is the associate concertmaster of the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra and the first violinist and manager of the Duluth Arts String Quartet. She has been a soloist with the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra and has also lead the orchestra as concertmaster. Professor Anderson holds a Music degree from Indiana University in violin performance and a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from the University of Minnesota.

Billy Barnard - Guitar & Jazz

Office: 171B Humanities
Office Phone:726-6570
E-mail: bbarnard@d.umn.edu

Billy Barnard teaches guitar in private lesson, ensemble, and class formats. He is well-known at UMD for his immensely popular course in Jazz Studies, in which over one thousand students enroll each academic year. In addition, he directs one of the UMD Jazz Combos. Mr. Barnard graduated first in his class from the Guitar Institute of Technology, Los Angeles and has performed with such greats as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Rufus Reid. He has been for many years and remains in constant demand at local and regional levels as a clinician and guitarist in all styles.

Jean Bergum - Executive Secretary

Office: 231 Humanities
Office Phone:726-8207
E-mail:jbergum4@d.umn.edu

Jean Bergum is the Executive Secretary in the Music Department. She is responsible for managing and/or performing all aspects of the department's office operation. Her duties include assisting the Department Head with the operational aspects of the department to include fiscal management associated with all departmental budgets, planning and report preparation, and supporting the instructional activities of the department associated with class scheduling, student and faculty assistance.

Dr. Jack Bowman - Dean of the School of Fine Art

Office: 212 Humanities
Office Phone:726-7033
E-mail: jbowman1@d.umn.edu

Dr. Jack Bowman is the dean of the UMD School of Fine Arts where he has responsibility for the departments of Art & Design, Music, Theatre and Dance, the Tweed Museum of Art, and Glensheen.

Born in the United States, Jack Bowman began his career as a clarinetist and organist. He received the Bachelor of Music degree in music education from Ohio Wesleyan University, and the Master of Music and the Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from The University of Michigan. He has served as music director for orchestras in Michigan, Oklahoma, Illinois, and South Carolina. His ensembles have traveled extensively in the United States and Europe and presented special concerts at Town Hall in new York City, Ford Auditorium in Detroit, and with the United States navel Academy Band at Annapolis, Maryland.

Maestro Bowman has conducted professionally in France, Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Austria, Italy, and has recorded two CD's with the Janacek orchestra in The Czech Republic. While in Oklahoma, Dr. Bowman founded the McMahon International Music Competition and presend the English world-premier of the French Musical Christopher Columbus. This musical was a feature presentation in Nassau for the Christopher Columbus Quincentennial Celebrations of the Bahamian Government.

He has accompanied such international soloists as Leonard Rose, Dave Brubeck, Rober Merrill, Tony Bennett, Doc Severinsen and Glen Campbell. Dr. Bowman is known for his breadth of conducting repertoire including orchestral, ballet, opera, and pop.

Jefferson Campbell - Bassoon & Music History

Office: 243 Humanities
Office Phone: 726-8119
E-mail: jcampbel@d.umn.edu

For information about bassoon study at the University of Minnesota Duluth, please look at Dr. Campbell's Bassoon Studio Site, located here.

Jefferson Campbell has distinguished himself over the last several years as a solo, chamber and orchestral musician on the bassoon. Dr. Campbell has appeared as soloist in North Carolina, Kentucky, Nebraska, and in a tour of Germany including a performance of Mozart's Symphonie Concertante in Berlin. The winner of solo competitions in Kentucky and Nebraska, Jefferson has enjoyed early success in his career including solo appearances with the Bowling Green/Western Symphony Orchestra. As an orchestral musician, Dr. Campbell has held positions with orchestras in Kentucky, North Carolina, Virginia, Illinois, Oregon, Washington, and Nebraska, where he was a member of the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra, and the Third Chair Chamber Players. He is currently the Assistant Professor of Bassoon and Music History at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, and serves on the artist faculty of Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Twin Lake, Michigan. Dr. Campbell has been published in the Journal of the International Double Reed Society and presented and performed at the National Conference of the IDRS in 2003.

Jefferson Campbell holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Western Kentucky University, a Master of Music from the North Carolina School of the Arts, and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Alexander Chernyshev - Piano

Office: 24A Bohannon
Office Phone:726-8184
E-mail: achernys@d.umn.edu

Alexander Chernyshev earned his doctorate and masters degrees with honors in piano and chamber music from the prestigious St. Petersburg (formerly Leningrad) Conservatory named after Rimsky-Korsakov in Russia. He has also received the American equivalent of the doctoral of musical arts since his move to the U.S. He taught piano and chamber music for eighteen years at the St. Peterburg Conservatory branch in Petrozavodsk, which is Duluth's Sister city. In Russia, he was a very active performer and collaborator with many Russian and International musicians. He has performed many times in such countries as Finland, Italy, France, Japan and Hong Kong. He was a founder and leader of the internationally-acclaimed trio Classic Retro, an ensemble that has recorded extensively and received many awards and honors in Russia, Europe and the United States.

Alexander moved permanently to U.S. during Classic Retro's second national tour in 1991. He has resided since then in Duluth, where he maintains an active life as both a performer and teacher. He continues to tour throughout the country with his group. In1998 he was invited to France for a concert tour with his wife Olga, an accomplished violinist, and with French piano professor Francoise Foray to play two-piano recitals. He has performed with the Petrozavodsk Symphony Orchestra, Karelia Chamber Orchestra, St. Petersburg Chamber Orchestra, LSCO and UMD Orchestra as well. Alexander joined the music faculty of UMD in 1993.

James Cooper - Guitar

Office: 81 Bohannon
Office Phone:726-8208 (Music Dept. Office)
E-mail: jcooper@d.umn.edu

A graduate of UMD's Jazz Studies program, Mr. Cooper is a performing musician/instructor. He currently performs with the Duluth Bigtime Jazz Orchestra, his own jazz combo, "Clockwork Jazz," and the classic/modern rock band, "The Dukes of Hubbard." Styles covered include jazz, rock, fingerstyle, blues, folk, and modern rock. He currently completed his Masters Degree in Music Performance from UMD.

