Dan Brekke is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and performer whose career spans the concert stage, theater, recording studio ...

Dan Brekke is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and performer whose career spans the concert stage, theater, recording studio and festival. An adjunct instructor in Commercial Music, Dan brings real-world industry experience to his students, drawing from years of professional performing across the Midwest and in Nashville. A gifted guitarist, fiddler, vocalist, and songwriter, Dan began performing at a young age and has shared the stage with a wide variety of artists and audiences. After touring with the Johnny Holm Band, he spent several years performing in Nashville's renowned live music scene while developing his craft as a songwriter and recording artist. His original music is available on major streaming platforms. Known for his versatility, engaging stage presence, and passion for mentoring the next generation of musicians, Dan is dedicated to helping students develop both the artistic and professional skills needed for today's music industry.

Kathie Brekke holds extensive experience in music education and performance as a jazz artist and producer. She holds an M.S. in Music Education with a...

Kathie Brekke holds extensive experience in music education and performance as a jazz artist and producer. She holds an M.S. in Music Education with a jazz emphasis and has directed choirs and vocal jazz ensembles in both high schools and universities across the Fargo-Moorhead area. At MSM, she has taught vocal jazz, class piano, jazz piano, and commercial keyboards. Outside the classroom, Mrs. Brekke is an active performer and leads the 42nd Street Jazz Band, which has played weekly at Fargo’s Delta Hotel for over two decades. Each summer, she produces and performs in a rotating series of musical productions at Jasper’s Theater in Park Rapids, MN where she shares her passion for music and entertainment.

Director of Bands and Coordinator of the Instrumental Music Education program, Dr. Benjamin James Druffel earned a DMA in Wind Band Conducting from th...

Director of Bands and Coordinator of the Instrumental Music Education program, Dr. Benjamin James Druffel earned a DMA in Wind Band Conducting from the Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University. As a Wind Conducting Associate, he studied conducting with Dr. Kraig Alan Williams and regularly guest conducted the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Band and Concert Band. His duties also included serving as an instrumental instructor with the Rutgers University Marching Scarlet Knights, leading performances of the Pep Band, and helping prepare the marching band for a pre-game performance at Superbowl XLVIII. Dr. Druffel began his career abroad in Dubai, United Arab Emirates teaching music at an American/International school. Over his six-year tenure, his duties were varied from elementary general music to high school band to the International Baccalaureate Diploma music curriculum. He has also conducted and performed with ensembles in Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the UAE. Prior to his appointment at MSM, Dr. Druffel held positions at McMurry University (TX) and Eastern Illinois University.

Dr. Jenny Dufault has over thirty years of experience teaching voice, twenty-five of them at MSM, where she has crafted a legacy of students who are p...

Dr. Jenny Dufault has over thirty years of experience teaching voice, twenty-five of them at MSM, where she has crafted a legacy of students who are performers and teachers. Dr. Dufault received her PhD from the University of Minnesota and is a longtime member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Most recently, she earned graduate certificates in Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) vocal pedagogy from Shenandoah University and now coordinates MSM’s Commercial Music degree. Dr. Dufault has taught all levels of students: beginning voice students to young professional performers. She has trained music education majors, music theater majors, music industry majors, vocal performance majors, and commercial music majors. She has performed in dozens of productions over the years, ranging from charity fundraisers and theatre productions to leading roles in professional operas.

Dr. Jean Hellner holds a Ph.D. in musicology from the University of North Texas and a master's degree in musicology from The Florida State University....

Dr. Jean Hellner holds a Ph.D. in musicology from the University of North Texas and a master's degree in musicology from The Florida State University. Her scholarly interests include narratology, nineteenth-century German symphonic literature, and opera. She has presented and published papers for a variety of international conferences, including the International Congress on Musical Signification. Dr. Hellner has been a panelist for several sessions held at the national meetings of the American Musicological Society, and she served on the Committee for the Status of Women for the Society for Music Theory. She is active in a number of FM music organizations, most notably as cofounder of the Community School for the Arts and the Edvard Grieg Society of the Dakotas. She is also a member of the Red River Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and the Red River Theatre Organ Society. In addition to her duties as a professor of Music History at MSUM, Dr. Hellner performs regularly as a collaborative pianist with the MSUM choral program.

