Faculty

Anthony Cox
acox@mcnallysmith.edu
Chair, Music Business
Faculty Member Since: 2007
Primary Department: Music Business
Formal Education:MBA Augsburg College, 2007; BA Metro State University, 2001

Professional Experience: Chair of Music Business Department, Anthony comes to McNally Smith from Augsburg College where he is just finishing his Master’s in Business Administration Degree.
Anthony Cox is a Twin Cities Bass player who shines in a town full of great bass players. He is a solid, disciplined player who is at home in traditional, post-bop and more rock oriented avant-guard settings that are increasingly popular with a growing young audience in town. He performs and is at home with upright bass, string electric bass guitar and Spanish style acoustic bass guitar (one of my personal favorites because of its unique sound).
He has recorded with Elvin Jones, Dewey Redman Geri Allen, Arthur Blythe, Mike Cain, Uri Caine and many others.

Ashly Bew
abew@mcnallysmith.edu
Primary Department: Music Business

Professional Experience: Ashly Bew was first introduced to the music business by watching her family operate a music venue, the Antenna, in Memphis, TN.  As a teen, Ashly provided booking, promotion, and accommodation functions for bands in the local D.I.Y. punk rock, hardcore, and electronic scenes of Florida and East Tennessee.  Bew has augmented her experience in music business at William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul.

Bruce Cook
bcook@mcnallysmith.edu
Faculty Member Since: 2004
Primary Department: Music Business
Secondary Department: Engineering
Formal Education: B.A. English Literature, University of Minnesota; B.S. Education, University of Minnesota

Professional Experience: Graduate coursework in Electronic Music Lab, Modern Musicology, Pop Music and Society, History of the Symphony, Music of the 20th Century, Ars Nova: Medieval and Renaissance Music, Mass Media, and Film History; classes, seminars, and workshops at Pepperdine University, UCLA, and National Academy of Songwriters on music business law, songwriting, vocal production and performance. Certification: Web Designer Institute U of MN. Other teaching experience: NEI College of Technology, Dunwoody Institute, public schools - English/Language Arts grades 7-12. Bruce Cook has released three self-produced CDs, one of medieval renaissance music which was used as a soundtrack for the video game “Kronin’s Kronicles,” released world-wide. Internet promotion and distribution of original pop and rock has generated tens of thousands of downloads and listens. Bruce has performed in legendary Los Angeles nightspots showcasing original music as a singer/songwriter. He has also worked as an English teacher, and a freelance web designer/consultant specializing in multimedia streaming and Flash.

Andre Fischer
afischer@mcnallysmith.edu
Dean of Music Industries
Faculty Member Since: 2006
Primary Department: Music Business
Secondary Department: Engineering

Professional Experience: Senior Vice President, MCA/Universal Urban Music Dept; Vice President Jazz A&R for Quincy Jones, Qwest/Warner Bros.; and Vice President of Publishing Development, 20th Century Fox Records & Films. André Fischer is responsible for producing, executive producing, performing, and recording with many of the music industry’s most gifted pop, R&B, rock, and jazz performers: Rufus featuring Chaka Khan (founding member and producer), Patti Labelle, Michael Franks, Natalie Cole, Tony Bennett’s Perfectly Frank (which won a 1993 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal), James Ingram, B.B. King, Gladys Knight, Nina Simone, Frank Sinatra, Pointer Sisters, Diane Schuur, Temptations, Dusty Springfield, Brenda Russell, OC Smith, Dr. John, Laura Nyro, Lou Rawls, Jackie DeShannon, Nancy Wilson, Milt Jackson, Bruce Hornsby, Oscar Brown, Curtis Mayfield & the Impressions, Jerry Butler, The Rolling Stones tour, Elton John tour, The Who Tour, Etta James, Neil Diamond, Anita Baker, Janet Jackson, Vesta Williams, Leroy Hudson, Betty Wright, Phil Perry, Steve Khan, Tower of Power, Vanessa Ruben, Angela Winbush, James Moody, Ahmad Jamal, Isley Brothers, Donny Hathaway, Richie Havens, Eddie Harris, Clarke Terry, Randy Crawford, Ralph Tresvant, Jackie Lomax, Al Green, and Bobby Brown. Other teaching experience: Thornton School of Music’s Music Industry Department at the University of Southern California Awards and Honors: forty Platinum and twenty-five Gold Albums, three Grammy™ Awards (including a Producer of the Year nomination in 1992), and four American Music Awards  Memberships: National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (Former Los Angeles Chapter President).

