Faculty

Dr. Jay Fuchs
Department Head, Music Theory
Faculty Member Since: 1992
Primary Department: Music Theory
Secondary Department: Ensemble
Formal Education: Ph.D. Music Theory and Composition, University of Minnesota; M.A. Music Theory and Composition, University of Minnesota; B.A. Voice, Minnesota State University Moorhead

Professional Experience: 20 years as a band leader, singer and piano player; 15 years as a college teacher; composer of orchestral and choral works: author of a Music Theory book; and recently served as a music consultant to the Science Museum of Minnesota on their exhibit called Wild Music, which is about music in nature.  Jay has been a teacher at McNally Smith College for over 15 years, leading the Music Theory Department for over 10 years. He earned his B.A. degree in vocal performance at Minnesota State University in Moorhead, then went on to earn a M.A. and Ph.D. in Music Theory and Composition at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Jay is very active as a performer, doing close to 100 gigs each year.  He leads the popular Twin Cities’ band Metro Jam and, along with Erin Schwab, is a popular cabaret singer and piano player.  In his spare time he writes music, mostly choral compositions. Jay has written several music textbooks as well. His Music Fundamentals book is the primary textbook used for the first semester of music theory at McNally Smith College. 

Linda Chacholiades
lchacholiades@mcnallysmith.edu
Faculty Member Since: 2007
Primary Department: Music Theory
Secondary Department: Keyboard
Formal Education:M.M. Cleveland Institute of Music and a B.M. University of Georgia.

Professional Experience: Linda Chacholiades studied at the University of Georgia, Mozarteum Conservatory, Salzburg, Austria, and holds a Master of Music Degree in Piano Performance from Cleveland Institute of Music. She has performed in several piano competitions including the 1998 Gerschefski Competition where she was awarded honorable mention, a finalist in both the 2001 Greek Women’s University Club Music Competition, Chicago, IL, and in the 2001 Ludmilla Knezkova-Hussey International Piano Competition, Bathurst, Canada. Ms. Chacholiades formerly served on the faculty of Berkshire Community College, Georgia Perimeter College, and Gainesville State College where she was in demand as an accompanist and chamber musician as well as a solo pianist.

Gary Gratz
ggratz@mcnallysmith.edu
Chair, Music Studies; Department Head, Keyboards
Primary Department: Keyboard
Secondary Department: Music Theory
Formal Education:B.A. in Music from Augsburg College; completing a Masters degree in Music Education at Boston University

Professional Experience: Gary has been a professional musician for 30+ years, working throughout the industry as a performer, composer, arranger and programmer. He studied with Lorna Michelson, Herb Wigley, Manfredo Fest and Jill Dawe. Gary has performed with Tony Sandler, Marilyn McCoo, and Othello Molineaux, Brian Duncan and the Minnesota Vikings Band. He continues to perform regularly with Marv Dahlgren, Yolanda Bruce, the Sevilles and others. As a composer/synthesist with Herb Pilhofer Music, Gary composed music and designed sounds for numerous national TV ads including spots for Coca Cola, Discover Card, Target, and Porsche. He also performed on the soundtrack for the movie "Beautiful Girls" and coached the lead actor, Timothy Hutton, in piano technique.

Sarah Hohenstein Burk
Faculty Member Since: 1994
Primary Department: Keyboard
Secondary Department: Music Theory
Formal Education: Bachelor of Music, University of Minnesota, emphasis in Theory/Composition and a minor in Jazz Studies, Master of Liberal Studies (in progress)

Professional Experience: A performer and recording artist on keyboards, vocals and violin, Sarah has toured the U.S., Europe and the Middle East with a variety of ensembles and theatre troupes, and has performed on National Public Radio with Salsa Del Soul.  Other endeavors keep her active in African and international dance music, jazz, R&B, gospel, big band, classical chamber music and variety ensembles. She has been involved in more than 30 theatre productions in Europe and America serving in roles of music director, conductor, composer, pianist, violinist and arranger. Other Training: Salsa and Latin Jazz Studies with Nachito Herrera.

Liz Kuivinen
lkuivinen@mcnallysmith.edu
Primary Department: Keyboard
Secondary Department: Music Theory

Professional Experience: Liz began her career as a professional musician in New York City, performing with artists Patti LaBelle, Loretta Devine (star of the hit Broadway musical Dreamgirls), Maurice Hines, Andy Warhol, John Sex, Pete Morgan’s Big Band, Sandra Caldwell, L.E. Howell, and Tina Cinero.  Liz has also performed at such famed Manhattan venues as the Palladium, Studio 54, the Cat Club, and Dancetaria.  While in New York, Liz also worked in theater, scored a feature film (“Czechs and Balances”), and operated her own production company.