Dr. Michael J. Johnson serves as Director of Choral Activities and Vocal Music Education at Minnesota State University Moorhead. He directs the Univer...

Dr. Michael J. Johnson serves as Director of Choral Activities and Vocal Music Education at Minnesota State University Moorhead. He directs the University & Concert Choirs, teaches a range of choral and music education courses, while also supervising student teachers in the field. Previously, Dr. Johnson conducted choirs and taught conducting classes at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting with a Composition minor. While at the University of Wisconsin, his doctoral research centered on the modern choral music of social justice. He also holds a Master of Music degree in Conducting from the University of Denver and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from Luther College. Dr. Johnson has taught K-12 music and choir in Minnesota and within an array of community, collegiate, and church choirs around the country. Dr. Johnson was the recipient of the 2020 Mullen Prize for composition and took first place in the 2018 ACDA conducting competition in Oklahoma City. He studied with Stefan Parkman as a 2019 Conducting Fellow for the International Choral Conducting Masterclass at Baylor University and was named a 2019 University of Wisconsin-Madison Honored Instructor by his students. He spends his free time biking, composing, and enjoying life with his wife Kelsey, son Shea, daughter Summer, and French bulldog Dot.

Dr. Laura Kellogg, Professor of Flute, graduated with a doctorate in flute performance from the University of Oklahoma. She holds a master’s degree fr...

Dr. Laura Kellogg, Professor of Flute, graduated with a doctorate in flute performance from the University of Oklahoma. She holds a master’s degree from Wright State University and a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University, both in music performance. Her teachers include Richard Sherman, Christopher Chaffee, Valerie Watts, Sharon Sparrow, Amanda Blaikie, and Jeff Zook. An enthusiast of operetta and musical theater works, she has played with the Ohio Light Opera in Wooster, Ohio since 2014. In 2022, she became the Personnel Manager of the Ohio Light Opera Orchestra. Laura is also the Executive Director of the Fargo Moorhead Area Youth Symphonies (FMAYS). Laura has played flute and piccolo in the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra, Fargo-Moorhead Opera, Fort Wayne Philharmonic (IN), South Bend Symphony Orchestra (IN), Fort Smith Symphony (AR), Jackson Symphony Orchestra (MI), the Lansing Symphony Orchestra (MI), and the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra (MI).

Mr. Jon Larson, Professor of Violin and Director of the MSM String Orchestra, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Bethel College, St. Pau...

Mr. Jon Larson, Professor of Violin and Director of the MSM String Orchestra, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Bethel College, St. Paul, Master of Music Education from the University of Minnesota, and completed further graduate studies at The Ohio State University, St. Cloud State University, and Hamline University. Mr. Larson is a member of the Bemidji Symphony Orchestra and plays violin with the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra. As a music educator, Mr. Larson directed the Moorhead High School Orchestra for 20 years, establishing it as one of the largest, most successful high school orchestra programs in the Upper Midwest. He has also worked with school orchestras in Bemidji and Minneapolis. As a conductor, he has conducted the Bemidji Symphony Orchestra, the Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra, the Bethel University Orchestra, and the Fargo-Moorhead Youth Symphony.

Mr. Paul Liversage, Professor of Saxophone and Clarinet, received his M.M. Ed. degree from Florida State University and completed his undergraduate st...