Jeanne Doty - Piano, Piano Pedagogy,

Office: 239 Humanities
Office Phone:726-8140
E-mail: jdoty@d.umn.edu

Jeanne Doty, former chair of Keyboard Studies at the University of Minnesota Duluth, teaches piano, piano-related courses, and also coaches chamber music. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Accompanying and Coaching from the University of Minnesota, where she studied with Margo Garrett, and a Masters degree from Indiana University as a student of Enrica Cavallo-Gulli. She also received a Certificate in Dalcroze Eurhythmics from Carnegie Mellon University.

In addition to being highly respected as a collaborative pianist, Dr. Doty also plays solo repertoire. She has performed on numerous occasions the piano music of Agathe Bäcker Grøndahl, music that is virtually unknown in the United States. Her live recording of the Concerto for two Pianofortes was played on Minnesota Public Radio. She has performed collaboratively in Italy and Costa Rica, and in November 2005 was invited to play in a “House Concert” hosted by the Norwegian National Opera.

Dr. Doty also has a special interest in Finnish music. She is a past president of the Yrjö Kilpinen Society of North America Ltd., an organization that promotes the songs of Finnish composer Yrjö Kilpinen by sponsoring a triennial International Vocal Competition. As a violinist with the Finnish folk group, The Third Generation, she appeared several times on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion, toured Finland and the Upper Midwest, and recorded four albums.

Dr. Doty has been described by her colleagues as having ”impeccable musicianship and stellar ensemble skills, as well as being a first-rate human being.” A committed teacher, she is recognized by many former students as having been particularly influential in their musical and personal development.

Daniel Eaton - Concert Band, Athletic Band Director, Low Brass

Office: 152 Humanities
Office Phone: 726-6866
E-mail: deaton@d.umn.edu

Daniel W. Eaton is in his eighth year as the Assistant Director of Bands at the University of Minnesota Duluth. His responsibilities include directing the Concert Band, Marching Band, Pep Bands, teaching Applied Tuba and Euphonium, courses in Instrumental Brass Methods and playing Tuba in the UMD Faculty Brass Quintet. Prior to his appointment at UMD, Dan spent eight years as Director of Bands at high schools in New York, Maryland and Pennsylvania. While directing his high school programs, Mr. Eaton's bands consistently performed and achieved superior ratings at state festivals and marching contests.

Mr. Eaton received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and his Master of Music in Tuba Performance and Pedagogy with a minor in Wind Conducting from Eastern Kentucky University. While at Eastern Kentucky University, Mr. Eaton was Graduate Assistant of Bands and Tuba, conducting the Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Marching Band, Tuba Ensemble and teaching Applied Tuba and Freshman Music Theory. He also wrote drill and music arrangements for the Colonel Marching Band.

He has played Euphonium with the Lexington Brass Band and has played Tuba with the Johnstown Symphony, Westmoreland Symphonies, Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra, Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra, IUP Faculty Brass Quintet and the EKU Faculty and Honors Brass Quintets. In the spring of 1986 Dan performed in Beethoven's opera, Fidelio,with the Roberts Wesleyan College Chorale at Carnegie Hall in New York City. In July, 1989 he toured and performed multiple times in the city of Paris, France with the IUP Marching Band, for France's Bicentennial. In the spring of 1990 he performed in Carnegie Hall in Pittsburgh, PA with the IUP wind ensemble and in 1995 he was a member of the Kentucky All Collegiate Honor Band in Louisville, KY. During the summers of 1995-1997, Dan was employed as a keyboardist by the Cedar Fair Corp. playing in multiple shows at Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, OH. Mr. Eaton spent from 1996-2003 as the Principal Bass Trombonist with the Keystone Winds, under the direction of Jack Stamp. He has recorded 7 cd's with the Keystone Winds as well as recording music for the 2002 release of GIA Publications, Teaching Music Through Performance in Band - Vol. 1, Grade 4. Currently, he is principal tubist with the Minnesota Ballet.

Dan is a frequent marching band clinician throughout the east and mid west doing band camps in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Wisconsin. Currently he is the Contra-Tech for the Spirit Drum Corps, formerly known as The Spirit of JSU, located in Jacksonville, AL. He will be touring throughout the United States this summer with Spirit.

Dan grew up in Wilson, NY, a small town on the shores of Lake Ontario. His parents, Bill and Rena Eaton, are retired, and his older brother Tim is a middle school English teacher in Newport News, VA. Dan and his wife Jessi live in Lakeside, just north of Duluth with their two dogs Lulu and Buddy.

Jessica Gile Eaton- Box Office Manager

Office: 141 MPAC
Office Phone: 726-6086 (Music Dept. Office)
E-mail: jreaton@d.umn.edu

Jessica Gile Eaton is the box office manager for the departments of music and theatre. She coordinates ticket sales and house management for all performances in both areas.

Ryan Frane - Jazz Piano & Jazz

Office: 224 Humanities
Office Phone:726-6327

E-mail: rfrane@d.umn.edu Ryan Frane is the Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Minnesota Duluth, where he teaches Jazz Ensemble I, Jazz Combo I, Jazz Improvisation, Jazz Pedagogy, Jazz Piano and Jazz Writing, among other courses. He also coordinates the Head of the Lakes Jazz Festival at UMD. Ryan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music with emphasis in Jazz Studies and Piano Performance from the University of Wisconsin Green Bay and a Masters of Music degree in theory and composition from the University of Northern Colorado. He has been an active teacher and performer at several colleges across the country including the University of Northern Colorado, University of South Dakota, University of Wisconsin Green Bay, Tiffin University, University of Wisconsin Stevens Point and the University of Southern Colorado. He also has performed as a jazz pianist nationwide as a soloist and band member and has toured Europe, most recently as director with the University of Minnesota Duluth Jazz Ensemble I.

Click here to visit Mr. Frane's Web Site

Betsy Husby - Low Strings

Office: 27 Bohannon
Office Phone: 726-7784
E-mail: bhusby@d.umn.edu

Dr. Husby earned her DMA, MM, and BA degrees from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, L.I., N.Y. where she studied with Bernard Greenhouse, former student of Pablo Casals, and cellist of the internationally reknowned Beaux Arts Trio, and Timothy Eddy, cellist of the Orion String Quartet and faculty at Julliard School of Music. Highlights of her career have included performing in the 1986 Tchaikowsky Competition in Moscow, a live Minnesota Public Radio Broadcast of the technically demanding Prokofieff Sinfonie Concertante with the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra, and Minnesota State Arts Board grants to tour the United States and Russia. Dr. Husby began her extensive solo, chamber music, and orchestral experience in New York where she was winner of the DMA concerto competition, a member of the Poulenc Chamber Players on Long Island, and principal cello of the Stony Brook graduate orchestra.

