Faculty

Dr. Jay Fuchs
Jay.Fuchs@mcnallysmith.edu
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. 

Laura Caviani
Laura.Caviani@mcnallysmith.edu
Faculty Member Since: 2009
Primary Department: Music Theory
Formal Education:M.M.in Improvisation, University of Michigan; B.M. in Theory/Composition, Lawrence University

Professional Experience:

Laura Caviani was born and raised in Minnesota, where she currently freelances in the Twin Cities, and teaches at St. Olaf and Carleton Colleges She started teaching at McNally Smith fall of 2009.

Her 2006 CD release "Going There" enjoyed a long run on the JazzWeek national radio charts. Music critic Bob Protzman described it as “piano trio jazz of the highest order.” Caviani has released five CDs as bandleader, receiving notices such as “stunningly fresh” from JazzTimes magazine and “in a word, outstanding” from the Minneapolis Star.

Caviani has extensively toured and recorded with Concord recording artist Karrin Allyson and has performed with many other jazz luminaries including Oleta Adams, Stan Getz, Dave Liebman, Bob Mintzer, Diane Schuur, and Toots Thielemans.

In the Twin Cities, her numerous projects include Pete Whitman’s X-tet, whose CD "Where's When?" received a 4-star review from Downbeat Magazine. Please visit www.lauracaviani.com.

Linda Chacholiades
Linda.Chacholiades@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.

Dr. Andrew Fleser
Andrew.Fleser@mcnallysmith.edu
Faculty Member Since: 2009
Primary Department: Music Theory
Formal Education:D.M.A. in Collaborative Piano, University of Minnesota; M.M. in Piano Accompanying and Coaching, Westminster Choir College of Rider University; B.M. in Piano Performance, Aquinas College.

Professional Experience: Dr. Andrew Fleser, pianist and vocal coach, has performed as a soloist and accompanist throughout the United States and Europe.

A dedicated and active performer in the Twin Cities, Andy's interests and abilities transcend period and genre. As a devoted performer of contemporary music, he performs regularly with RenegadeEnsemble, a Twin Cities-based new music group.

Dedicated to the art of the interpretation of vocal music, Andy is an avid opera and musical theatre coach, performing in numerous vocal recitals each year. He is also a co-founder of the opera company Dead Composers Society, whose most recent production, Stephen Houtz's Two Short Operas, played to consistently sold-out audiences at this summer's Minnesota Fringe Festival.

Andy has served on the faculties of Hamline University and Grand Valley State University (Allendale, MI), and in addition to his duties at McNally Smith, he is the Music Director of Valley Community Presbyterian Church in Golden Valley, MN.

Gary Gratz
Gary.Gratz@mcnallysmith.edu
Chair, Music Studies; Department Head, Keyboards
Primary Department: Keyboard
Secondary Department: Music Theory
Formal Education:MM in Music Education from Boston University; BA in Music from Augsburg College

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, Tim Ries, Brian Duncan and the Minnesota Vikings Band. He continues to perform regularly with Marv Dahlgren, Yolanda Bruce, Cynthia Johnson, 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
sarah.burk@mcnallysmith.edu
Faculty Member Since: 1994
Primary Department: Music Theory
Secondary Department: Keyboard
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
Liz.Kuivinen@mcnallysmith.edu
Faculty Member Since: 1994
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
Mike.Menard@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.

Dan Musselman
Dan.Musselman@mcnallysmith.edu
Faculty Member Since: 2009
Primary Department: Music Theory
Formal Education:BM Piano performance, McNally Smith College of Music

Professional Experience:

Dan studied classical piano starting at the age of five took up jazz piano in high school. Now he performs weekly at the Artists’ Quarter in St. Paul, a gig that he has held starting in October of 2007.

Since graduating from McNally Smith College, he has released a solo CD, a duo CD with vocalist Rachel Holder, and brought self-titled ensembles to the Dakota Jazz Club, Twin Cities Jazz Festival, Café Maude, and the Artists’ Quarter. 