Mr. Paul Liversage, Professor of Saxophone and Clarinet, received his M.M. Ed. degree from Florida State University and completed his undergraduate studies at North Dakota State University. As a music educator, Mr. Liversage taught at Lake Park Audubon (MN) for 36 years, sharing his infectious love for music with countless students during his tenure. He is a frequent clinician, section coach, and guest conductor for programs throughout the region. Mr. Liversage performs regularly with a number of local ensembles including Jazz Avalanche, the Blue Halcyon Jazz Quintet, the FM Kicks Jazz Band, and is a founding member of the Lake Agassiz Wind Symphony where he has performed as both a guest soloist and conductor.

Dr. Amy Mercer earned her doctorate in piano performance at North Dakota State University studying with Robert Groves and her master’s degree in piano...

Dr. Amy Mercer earned her doctorate in piano performance at North Dakota State University studying with Robert Groves and her master’s degree in piano performance and pedagogy at Ohio University where her principal instructor was Richard Syracuse. She completed her undergraduate degree at Concordia College under David Worth and also studied with Antoinette Perry at the Aspen Music Festival and School. A nationally certified music teacher with over three decades’ experience, Dr. Mercer is a certified Suzuki music instructor and is active in the National Federation of Music Clubs and Music Teachers’ National Association. She conducts presentations throughout the upper Midwest, instructing students and music educators on topics ranging from improvisation and pedagogical methods to diverse repertoire. While at MSM, she founded the Community School for the Arts and she is also the founder and director of the Piano Ensemble, providing musical arrangements for the group while also contributing as a performer. A founding member of the FM-based Lyra Trio, she is an active performer as a chamber musician and soloist and also serves as pianist with the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra.

Doug Neill, Professor of Bass and Low Brass, holds a degree in Music Education from NDSU and a Masters in Music Education from Minnesota State Moorhea...

Doug Neill, Professor of Bass and Low Brass, holds a degree in Music Education from NDSU and a Masters in Music Education from Minnesota State Moorhead. As a member of the Disney World All-American College Band, he shared the stage with various well-known artists such as Bobby Shew, Steve Houghton and Rob McConnell. During that same period, he studied with Sam Pilafian on tuba as part of the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. As a highly respected music educator, Mr. Neill directed band, choir, elementary music, and orchestra programs throughout Minnesota for 34 years, including helping to build one of the largest and most successful school orchestra programs in the country at Moorhead Middle School. Locally, he has performed as a bass player and keyboardist in the Kicks Big Band, the Fargo-Moorhead Jazz Arts Group, the Dick King Band, Post-Traumatic Funk Syndrome and virtually every jazz, rock, and orchestral ensemble in the region. Mr. Neill has served as the Principal Tubist with the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony since 1981.

Elise Buffat Nelson teaches cello at Minnesota State Moorhead as well as universities throughout the region while maintaining an active private studio...

Elise Buffat Nelson teaches cello at Minnesota State Moorhead as well as universities throughout the region while maintaining an active private studio. She is principal cellist of the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra and a member of the Lyra Trio with violinist Jane Linde Capistran and pianist Dr. Amy Mercer. She also performs regularly with the 3rd Avenue String Quartet, an ensemble composed of members of the FMSO. Mrs. Nelson was a member of the symphony's 8th Street Quartet and the Dakota Rose String Quartet for several years prior. Before moving to Moorhead, she served as Assistant Principal Cello of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and was a member of their full-time Quapaw Quartet. In graduate school, she had the privilege of being a member of the Strelow String Quartet at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she worked under the tutelage of the Pro Arte Quartet while she received her master’s degree studying with Parry Karp. Mrs. Nelson earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Superior studying with Eugenia Slezak.

Tim Nelson, Professor of Viola, serves as the Principal Violist with the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony and directs the orchestra program at South High Schoo...