Dr. Husby has been principal cello with the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra for 20 years, has performed on Minnesota Public radio with the Highland String Quartet, plays with UMD’s U3 Piano Trio, and has been featured artist with the DSSO, Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra, Itasca Symphony Orchestra, Petrozavodsk, Russia Symphony Orchestra, and the Ashland Chequamegon Symphonette. In 2005, she and UMD faculty pianist Dr. Alexander Chernyshev were featured artists on the Schubert Club Courtroom Concert Series in St. Paul, and at the Bernard Greenhouse 90th Birthday Celebration in Greensboro, N.C. She also has a solid pedagogical background, having completed the Suzuki Association of America’s teacher training coursework from Book 1 through 6 and above. She has taught and co-directed the Lake Superior Suzuki Talent Education Program at UMD for 20 years.

Rachel Inselman - Voice & Opera

Office: 240 Humanities
Office Phone:726-6223
E-mail: rinselma@d.umn.edu

Rachel Inselman, soprano is an Assistant Professor of Voice at the University of Minnesota Duluth.  Ms. Inselman completed her Artist Diploma Degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she also received her Master's Degree.  She earned her Bachelor's Degree from Oberlin College.  Ms. Inselman has performed in numerous opera and musical theatre roles, including Gretel, Despina, Susanna, Adele, Laetitia and Micaela and was an artist apprentice with the Michigan Opera Theatre.  She has appeared with various symphony orchestras, including the Cleveland Orchestra, the Paris Sinfonetta, the Toledo Symphony, the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra, and the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra.  Ms. Inselman was named a winner at the 1996 Metropolitan Opera District Auditions for the fourth consecutive year.  She was a third place finalist at the Met Regional Auditions in 1995 and 1996, and was awarded first prize in the 1996 Schubert Club Scholarship Competition.  Ms. Inselman has appeared with Northland Opera Theatre Experience in the roles of Marzelline in Fidelio and Olympia in Les Contes d'Hoffmann.  She performed Mahler's Fourth Symphony, Handel's Messiah, Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass, the Brahm's Requiem, the Mozart Requiem, and the Fauré Requiem with the DSSO.  In July of 2000, Ms. Inselman appeared with the Shanghai Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra in China to perform Mahler's Fourth Symphony.   As a recitalist, Rachel has appeared in numerous locations, including Palermo, Italy; San Jose, Costa Rica; Thunderbay, Ontario; Uvalde, Texas; Stillwater, Oklahoma; Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Minneapolis, Minnesota.  In 2004, she appeared with Opera Roanoke in Virginia for a Viennese Gala, and was the opera director for the Italian American Festival's production of La Traviata.  This summer, Rachel was a vocal coach for the Sieur Duluth Opera Festival for the second year.  Upcoming engagements include the All- American Recital in Michigan, Minnesota, Canada and Turkey as well as the role of Hanna in Lehar's The Merry Widow in the spring of 2008.

Jacob Jonker - Classical Guitar

Office: 215 Humanities
Office Phone:726-7011
E-mail: jjonker@umn.edu

A native of St. Paul, Minnesota,  Jacob Jonker began his studies with Joe Hagedorn at the University of Wisconsin - River Falls.  He then went on to complete a Master's degree at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, studying under Jeffrey Van.  During his studies Jacob received top prizes from both the Schubert Club (First prize, 2007) and Thursday Musical (Second Prize, 2008) scholarship competitions.  After completing his Master's degree, Jacob trained as a Suzuki guitar instructor and joined the music faculty at UMD.

Jacob has performed as part of the chamber music series at the James J. Hill mansion, and has been a featured performer in the Minnesota Guitar Society's annual "Guitarathon."  He is also enthusiastic about the electric guitar and enjoys teaching a wide variety of musical styles.

Eugene Koshinski- Percussion & Jazz Studies

Office: 248 Humanities
Office Phone:726-6304
E-mail: ekoshins@d.umn.edu

Gene Koshinski has received international acclaim as a percussionist, extended success as published composer (ASCAP), and is currently instructor of percussion at the University of Minnesota Duluth. He performs and teaches in an array of musical mediums including solo, chamber, orchestral, jazz (drum set and vibraphone), studio recording, African drumming, Brazilian percussion, Cuban and Haitian drumming, Caribbean steelband, and other types of world music. He has studied percussion with Benjamin Toth, David Samuels, Chris Hanning, Alexander Lepak, Rogerio Boccato, Shane Shanahan, Joe Galeota, and John Amira. In 2002, Gene won the National MTNA Collegiate Artist Percussion Competition in Cincinnati, OH, and in August 2004 finished 3rd in the prestigious Universal Marimba Duo Competition in Sint-Truiden, Belgium.

He is active as a performer and freelance percussionist having worked with numerous performing organizations and artists including NFL (National Football League) Films, Late Show with David Letterman, NASCAR, Mary Wilson (the Supremes), David Samuels, Wycliffe Gordon, Nebojsa Zivkovic, the Philadelphia Boys Choir, Lehigh Valley Choral Arts, the Brandywine Ballet, the Pottstown Symphony, and the Waterbury Symphony to name a few. For his work with NFL Films, he can be heard on the Emmy award winning soundtrack “A Century of NFL.” In addition, Gene is a member of the Quey Percussion Duo, a project established to generate new works for percussion while also bringing standard repertoire to a broad audience. He is also director of percussion at the annual 6-week international “Performing Arts Institute” summer music festival (Kingston, PA). Koshinski has commissioned and premiered works by renowned composers including Stuart Saunders Smith, David Macbride, Dave Hollinden, Alejandro Vinao, Robert Maggio, Bruce Reipirch, Matthew Herman, and Alphonse Izzo.

Gene holds degrees from West Chester University (BA), The Hartt School (MM) and is currently a Doctoral candidate (DMA) at the Hartt School. Gene Koshinski is endorsed by Sabian Cymbals, Innovative Percussion, and HoneyRock Publications.