Outside of personal projects, Dan plays in many different corporate bands, wedding bands, recording studios, with vocalists, and in many different instrumental projects.  
 

Christopher Olson
Chris.Olson@mcnallysmith.edu
Faculty Member Since: 1996
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 been active on the Twin Cities music scene for well over a decade, performing jazz, classical, rock, pop, and country music with dozens of local, and a few national, musicians.   Prior to moving back to St. Paul, the city of his birth, he was a sought after performer, clinician, and educator in central Wisconsin.  He will be featured in the MSCM faculty artist series as his trio, Framework, releases a CD in February, 2009.  Chris has served on the resource team for the local chapter of the International Association of Jazz Educators, and is a board member with the Minnesota Guitar Society.  Prior teaching experience includes the MacPhail Center for Music, Inver Hills Community College, and the University of Wisconsin.  During the summer, Chris teaches at guitar and jazz camps in Shell Lake, Wisconsin and here at McNally Smith.  He has also been a featured performer and clinician at camps and festivals from Green Bay, WI to Cordoba, Argentina.

Michael Pilhofer
Michael.Pilhofer@mcnallysmith.edu
Faculty Member Since: 2002
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.

Peter Schimke
Peter.Schimke@mcnallysmith.edu
Faculty Member Since: 2008
Primary Department: Keyboard
Secondary Department: Music Theory
Formal Education:BM in Jazz Performance from William Paterson University

Professional Experience: Peter began playing piano and drums at the age of eight. The music collection of his older brother, which included records by artists like B.B. King, Johnny Winter, Jimmy Hendrix, and the Beatles, provided his earliest rock influences. By the age of twelve he was playing boogie-woogie and blues piano, while singing with his older brother’s blues band. ?After sitting in on vocals, keyboards and drums with bands throughout his teens, Peter’s first professional gig was with the New Psychenauts.

He went on to be lead singer for the Swingin’ Combo; both bands were part of the early MPLS rock scene that launched the Replacements and Husker Du. It was about this time that he played his first professional rock gigs on keyboard, most notably with Hammond organ with blues harmonica legend Charlie Musselwhite at the Blue Max on Maui. He is a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Grant and a scholarship to the Banff Arts Centre. Peter has also studied classical piano with James D. Johnson and Gary Kirkpatrick of the Verdehr Trio. He studied jazz piano with Brazilian pianist Manfredo Fest, Jim McNeely and Memphis born Harold Mabern.

Over the years Peter has either toured, performed or recorded with, among others, Iffy, Likehell, Art Farmer, Tom Harrell, Fareed Haque, Mark Murphy (co-produced “The Latin Porter” for Ben Sidran’s Go Jazz label, Julee Cruise of “Twin Peaks”, El Buho, Jeff Sipe, Victor Wooten, Estaire Godinez ,Rita Coolidge and many more. Most recently, Peter has recorded a live concert with saxophonist Jerry Bergonzie that will be released on DVD as well as collaboration with Marcos Casal to be released on the label Universal Spain. He is also singing, playing and composing for his own new solo project that is currently in production.

Kristin Sponcia
Kristin.Sponcia@mcnallysmith.edu
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: Kristin Sponcia, originally from Milwaukee, WI, is an active pianist, vocalist, arranger and composer. She has studied with Christine and John Salerno, Arthur Cohrs, Jim Trompeter, Mike Molloy, Laurence Hobgood. She specializes in unique interpretations of jazz standards and contemporary favorites. Ms. Sponcia also has played piano with jazz ensembles featuring Ingrid Jensen, Todd Buffa, David Liebman, Melton Mustafa and Bryan Lynch.  She was also chosen to perform in master classes with Kenny Werner and Eric Reed.  In 2003 she was a featured artist at Milwaukee’s Third Ward Jazz Festival.  Additionally, Kristin sings and plays solo at the Nicollet Island Inn regularly and accompanies several of the Twin Cities’ well-known singers such as Arne Fogel, Lee Engele and Nancy Harms.  Her most recent musical accomplishment is singing in the Phil Mattson Singers.