Tim Nelson, Professor of Viola, serves as the Principal Violist with the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony and directs the orchestra program at South High School in Fargo. He performs regularly with the 8th Street Quartet, which maintains an active concert schedule throughout the North Dakota/Minnesota region, performing chamber music from Bach to the works of emerging modern twenty-first century composers. Mr. Nelson received a B.M. degree from the University of Wisconsin, Superior and an M.M. from the Juilliard School, with an emphasis in viola performance. Prior to arriving in the Fargo Moorhead area, he was principal violist with the Arkansas Symphony in Little Rock, and violist in the Quapaw String Quartet, the members of which formed the full time salaried core of the Arkansas Symphony. Mr. Nelson has played in the viola sections of many orchestras, including the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra, the Madison (Wisconsin) Symphony, the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and the Queens Philharmonic.

Jake Schaefbauer is a guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and recording artist. He has been a working musician a...

Jake Schaefbauer is a guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and recording artist. He has been a working musician across the midwest since 2009, and his original music with various groups can be found on all streaming platforms. Jake holds Music Education and Music Industry degrees from MSUM. He has been a guitar instructor in the area for over a decade, and is also a music educator with Fargo Public Schools. As an adjunct Professor of Guitar, Jake offers insights from years of performance experience. He is dedicated to helping musicians grow and thrive in today’s music landscape.

Brian R. Sterriker, Professor of Bassoon at Minnesota State Moorhead, has performed with multiple orchestras throughout the American Southwest includi...

Brian R. Sterriker, Professor of Bassoon at Minnesota State Moorhead, has performed with multiple orchestras throughout the American Southwest including the New Mexico Philharmonic, the Santa Fe Symphony, and the San Juan Symphony in the San Juan Valley of Colorado. An MSM alumni, he achieved the rare honor of completing a dual undergraduate degree program, earning both a Bachelor of Science in Music Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance. Mr. Sterriker received a full graduate assistantship to the University of New Mexico where he studied bassoon with Denise Reig Turner while completing his Master’s Degree in Performance. During his time in the Southwest, he also served as Education and Grants Manager at the Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and he is currently the owner of Sandia Reeds, a reed-making company selling expertly crafted double reeds for beginners to advanced players across the United States.

Dr. Tom Strait, Professor of Trumpet, trombone and euphonium, has served as director of the award-winning MSM Jazz Ensemble for over 25 years, during ...

Dr. Tom Strait, Professor of Trumpet, trombone and euphonium, has served as director of the award-winning MSM Jazz Ensemble for over 25 years, during which time he also served as the coordinator of the celebrated Commercial Music degree program teaching jazz improvisation, arranging, aural skills, and more. He holds a Doctor of Arts degree in trumpet performance from the University of Northern Colorado, as well as degrees from the University of Texas and Henderson State University (AR). Before coming to MSM, he taught for several years at both the university and public school levels and served in the U.S. Air Force, performing with the USAF Academy Falconaires at the Air Force Academy. In addition to his current duties as Principal Trumpet with the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra and his frequent performances as lead trumpet with famed FM-based funk band Post-Traumatic Funk Syndrome, he is an active freelance performer in the region known for his stylistic versatility, prodigious improvisational skills, and outstanding trumpet range. Dr. Strait is a Yamaha Performing Artist.

Matthew Tinjum started playing drums at the age of five and has performed with artists such as Kris Kristofferson, rock violinist Mark Wood, national ...

Matthew Tinjum started playing drums at the age of five and has performed with artists such as Kris Kristofferson, rock violinist Mark Wood, national touring group 32 Below, and national touring vocal group The Diamonds. He also performed with Act Up Theater’s “Spring Awakening” at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the largest performing arts festival in the world. Mr. Tinjum completed his Bachelor of Music at Minnesota State Moorhead where he played for the Straw Hat Players, jazz combos, commercial ensemble, jazz ensemble, guitar ensemble, percussion ensemble, symphony orchestra, and spent plenty of time in the studio. Currently, he is tracking drums and percussion for numerous artists, freelancing gigs with numerous groups, and is touring the nation with singer, songwriter, recording artist, guitarist and fiddler Dan Brekke. Mr. Tinjum currently manages the teaching studio at Drummer’s Journey in Moorhead, MN in addition to his duties as Professor of Drumset at Minnesota State Moorhead.