Click here to visit Mr. Koshinski's website

Judith Kritzmire - Music Education, Director of Graduate Studies

Office: 217 Humanities
Office Phone:726-8260
E-mail: jkritzmi@d.umn.edu

Judith Kritzmire, Professor of Music Education, Department Head, Director of Graduate Studies in Music Ed. D., Music Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Teaching: General/classroom music education, graduate courses (Foundations of Music Education, Leadership in Music Education, Master's Theses)

Other info: 12 years teaching experience in K-12 vocal/choral music education; prior college teaching/administrative positions at Augustana College, Rock Island, IL; Western Michigan University, American Conservatory of Music, Bemidji State University, Eastern Michigan University. President of National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) Region 4 (Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin); past-president of Minnesota College and University Council for Music, Minnesota council for Music Teacher Education; research/publications in Arts Education Policy Review, International Journal of Music Education, General Music Today, others. On National Board of Directors for National Association of Schools of Music.

Kate F Kulas - Voice
Office: 231 Humanities (Music Dept. Office)
Office Phone:726-8208
E-mail: kkulas@d.umn.edu

Janell Lemire - Harp

Office: 169 Humanities
Office Phone:726-8208
E-mail: jlemire@d.umn.edu

Mrs. Lemire graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth in 1981 with a B.A.S. degree. She is the solo harpist with the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra and the Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra. Being one of the area's most active performing harpists, Lemire often plays solo and ensemble performances in Duluth and in surrounding areas in Minnesota and Wisconsin. She has continued her studies with nationally known harpist Kathy Kienzle, and with Mary Kay Waddington for Suzuki training and pedagogy.

Calland Metts - Opera & Vocal

Office: 234 Humanities
Office Phone: 722-8031
E-mail: cdmetts@d.umn.edu

Sherise Morgan - Marketing

Office: 141 MPAC
Office Phone:726-8564
E-mail: smorgan@d.umn.edu

Upon arriving to Duluth from Colorado in 2001, she assumed the duty of Associate Administrator/Marketing Director of UMD's Department of Music and Department of Theatre. Additionally, she is the instructor for the Theatre Marketing/Management Practicum class. After receiving her Music Arts Management degree from Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory of Music, Sherise worked five years with Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra as Orchestra Manager and Director of Artist/Public Relations. She then became the first full-time Managing Director of Boulder Ballet while holding the position of peer panelist for the Colorado Council on the Arts for several years. Immediately prior to UMD, Sherise worked several years in municipal government and human resources.

Tom O'Hara - Guitar & Jazz

Office: 113 Humanities
Office Phone:726-8208 (Music Dept. Office)
E-mail:
tohara@d.umn.edu

Tom O'Hara is a graduate of Jazz Studies from the University of Minnesota Duluth. He has more than 20-years of experience teaching guitar to students of all ages and abilities. Tom has played at numerous and varied venues throughout the Twin Ports including outdoor concerts, festivals, fundraising events, the Duluth Home and Builders Show, and many others. Tom has performed different styles of music such as rock, blues, jazz, funk, country, and classical--with jazz being his preference. He is currently a worship leader at Freshwater Vineyard Church in Superior, WI, where his wife, Denise, and son, Nolan, also attend.

Jean R. Perrault - Director of Orchestra, Strings

Office: 232 Humanities
Office Phone:726-8215
E-mail: rperraul@d.umn.edu

Performer, conductor and composer, Jean R Perrault is Director of Orchestras and professor of violin/viola at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD). At UMD Rudy coaches chamber music, conducts both the Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, teaches string techniques and the fundamentals of conducting.

Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, he earned his Master's degree in performance from Temple University in Philadelphia. He moved to the New York area and became assistant conductor of the New York Symphonic Arts Ensemble while maintaining his post as Principal Guest Conductor of the Holy Trinity Philharmonic Orchestra.

He has participated in many prestigious music festivals including Aspen, Tanglewood, Chautauqua. Rudy keeps an active schedule and has performed with many different organizations including the Duluth-Superior Symphony in Duluth, the New York Virtuosi, the New York Pops, the Vermont Mozart Festival Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Virtuosi, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, the Philly Pops and the Broadway show "Beauty and the Beast". The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, the Holy Trinity Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as the New York City Housing Authority Orchestra have performed his compositions.

The past several years he has been editing and orchestrating the piano works of Haitian Classical Composers. He recently completed "Exodus", a commission for the Borromeo String Quartet and is working on his second Quartet while completing his "Missa" (a work for full orchestra).

Click here to visit Mr. Perault's website.

James Pospisil - French Horn

Office: 231 Humanities (Music Dept. Office)
Office Phone:726-8208 (Music Dept. Office)
E-mail: jpospisi@d.umn.edu

James Pospisil received his Bachelor of Music degree in performance at Wichita State University, with Nicholas Smith as horn professor, then finished his master's degree in horn performance at Indiana University, with Michael Hatfield as horn professor. At I.U., Mr. Pospisil also studied natural horn with Richard Seraphinoff. Jazz was also an integral part of his education, minoring in jazz studies at Indiana University under David Baker. He has attended many festivals including the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival and the Summit Brass Institute.

Along with teaching at UMD, Mr. Pospisil is Principal Horn of the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra, and has appeared as soloist. A frequent recitalist, he can be heard several times a year in a solo capacity. Chamber music is also one of his favorite artistic endeavors, working with the top musicians in this area. In addition to horn playing and teaching various ages of students, Mr. Pospisil is a church organist and pianist at Peace United Church of Christ.

Outside of music, Mr. Pospisil enjoys cross country skiing and gardening, which in Duluth, the skiing is much more practical. He is married to Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra hornist Jill Pospisil, who is an active chamber musician and teacher. Jill also did graduate work at Indiana University, and is an alumnus of Wichita State. Jill also repairs band instrument when not teaching or performing.

At UMD, Mr. Pospisil teaches private horn lessons to each student, in addition to giving a weekly master class for his students. A brass techniques class is also part of his teaching duties, focusing on the various performance and pedagogical aspects of brass instruments.

James Pospisil can be reached at jpospisi@d.umn.edu, by calling the UMD music office at 218-726-8208, or at home at 218-724-8337.