Steve McClellan
smcclellan@mcnallysmith.edu
Faculty Member Since: 2005
Primary Department: Music Business

Professional Experience: Thirty Two years; General Manager and Talent Buyer at a single concert venue (First Avenue Nightclub). Memberships: Presently – Vice President of the Cedar Cultural Center Board of Directors; Consultant/Primary Volunteer for DEMO (Diverse Emerging Music Organization); Membership Committee for the Metro IBA (Independent Business Alliance); and some other organizations, like KFAI Radio, MPIRG Board of Directors (Minnesota Public Interest Research Group; MMA Board of Directors (Minnesota Music Academy); Downtown Warehouse Association Board of Directors, and several other organizations that go back to University of Minnesota days non-arts related (political and social services). fter working multiple jobs while at the University of Minnesota I got stuck in a facility called First Avenue for thirty-two years. I worked all aspects of the “venue” music business: operations, primary talent buyer, marketing director, general manager, and “ambassador” to government bodies and social institutions.  Having been recently paroled from that facility, I am finding a brand new world in which to relate my work experience to the students at McNally Smith.  It’s actually quite liberating for a “music business” veteran.

Additional Experience: Panels, Boards, Operational Manager.

Ben Nelson
bnelson@mcnallysmith.edu
Faculty Member Since: 2007
Primary Department: Music Business
Formal Education:Political Science, University of Minnesota.

Professional Experience: Ben worked in various positions in the film industry before joining the Minnesota Film Board as Operations Director in 1999, where he was responsible for producing seminars and events in New York, Los Angeles, and Minnesota, as well as managing the finances of the organization. After leaving the organization in 2002, Ben focused on working with small business and arts organizations, including the Provincetown Film Festival, Minnesota Film Arts, and St. Paul Sober Living. Since 2005, Ben has been producing shoots for several local photographers.

Phil Nusbaum
pnusbaum@mcnallysmith.edu
Faculty Member Since: 2004
Primary Department: Music Business
Formal Education: Ph.D. Indiana University, B.A. City College of New York

Professional Experience: Undergraduate teaching at McNally Smith, University of Minnesota campuses in Minneapolis, Duluth and Mankato, Hamline University, Indiana University, University of Northern Iowa. Radio at KBEM-FM (Minneapolis), KUNI/KHKE (Cedar Falls, Iowa), WFIU-FM (Bloomington, IN), WCCR (New York, NY). Other teaching experience: IS 148 X (Bronx, NY), North High School (Minneapolis). Awards and Honors: LP release documenting Minnesota Norwegian American music named to the Library of Congress’ select list for 1989. Philip Nusbaum is a music professional with over 30 years of experience in radio, performance and teaching. He started in radio as a college student at City College of New York, and he began to perform bluegrass music at about the same time. Later, he earned the Ph.D. in Folklore at Indiana University, has published numerous articles regarding folk music and folklore, and has taught at several Iowa and Minnesota institutions of higher learning. He led the KUNI/KHKE-FM (Cedar Falls, Iowa) remote broadcasting team, and produced pieces for distribution on 10 national public radio program vehicles. At the Minnesota State Arts Board, he produced a series of 26 radio modules that were broadcast over a dozen Minnesota stations, and directed the production of a series of essay/recording packages of Minnesota traditional music. Phil is the host of “Bluegrass Saturday Morning” (KBEM-FM 8 AM-12 noon). His one hour show, “The Bluegrass Review” is syndicated to thirteen stations. His compilation of Minnesota accordion music has recently been released by Rounder records. Other training: National Public Radio workshops in music recording and radio news production.

David Olson
dolson@mcnallysmith.edu
Faculty Member Since: 1996
Primary Department: Music Business
Secondary Department: Engineering
Formal Education: University of Minnesota

Professional Experience: David has  been involved with the Business Department of McNally Smith College since 1996. Prior to joining the staff, he performed as a guitarist/vocalist for a number of commercially successful groups before turning his attention to the recording studio. David has worked as a studio guitarist, vocalist, writer and arranger for the stage,radio and television productions, and corporate videos. He has written for, performed and appeared in national and regional radio and television jingles. In addition to teaching at McNally Smith, he still owns and operates his own project studio and particularly enjoys working with singers and songwriters on their demo productions.

Marge Ostroushko
Faculty Member Since: 2006
Primary Department: Music Business
Formal Education: B.A .Wittenberg University

Professional Experience: Marge Ostroushko has worked in public radio with notable producers and producing organizations for the past 25 years and has participated in the creation of many of the public radio’s favorite programs including “A Prairie Home Companion”, “This American Life”, and “Speaking of Faith”. She is currently developing new public radio talent.