For more than thirty years, Dr. Catherine Tlusty has taught a wide range of vocal styles to singers of all ages. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in...

For more than thirty years, Dr. Catherine Tlusty has taught a wide range of vocal styles to singers of all ages. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Voice Performance from North Dakota State University, a Master of Music in Vocal Pedagogy from the University of North Dakota, and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education/Voice from Westminster Choir College. While a member of the Westminster Symphonic Choir, she performed with the New York Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, and Philadelphia Orchestra under the direction of acclaimed conductors including Zubin Mehta, Riccardo Muti, and Leonard Bernstein. Dr. Tlusty has since appeared in numerous operas and recitals across the country. Her teaching interests emphasize highlighting the work of women and underrepresented composers, along with a strong dedication to pop and musical theatre vocal technique. Her students have gone on to successful careers as music educators, music therapists, and performers across the United States.

Dr. Kelley Tracz, Professor of Oboe at MSM, is very active as both a performer and educator in Minnesota and beyond. Dr. Tracz has performed with nume...

Dr. Kelley Tracz, Professor of Oboe at MSM, is very active as both a performer and educator in Minnesota and beyond. Dr. Tracz has performed with numerous orchestras across the United States, including multiple appearances with the New World Symphony, the Brevard Music Center Festival Orchestra, the Ohio Light Opera Orchestra, and more. A past winner of the Midwest Double Reed Society Young Artist Competition, she is also a passionate and dedicated educator and has given masterclasses and served as a clinician to young oboists and fellow music educators across the country, including serving as a faculty artist for the national double reed camp, Bocal Majority, as well as the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and Kansas State Music Camp. Dr. Tracz received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Oboe Performance and a Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Ethnomusicology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, her Masters of Music degree from the University of Minnesota, and her Bachelors of Music degree at Kansas State University.

Christopher Underwood teaches K-5 grade music at Washington Elementary in Fargo, N.D., where he also directs the fourth-grade choir, fifth-grade choir...

Christopher Underwood teaches K-5 grade music at Washington Elementary in Fargo, N.D., where he also directs the fourth-grade choir, fifth-grade choir and hand chimes ensemble. He also serves as a middle school voice teacher at International Music Camp, teaching voice lessons, music theory and recorder classes. He continues to grow as a musician while performing in the Fargo-Moorhead Choral Artists. Chris received a bachelor’s degree in music education from North Dakota State University and an M.S. in curriculum and instruction with a Kodály emphasis from MSUM. He is a member of the Organization of American Kodály Educators (OAKE), the Association of American Educators (AAE), and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME).

Dr. Kenyon Williams, Professor of Percussion and Chair of the School of Performing Arts at MSM, is a graduate of Abilene Christian University (TX), th...

Dr. Kenyon Williams, Professor of Percussion and Chair of the School of Performing Arts at MSM, is a graduate of Abilene Christian University (TX), the Hartt School of Music (CT), and the University of Kentucky. He has performed as a guest soloist and section member for numerous orchestras across the country and has founded, performed in, and directed a variety of new music and world music ensembles. Dr. Williams currently serves as Principal Percussionist for the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra and directs the percussion studio at MSM where he leads the famed Fuego Tropical World Percussion Ensemble, the Dragon Drumline, and the Percussion Ensemble. His interests have taken him abroad for extended studies in Ghana, Cuba, Brazil, Indonesia, St. Lucia, and Trinidad, where he has performed with the legendary Invaders and Birdsong Steel Orchestras. As an educator, he teaches each summer at the International Music Camp as well as serving as a faculty member for the Kicks Big Band Jazz Camp. As an advocate for the percussive arts, he has served as a member of the Board of Advisors of the Percussive Arts Society as well as a past Chairman for the PAS World Music Committee. A Yamaha Performing Artist, Dr. Williams has published original works through Tapspace Publishing and also endorses Latin Percussion instruments, Innovative sticks and mallets, and Coyle Steel Drums.