Dr. Thomas Pfotenhauer - Trumpet & Jazz

Office: 231 Humanities (Music Dept. Office)
Office Phone:726-8176
E-mail: tpfotenh@d.umn.edu

Dr. Thomas Pfotenhauer is Assistant Professor of Trumpet and director of the second jazz ensemble. He also teaches Jazz Improvisation and Brass Techniques and coaches Jazz Combo and Brass Quintet. Dr. Pfotenhauer studied trumpet with Armando Ghitalla at the University of Michigan, completing a Masters degree in 1993, and holds a Bachelors degree in music from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in trumpet performance from the University of Kansas. While at the University of Kansas, Dr. Pfotenhauer studied with William Campbell and Christopher Moore and was a member of the Kansas Brass Quintet, one of the country’s most active faculty brass quintets. Prior to his appointment at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, he held positions at the University of Wyoming and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

Dr. Pfotenhauer’s performance experience is extensive and varied. He has performed Baroque trumpet with the New York-based early music group The Spiritus Collective, and with the Musica Raritana Baroque Orchestra at Rutgers University, the New York Collegium, Tempesta di Mare, the American Opera Theater, and at the Colorado Music Festival. From 1994-2002 he performed for numerous professional productions presented at the critically acclaimed Weidner Center for the Performing Arts in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Dr. Pfotenhauer has played lead trumpet and section trumpet in pit orchestras and in back-up bands for such shows as: West Side Story, Some Like it Hot, the Sound of Music, Copacabana, Fiddler on the Roof, Camelot, South Pacific, the Scarlet Pimpernel, Saturday Night Fever, and Parade; and artists such as: Robert Goulet, the Manhattan Transfer, Peabo Bryson, Bernadette Peters, Johnny Mathis, and Shirley Jones. In April 2008, he was a featured soloist at the Beijing International Congress on Women in Music and performed a program of works for trumpet written by French female composers.

Dr. Pfotenhauer has also performed with numerous professional and regional orchestras, including the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra, the Cheyenne Symphony, the Fort Collins Symphony, the Kansas City Symphony, the Battle Creek Symphony, the Green Bay Symphony, the Pamiro Opera Company, the Green Bay Civic Symphony, and the Fox Valley Symphony. Dr. Pfotenhauer has appeared as a soloist and clinician in Wyoming, Colorado, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Kansas, Missouri, and Texas.

Justin Rubin - Theory, Composition, Organ, Piano, Music Technology

Office: 25A Bohannon
Office Phone:726-8218
E-mail: jrubin1@d.umn.edu

Prolific in a variety of artistic disciplines, Justin Rubin (b.1971), composer, organist/pianist, painter, and author, was initially educated under the tutelage of his father. He subsequently pursued formal training at the Manhattan School of Music Prepatory Division between 1986 and 1989, studying piano under Philip Kawin. He graduated from the State University of New York at Purchase in 1992 with the distinction of Summa Cum Laude where he studied composition, organ, and art history. Continuing at Purchase, Rubin graduated in 1994 with a Master of Fine Arts in composition while beginning to explore performance art and multimedia presentations.

Following a Fulbright Scholarship in organ musicology to Denmark in the Fall of 1994, Rubin was appointed Interim Choir Director and Organist at New York City's prestigious Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, where he began composing numerous choral and ensemble pieces for liturgical and concert usage. It was during this time that he started to bring together the rigor of his academic compositional training and a writing style that could communicate with a diverse audience.

This new tonal language was further developed during his three years in residence at the University of Arizona (1995-98) under the guidance of Daniel Asia while completing the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in composition. One piece exemplifying Rubin's compositional concerns which was completed during this period, the cantata David and Absalom, was distinguished with a BMI Student Composer Award (1997).

In 1998, Dr. Rubin was appointed Assistant Professor of Theory/Composition and Organ/Piano at the University of Minnesota Duluth, with additional responsibilities including the construction and supervision of a computer music center. In 1999, he spearheaded the formation of a New Music Festival at the University, with its first weeklong concert series in 2000. The success of this event prompted the school to establish it as an annual series, of which Rubin is the artistic director.

As a composer, Justin Rubin has established himself as an emerging voice, receiving over one hundred performances of his works across the country and in Europe over the past decade. He has received numerous commissions and his published catalogue includes works in almost every genre. Performance highlights include productions by the Minnesota Orchestra, Zeitgeist, Duo46, Newband, Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra, THUD, The John M. Corps, Group! for New Music, Heavy Metal Brass Quintet, Plymouth Music Series, The University of Arizona Symphony, The University Singers (at the University of Arizona), the San Diego Contemporary Ensemble, The University of Southern California Contemporary Players, The University of Arizona Sax Quartet, California State University at Hayward Concert Artists, The Chamber Music Society of Sacramento, The Holy Trinity Choir, Lake Superior Youth Chorus, UMD Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and the SUNY Purchase Contemporary Players. As well, his music has been choreographed by Kim Nofsinger and Dorothy Massalski.

Recently, Rubin's cantata, From the Sonnets of Apology, was selected for the Plymouth Music Series' Essentially Choral (2001-02). Production highlights include a chamber oratorio, Old Turtle, commissioned by the Matinee Musicale of Duluth, which had its première in April, 2000, and ten performances of Euripides' Bacchae by the UMD Theatre Department in 2001, for which Rubin has composed Odes, Dances, and Airs. He has been chosen in consecutive years as a Minnesota Orchestra Perfect Pitch Composer by Pulitzer Prize winning composer Aaron Jay Kernis for his Passacaglia Tenebrosa (1999) and Symphonietta I (2000). Also in June, 1999, the Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra commissioned and premièred his Four Sketches of an American Past. He has also been a featured composer at the Aspen Composers' Conference, the Hermoupolis Guitar Festival, and the Guitar Foundation of America Conference. In 2002, Richard Stoltzman performed the première of his Dedication and Fanfare for the opening of the Weber Music Hall in Minnesota. His works are published by Harvey Music Editions, Zalo/JP Publications, and Mnemes - Alfieri &Ranieri [Italy].

As a performer, Rubin was the pianist in residence with the ST/X Ensemble Xenakis USA from 1994 to 2000, recording two CD's with the group (including solo works and concertos to critical acclaim) on the Mode and Vandenburg Wave labels and giving a live broadcast concert at Radio France in Paris in 1998. In May, 2000, he performed Xenakis' first piano concerto, Synaphaï, with the Gulbenkian Festival Orchestra in Lisbon. Other composers Rubin has given premières of in the United States include Kaikhosru Sorabji, Dary John Mizelle, and numerous student pieces.