Craig Rice
crice@mcnallysmith.edu
Faculty Member Since: 1993
Primary Department: Music Business

Professional Experience: Craig Rice is an award-winning producer and director, and is nationally recognized for his distinguished career in the television and film industry. His work has been nominated for four Emmy Awards, an NAACP Award, and several other honors. Rice recently served as Executive Director of the Minnesota Film and TV Board. He recently produced a 90-minute PBS variety show “A The Prairie Home Companion 30th,” and is co-producing and directing a documentary on the life and works of designer/artist Michael Graves. In addition, Rice recently served as director and executive producer for the feature length documentary “Half Past Autumn: The Life and Works of Gordon Parks” for HBO, which was nominated for three Emmy awards, a NAACP Image Award, and was selected to the Museum of Television and Radio in the year 2000.  The documentary won the Tree of Life Award from The Friends of the Motion Picture Academy and has been selected for dozens of festivals. Other accomplishments include serving as the Director of Paisley Park Enterprises, Inc., producing several full-length films for Prince including Graffiti Bridge.  He also managed and worked with a number of international recording artists including Bobby Brown, Taj Mahal, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston and Alexander O’Neal. Rice has also directed dozens of music videos with artists including Prince, Patti LaBelle and Sounds of Blackness. During his career as a documentary producer and director, he has been involved in documentaries such as Funkytown, Ingrid Chavez: Artist, Bobby: Bobby Brown, Art Pepper: Notes From a Jazz Survivor, Prince, the ABC television special We Teach Our Children and Our Sacred Land with Chris Spotted Eagle for PBS. As a commercial producer and award-winning director, Rice has helmed commercials for clients such as Amoco, Nike, Target, Kraft, the United Way, McDonald’s and the Partnership for Drug Free America. Rice’s film career began as an assistant director on feature films including Purple Rain and Brother From Another Planet, as a production assistant for ABC Wide World of Sports in New York.  Rice holds a Production Degree from the University of Southern California Cinema Department.  While a student there, Rice received an Emmy nomination for We Teach Our Children.  Rice also attended the Minneapolis College of Art & Design and the University of Minnesota with a Film/Photography and Theatre Major.

Gary Rue
grue@mcnallysmith.edu
Faculty Member Since: 2007
Primary Department: Composition
Secondary Department: Music Business

Professional Experience:  Primarily a composer, Gary has been writing music since his early teens.  Recording credits include LOST IN THE SHUFFLE performed by Helen Reddy on the European release of her greatest hits compilation, and EVERYONE, recorded by Nick Lowe on his Columbia Records release THE ROSE OF ENGLAND (the song found its way to Nick via pop idol Elvis Costello, a fan of Rue's band, RUE NOUVEAU).
Mr. Rue has 65 theater musicals to his credit, among these is PAINTING IT RED by Steven Dietz (author of the Pulitzer Prize nominee LAST OF THE BOYS), which enjoyed wide exposure nationally, including a very successful 6 week run at BERKELEY REPERTORY THEATER’s Second Stage in Berkeley, California.  Gary is also composer-in-residence at SteppingStone Theater For Youth Development of St Paul, where, along with compositional duties, he provides underscore and sound design for many productions.  One of his commissions for SteppingStone, THE STINKY CHEESE MAN (original book by John Sciezca and adapted for the stage by Kent Stephens) recently completed a national tour (including a series of performances in Shanghai, China) with the Dallas Children’s Theatre.
Gary had served since 1986 as conductor and arranger in North America for ‘60’s pop star Gene Pitney (“The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance”, “Town Without Pity”) and his 15 piece orchestra until Mr. Pitney’s death in 2006.
Finally, Mr. Rue is a composer/sound designer/producer for radio, television and film (most notably the Mall Of America campaign: “There’s a Place For Fun In Your Life”) as well as a guitarist, vocalist, pianist, touring musician, keyboard programmer and instructor in the art of composition and the business of artist management

Todd Walker
Faculty Member Since: 2007
Primary Department: Music Business
Formal Education: Bachelor in Business Marketing and Communications, Concordia College, St. Paul, Minnesota

Professional Experience: Todd has an extensive background in promotions and publicity, including working as a talent agent, representing well-known clients in the entertainment industry. He’s a whiz at building strategic partnerships and new business development. To give you an idea of the types of clients he has represented, here is a short list of prominent companies he has worked with Carlson Companies, Sara Lee Corporation, Kodak, Target and many nationally recognized celebrity, author’s and entertainers. His professional experience includes Senior Level Advertising Agency Account Management, Technology Sales and Marketing, Public Relations and Promotions, Financial Services, and New Product Development. Todd is currently employed as a features reporter for FOX 9 television in Minnesota. His TV experience includes being an on-air host for many different TV related projects including Home Shopping, Infomercials and various TV Commercials. Todd has also worked as an on-air radio host and as a print model. You may also recognize Todd from his three year run as the host and executive producer of the nationally syndicated TV show “Million Dollar Idea”. His work has also included time in the corporate sector where he served as VP of Business Development for a strategic business consulting firm specializing in communications, marketing and advertising. In addition, Todd was an agent for the Lazear Agency, representing celebrity personalities, merchandise and books. He also worked for Best Buy Corporation in new product development, marketing and advertising and as Director of Business Development for Periscope Advertising, responsible for the management of all new business activities.