Michael Menard
mmenard@mcnallysmith.edu
Faculty Member Since: 2003
Primary Department: Music Theory
Secondary Department: Guitar
Formal Education:B.M. and M.M. in Classical Guitar Performance, University of Minnesota with Jeffrey Van and James McGuire

Professional Experience: Michael Menard is an accomplished classical guitarist and guitar teacher with the ability to play and teach many styles of music. Upon receiving his Masters Degree, Michael was asked to return to teach at The University of Minnesota, and continues to do so. He also teaches guitar at the Math and Science Academy in Woodbury, Eden Prairie High School, the Saint Paul Conservatory, and of course McNally Smith College of Music. Michael also has his own studio where he teaches students of all ages. In addition to teaching, Michael plays at a variety of venues all over the Twin Cities. Other teaching experience: Math and Science Academy in Woodbury, Eden Prairie High School, and the Saint Paul Conservatory of Music.

Chris Olson
colson@mcnallysmith.edu
Faculty Member Since: 2001
Primary Department: Guitar
Secondary Department: Music Theory
Formal Education:M.M. in jazz studies/performance from the University of North Texas; B.M. University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in jazz studies and music education/choral emphasis

Professional Experience: Chris has performed with such artists as Bob Mintzer, Louis Bellson, Terry Gibbs, Ira Sullivan, and Bobby Vinton. He has performed with dozens of artists locally, and has been featured as a solo performer or guest artist at events such as the UWSP Jazz Festival and the Minnesota Jazz Guitarathon. Chris is featured on the CD, IN THE MEANTIME, by the quartet, Maintime, released this Spring. Awards and Honors: An honors graduate at both the graduate and undergraduate level, Chris is a member of the International Association of Jazz Educators and The Twin Cities Jazz and Guitar Societies.   He is serving as guitar reference on the resource team for the Minnesota chapter of   IAJE. Other teaching experience: Currently, Chris is also teaching at MacPhail Center For Music in Minneapolis, and at the Shell Lake Arts Center in Shell Lake, Wisconsin.  During the summer, he teaches at jazz and rock camps in Minnesota and Wisconsin, including the McNally Smith Summer Jazz Workshop. 

Michael Pilhofer
mpilhofer@mcnallysmith.edu
Department Head, Ensembles
Primary Department: Ensemble
Secondary Department: Music Theory
Tertiary Department: Percussion
Formal Education:M.M. (Education) Eastman School of Music, B.M. (Jazz Studies) University of Miami, Florida

Professional Experience: Professional Musician and Recording Artist for over 18 Yrs, worked with national artists such as: Joe Lovano, Marian McPartland, Kenny Wheeler, Dave Holland, Bill Holman, Wycliffe Gordon, Peter Erskine and Gene Bertoncini in addition to some of finest musicians in the Twin Cities. Other teaching experience: Private Studio Instructor; Mid-West area Clinician & Educator; Adjunct Director of Jazz Southwest High School, Minneapolis Public Schools; Director of Contemporary Music, Maple Grove High School, Osseo MN;  (’00-‘02). Awards and Honors: Jazz Drumset and Jazz Ensemble Teaching Assistantships Eastman School of Music; Downbeat Magazine Award “Best Instrumental Jazz Small Group” (’99), Memberships:  AFM Local 30-73. Other Training: Certifications: K-12 Instrumental Music.

Kristin Sponcia
Faculty Member Since: 2005
Primary Department: Keyboard
Secondary Department: Music Theory
Formal Education: M.M. Roosevelt University in Chicago, B.A. University of Wisconsin, Green Bay

Professional Experience: Originally from Milwaukee, WI, Kristin Sponcia has played with R&B band Big Poppa Boogie, oldies band Amy and the Cruisers, Dixieland band River City Six, and big bands Bay City Swing, the Super Band, and Swing Nouveau. She has also played piano for jazz ensembles featuring jazz masters such as Ingrid Jensen, David Liebman, Todd Buffa, Melton Mustafa, and Bryan Lynch. She was selected to perform at master classes by Eric Reed, Kenny Werner and Michelle Weir. In 2003, she was a featured performer in Milwaukee’s Third Ward Jazz Festival. She is currently playing with the Nancy Harms Trio at local jazz venues such as Rossi’s Blue Star Room in Minneapolis.  Kristin also plays keyboard for contemporary Christian services at City Church in Minneapolis. Other training: Studied with Christine and John Salerno, Arthur Cohrs, Jim Trompeter, Mike Molloy, and Laurence Hobgood.