Rubin has also concertized widely on organ, specializing in works of less heralded composers and always performing new pieces. In May, 1996, he was invited by Gerre Hancock to give an all-Hugo Distler organ recital at famed St. Thomas Church in New York City. In November, 2000, he was also invited by the American Guild of Organists to perform selections of J.S.Bach's Die Kunst der Fuge as part of the 250th Memorial Minnesota Bach Festival co-sponsored by National Public Radio's Pipedreams. In 2002 he was chosen to perform three times at the Church of St.Louis, King of France, noontime recital series, including the 2002-03 season opener.

As a visual artist, Rubin works in abstract as well as figurative imagery, incorporating ideas established by Ad Reinhardt and Barnett Newman as well as concepts from traditional Japanese Fukeiga painting into a succession of distinct and evolving archetypes employing interrelated structural arrangements.

In the field of writing, Rubin has composed poems and short stories, but finds his voice in his instruction-booklet-like performance art pieces that he describes as "game plans for understanding society." One of the larger of the pieces, Genocide in the 20th Century: 6,000,000 - Holocaust Memorial and Installation, will be part of the Baeumler-Kaplan Holocaust Commemoration in 2004.

Click here to visit Dr. Rubin's Home Page

Joe Schauer - Bass

Office: 221 Humanities
Office Phone: 726-7543
E-mail: jschauer@d.umn.edu

Dr. Schauer received his Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Wisconsin where he studied with renowned soloist Catalin Rotaru. He went on to earn his Master of Music degree at Kent State University, studying with Mark Atherton of the Cleveland Orchestra. While at KSU he was awarded the “Leopold Sipe Excellence in Music Award,” later earning his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from The Ohio State University where his studied with Paul Robinson. In addition to his classical background, he is a graduate of Berklee College of Music where he earned a Professional Diploma in jazz studies, while there serving as accompanist for the percussion department.

Dr. Schauer has performed in a variety of musical genres throughout the United States, Europe, and Korea. He has served as bassist for the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra Jazz Ensemble, the River Cities Big Band, and numerous orchestras throughout the mid-west. He also served as principle bassist for the Joseph Haydn Festival Orchestra with performances throughout Austria including Mozart’s Mass in C Minor at St. Stevens Cathedral in Vienna and Haydn’s Hornsignal symphony at the Esterhazy Palace in Eisenstadt

He has performed with many internationally recognized musicians such as Catalin Rotaru of the Bucharest Conservatory, Semmy Stahlhammer of the Royal Stockholm Symphony Orchestra, Rich Ritenour, Korin Fugiwara, and Jim Walker who is best known for his work with film score legend John Williams. He is currently Assistant Professor of double bass at the University of Minnesota Duluth where he teaches applied lessons, the low strings method class, and coaches small ensembles.

Dr. Theodore Schoen - Department Head, Woodwinds, Music Technology

Office: 239 Humanities
Office Phone:726-8279
E-mail: tschoen@d.umn.edu

Theodore Schoen currently teaches applied clarinet and saxophone at UMD, as well as classes in arranging and music technology.  He received his B.M. and M.M. degrees from the Juilliard School and his D.M.A. from Florida State University. His teachers were Stanley Drucker, Joseph Allard, and Charles Russo. Dr. Schoen frequently plays with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and he has performed, toured, and recorded with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, including its recordings of Mahler’s Symphonies No. 2, 6 & 7 and Mozart’s Requiem. He has served as the Principal Clarinetist with the Atlanta Opera Orchestra and the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as Bass Clarinetist with the Florida Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Schoen also has performed with the Grand Teton Festival Orchestra, Naples Philharmonic, Florida Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony, Colorado Philharmonic, and orchestras throughout the country. Equally at home in the jazz and pop idioms, Professor Schoen toured for three months with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and has performed with the Ray Charles, Rod Stewart, and Moody Blues. An active chamber music soloist, he has given recitals at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Recital Hall. In 2000, Dr. Schoen was invited to be Guest Clarinet Professor at the Ural International Summer Music Academy in Novouralsk, Russia where he played two recitals, one classical and one jazz. In addition, Dr. Schoen also performed the Mozart Clarinet Concerto with the Ural State Philharmonic in Ekaterinberg, Russia.

Donald Schraufnagel - Technical Director, Weber Hall

Office: Weber Music Hall
Office Phone:726-7361
E-mail: dschrauf@d.umn.edu

Dr. Lorie Scott - Flute, Theory

Office: 221 Humanities
Office Phone: 726-7543
E-mail: lscott@d.umn.edu

Lorie Scott is in her first year as Assistant Professor of Flute at the University of Minnesota Duluth.  She is currently teaching applied flute, flute studio class, and Introductory Theory and Ear Training, and is performing with the faculty woodwind quintet.  She holds Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees in flute performance from the University of North Texas and a Bachelor of Arts degree in music and business management, summa cum laude, from Luther College.

Dr. Scott has a particular interest in integrating the study of music theory into applied curriculum and recently received grant support from the Iowa Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts to expand a publication and recording project of Sigfrid Karg-Elert's 30 Caprices for Flute.  Results of this project include a revised edition of the opus with analytical commentary and CD as well as Fragments on Karg-Elert, a book of technical exercises based on the theoretical appendix of the Caprices.  Current arranging projects include a collection of Grieg Lyric Pieces for flute & piano and Respighi's Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite One for woodwind quintet.

She can be heard on several Klavier Records CD's by the University of North Texas Wind Symphony and has done freelance work with several Dallas ensembles including the Dallas Wind Symphony, East Texas Symphony Orchestra, and Garland Symphony.

Prior to her appointment at UMD, Dr. Scott served on the faculties of Luther College, East Texas Baptist University, and Texas Wesleyan University.  Further teaching experience in flute includes a graduate teaching fellowship at the University of North Texas and faculty leave replacement work at Texas Tech University.  She teaches at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in the summers.

Tina Thielen-Gaffey - Concert Chorale, Vocal Jazz, Music Education and Voice

Office: 242 Humanities
Office Phone: 726-8212
E-mail: tthielen@d.umn.edu

Tina Thielen-Gaffey is an Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Minnesota-Duluth and has recently completed her doctoral coursework in the Choral Conducting program at the University of Iowa. At UMD, she conducts Concert Chorale, two Vocal Jazz Ensembles (Lake Effect and Chill Factor), teaches elementary music, aural skills, and applied voice. A mezzo-soprano, she completed the M.M. degree in Choral Conducting at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI and her B.M. in music education at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

Prior to her studies in Michigan, the Wisconsin native taught for eight years in the public schools of her home state, where she was responsible for choral ensembles, band ensembles, vocal jazz and show choirs, musicals, madrigals and madrigal feasts, festivals, and touring. At WMU, Ms.Thielen-Gaffey soloed with the Treble Chorus, University Chorale, Opera Workshop, and the award winning vocal jazz ensemble, Gold Company. Ms. Thielen-Gaffey is a past president of WMU's student chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. At the 2003 and 1999 national conventions of that organization, she was a national finalist in the graduate student conducting competition.

Julie Topie - Principal Administrative Assistant

Office: 231 Humanities (Music Dept. Office)
Office Phone: 726-8208 (Music Dept. Office)
E-mail: jtopie@d.umn.edu

Julie Topie is the Principal Administrative Assistant for the Department of Music. As receptionist, she is responsible for responding to requests for information pertaining to academics, scholarships, and incoming student auditions. She also provides secretarial support to the Department Head and faculty.

Laurie Van Brunt - Oboe

Office: 221 Humanities
Office Phone: 726-8208 (Music Dept. Office)
E-mail: lvanbrun@d.umn.edu

Lynette Vincent - Music Education

Office:  29 Bohannon
Office phone: 218-726-6608
Email:  lvincent@d.umn.edu

Dr. Lynette Vincent is assistant professor of music education at the University of Minnesota Duluth where she teaches music education courses and advises the student chapter of the National Association for Music Education. Dr. Vincent received her Ph.D. in Music Education from the University of North Texas (Denton, TX) and her Master of Music Education and Bachelor of Music degrees from Lamar University (Beaumont, TX). While a student at the University of North Texas, Dr. Vincent was honored as the 2007 Outstanding Graduate Student in Music Education and was inducted as a member of Phi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society and Phi Kappa Phi. A varied teaching background that includes teaching in Texas public schools, teaching in the country of Jordan, and teaching at the university level enables Dr. Vincent to bring a unique perspective to the field of music education. Her primary research interest is the vocal health of music educators. Because of her experience as a practitioner and a researcher, Dr. Vincent seeks to deliver information about effective teaching practices and teacher vocal health in settings that are accessible to music educators as well as in research journals and sessions.

Thomas Wegren - Theory, Piano, Composition

Office: 230 Humanities
Office Phone:726-7959
E-mail: twegren@d.umn.edu

Thomas J. Wegren is a Chicago native whose musical background has been guided by such renowned musicians as Aaron Copland, Nadia Boulanger, Alexander Therepnin and Van Cliburn. He began studying piano at the age of four, received his Bachelor of Music from De Paul University on a full piano scholarship, and his Master of Arts and Doctorate from Ohio State University on a university fellowship at the age of twenty-five. He did post-doctorate work at the Julliard School where he studied piano with Beveridge Webster. He also studied in Paris with Nadia Boulanger on a full composition scholarship.

Dr. Wegren has appeared in solo recitals at Carnegie Hall, the St. Paul Civic Center, and in concert tours throughout the United States. He has appeared as guest soloist with the Rochester (Minnesota) Symphony (twice), the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra (twice), the Duluth - Superior Symphony (three times), the Chicago Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and the Pusan Symphony in Korea. He has twice performed at receptions given by United States Vice President Walter Mondale and three times for past Governor Quie of Minnesota. He has given guest lecture - performances through the Royal Asiatic Society in Taegu and Seoul, Korea on "Aspects of Oriental Music" and "Mountains of Amazing Grace" (variations on Korean and Western folk songs).

His awards have included a Senior Fulbright Scholarship to Korea and grants from Exxon, the National Endowment for the Arts, the University of Minnesota Graduate School (twice), and the University of Minnesota Educational Development Fund. As a composer, Professor Wegren has received a McKnight Fellowship (twice), a Minnesota Composers Forum Commission, and a Minnesota Composers Forum Incentive Grant. The most recent McKnight Fellowship and University of Minnesota Graduate School Grant culminated in a 1994 premiere performance of Songs of Gitanjali for Tenor, Piano, and Cassette Tape. The inspired verses of Nobel - Prize winning poet Rabindranath Tagore were set to music. Dr. Wegren's compositions have been performed on Minnesota Public Radio and other National Public Radio affiliates, and have been acclaimed by his peers. George Crumb states "His music shows a very fine ear for timbre and texture, and his handling of harmonic and melodic aspects is always interesting . . . I consi der Dr. Wegren to be a composer of considerable gifts!"

His student honors include: Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society; Pi Gamma Mu National Social Science Honor Society; Phi Mu Alpha Music Fraternity serving as Choirmaster and Vice President; Who's Who Among Students in American Universities; Summa cum laude graduate; Ohio State University Piano Competition winner (Beethoven's Third Piano Concerto); Stan Kenton Jazz Scholarship to Indiana University.

His community musical endeavors are diverse: Duluth Depot Outreach Artist (three times), guest soloist in the seventy-eighth Season Matinee Musicale Series, President of the Minnesota Music Theory Consortium, composer and piano judge for the National Federation of Music Clubs, and music consultant for the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council. Dr. Wegren accepted a faculty position at the University of Minnesota Duluth in 1973 where he is presently Professor of Piano, Composition, Theory, and Musicology. His university outreach achievements have included lecturer for the UMD Elderhostel and Community Education Programs, and the UMD Sunday Evening with a Professor lecture series (three occasions). Dr. Wegren has also been a recipient of the "UMD Distinguished Alumni Service Award."

Mark Whitlock - Director of Bands, Trombone, Music Education

Office: 226 Humanities
Office Phone:726-6124
E-mail: mwhitloc@d.umn.edu

Mark Whitlock is Director of Bands and Professor of Music at the University of Minnesota Duluth. His responsibilities include directing the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, teaching Instrumental Conducting, teaching Applied Trombone, Instrumental Teaching Methods and supervision of Instrumental Student Teachers. Prior to his appointment at UMD, Mark was Assistant Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Trombone at Eastern Kentucky University, a position he held since 1986. He has also held the position of Associate Director of Bands at Mason City High School in Mason City, Iowa from 1980 to 1983.

Dr. Whitlock received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Iowa State University, Master of Music in Trombone Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Iowa and the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts in Wind Conducting, also from the University of Iowa. He is a frequent clinician throughout the country having conducted honors bands and clinics in Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, West Virginia and California including the 2007 – 2008 Minnesota All-Sate Concert Band. Dr. Whitlock has also guest conducted and given clinics in Brazil, South Africa, Argentina and Turkey. Mark has also been the guest conductor at the Indiana Summer Music Clinic and the International Music Camp. Dr. Whitlock is conductor of the Twin Ports Wind Orchestra, a local community wind band dedicated to the performance of the finest wind band literature. He has also conducted the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra on several concerts as well as with the Minnesota Ballet’s performance of the Nutcracker Ballet. Both the UMD Symphonic Wind Ensemble and the Twin Ports Wind Orchestra have performed at state and national conventions including the Minnesota Music Educators Association Convention, American School Band Directors National Association National Convention and the College Band National Association National Convention. Dr. Whitlock is also the founder and director of the North Shore Summer Music Experience a summer camp for young musicians which is held on the campus of the University of Minnesota Duluth. Currently he serves as chair of the Minnesota College Band Directors National Association and is on the board of the Minnesota Band Directors Association. Whitlock is married to Mary Whitlock, and they have three daughters, Macaulley, Meredith and Mayson.

Stanley R. Wold - Director of Choral Activities, Music Education, Voice

Office: 246 Humanities
Office Phone:726-7504
E-mail: swold@d.umn.edu

Stanley R. Wold is Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at the University of Minnesota Duluth, where he has taught choral conducting, voice, and vocal music education since 1984. He has earned degrees from Concordia College (Moorhead, MN), the University of Southern California (Los Angeles) and the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. Active on an international level, Dr. Wold studied choral music in Hungary in April of 1995, conducting the choir of the Esterházy Károly Teachers' Training College in Eger (near Budapest). He was also an invited clinician and conductor for the Chamber Choir of the Karelian Center for Performance and Art in Petrozavodsk, Russia. In August of 1993 and 1996, Dr. Wold was a U.S. delegate to the World Symposium of the International Federation for Choral Music in Vancouver and Sydney, respectively.

Dr. Wold has been Artistic Director and Conductor of the Arrowhead Chorale (an auditioned civic chamber choir in the Twin Ports) since 1990. He has also served as Chorus Director for the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra since 1991. He taught secondary vocal music in Minnesota and Iowa public schools for six years. Presently Senior Choir Director at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Duluth, he is also an active adjudicator and clinician in the Arrowhead Region.

Mindy Zimmerman - Voice

Office: 231 Humanities (Music Dept. Office)
Office Phone: 726-8208 (Music Dept. Office)
E-mail: male0024@d.umn.edu

Regina Zona - Opera Program Coordinator, Voice, Graduate Vocal Pedogogy

Office: 215 Humanities
Office Phone: 726-7135
E-mail: rzona@d.umn.edu

Soprano Regina Zona is making a name for herself as one of the "important" singers of her generation. Described as the "perfect voice for Strauss," she continues to amaze audiences with her versatility. Whether it is the demanding music of Mozart and Strauss or the artistry and lyricism of Bellini and Verdi, Dr. Zona finds her way comfortably in all styles.

Dr. Zona has had the pleasure of working with some of the world’s best conductors on a variety of repertoire. She has sung Mozart with French conductor, Emmanuel Villaume, Welsh conductor, Grant Llewellyn and American conductors, James Meena and Carol Crawford. Under the baton of Maestra Eve Queler she has performed some of the great bel canto roles including the title role of Norma in concert and Margeurite in Meyerbeer’s Les Huguenots with the Orquesta Sinfonica del Estado de Mexico. She also covered that role and the role of Elena in Donizetti’s Marino Faliero with the Opera Orchestra of New York. Dr. Zona performed the music of Richard Strauss in Yokosuka, Japan at a Gala Concert with the Tokyo Symphony under the baton of Austrian conductor, Gustav Kuhn. She sang Donna Anna in Don Giovanni with the Hawaii Opera Theatre and triumphed with the Sarasota Opera as the flirtatious Musetta in La Bohéme where she “stole the show…with her brilliant soprano and outrageously seductive characterization”. Perhaps her most critically acclaimed role at the beginning of her career was Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte. She sang the Queen in St. Louis, Toledo, Sarasota, Tulsa, and Philadelphia where she has been praised for her “brilliantly ringing sound” and “commanding presence”. Dr. Zona’s New York debut was as the soprano soloist in an Evening of Mozart at Lincoln Center with the National Chorale. In June of 1997, she was a winner of the highly distinguished Neue Stimmen International Vocal Competition in Gütersloh, Germany. Originally from Western New York, Dr. Zona has also taken first place honors in the Mario Lanza Competition, Bel Canto Competition, Liederkranz Competition and was a regional winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.

Equally comfortable on the concert stage as on the operatic stage, Dr. Zona was embraced by critics and the public on a concert tour with the Sarasota Opera as “nothing short of sensational”. Her extensive oratorio and concert performances include: Beethoven’s Symphony #9, Mahler’s Symphony #8, Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem, and Strauss’ Vier letzte Lieder.

With over 20 years of voice teaching experience, Dr. Zona has held teaching positions at Shorter College in Rome, GA, Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT and The Community Music School in Buffalo, NY. In addition to teaching opera and classical vocal literature, she is well versed in the musical theatre genre teaching both private students in musical theatre vocal techniques and college level musical theatre literature courses. She is currently writing a college-level textbook called The Music, The Voice and The Theatre: A Comparison, History and Appreciation of Opera and Musical Theatre. As a musical/stage director, Dr. Zona has directed several college and community productions including operas, opera scene programs, musicals and show choir performances. She received her Bachelor of Music from Northwestern University, Artist Diploma from the Academy of Vocal Arts and Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the Manhattan School of Music. Dr. Zona is currently Assistant Professor of Music/Opera Program Director at the University of Minnesota Duluth as the director of Opera and teacher of Voice and Graduate Vocal Pedagogy.

Click here to visit Dr. Zona's website.


For Information about music department programs and upcoming concerts, please call 218-726-8877

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