Faculty

Judi Donaghy
Judi.Donaghy@mcnallysmith.edu
Department Head, Voice
Primary Department: Voice
Formal Education:M Ed University of Minnesota, BM in Vocal Performance University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Professional Experience: Judi has worked in opera, musical theater, jazz, folk, country, gospel, pop, and R&B. She currently works with Voicestra (Bobby McFerrin), Urbanstride, the Girls, the Wolverine's Classic Jazz Orchestra, JazzMN Big Band, and Judi, Cliff 'n' Daves. She has also worked with Yo Yo Ma, Carole King, Janis Siegel, Rhiannon, Garrison Keillor, Marilyn McCoo, the Plymouth Ensemble, Metro Jam, Northrop Opera, Mixed Blood Theater, Cricket Theater, and Moore by Four. Other credits include award-winning singer/songwriter (JAZZIZ Magazine), on-air talent, jingle singer/writer/producer, and vocal jazz clinician. Judi has sung on more than 30 CDs to date, two of which are her own productions: “Sink or Swing”, and “Ballads and Bossas.”  Judi has given vocal master classes and clinics with Bobby McFerrin at the Omega Institute and the Stimmen Voice Festival in Basel, Switzerland.  She recently completed her 4th European tour with Voicestra.

Lori Dokken
Lori.Dokken@mcnallysmith.edu
Faculty Member Since: 2001
Primary Department: Voice
Secondary Department: Keyboard
Formal Education: Concordia College, Moorhead; University of Minnesota, Morris and Minneapolis; Augsburg College; MacPhail Center for the Arts; and The Voice Center.

Professional Experience: Lori Dokken has played and appealed to the patrons of every major and minor music venue in Minneapolis and St. Paul. The “Beloved Twin Cities singer and pianist” (Minneapolis StarTribune, June ‘96) entertains with an eccentric charm, talent and wit that embraces an audience like an old friend. Writer and Publishing Member of ASCAP. Wrote two songs recorded on “The Girls.” Vocal Arranger for Three Hits And A Miss 2002 CD . Musical Director and Arranger for hit cabaret shows. Executive Producer and Producer of 2001 CD release - “The Girls.”  Producer, Musical Director, and Arranger for six RSVP Cruise Vacations Main stage Productions. Headliner for two RSVP Cruise Vacations Main Stage Productions. Executive Producer, Vocalist & Pianist for 2 CD releases in 2005:  Worked with or opened for Bobby McFerrin, Jane Oliver, Beatrice Arthur, Jennifer Holiday, Lucie Arnaz, Sally Struthers, Sandy Duncan, Eartha Kitt, Carole King and Tony Bennett. Self-employed vocalist, pianist, arranger, performance coach and producer for the past 27 years. Other teaching experience: Adjunct Professor - Teaching Specialist - University of Minnesota – 1996; Music Director at Minnehaha U.C.C. (1998 - 2006);  Co-teaches Monday Night Vocal Performance Workshop with Judi Donaghy;  Independent Vocal and Performance Coach.

Steve Faison
Steve.Faison@mcnallysmith.edu
Assistant Department Head, Ensembles; Director of Outreach
Primary Department: Ensemble
Secondary Department: Voice

Professional Experience: Steve is one of the most versatile performers in the Twin Cities, working as an instrumentalist, guitar, bass, percussion, vocalist, producer, arranger, and recording engineer in sessions and live performances. Steve has performed locally, nationally, and internationally, and is best known for his vocal work with Samoa and Moore by Four. He has studied under such notables as Fran Colby, Ed Shaughnessy, Owen Clark, and Ron Keezer.

Greg Froehle
Greg.Froehle@mcnallysmith.edu
Faculty Member Since: 2010
Primary Department: Voice
Formal Education: Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance at McNally Smith College of Music; Percussion and Classical Voice training at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Professional Experience: Greg Froehle has broad experience in numerous musical situations as a vocalist, guitarist, drummer, classical percussionist, pianist, songwriter and arranger.

He combines his classical training from the University of Minnesota with his contemporary training from McNally Smith College to a wide variety of styles including rock, pop, jazz, musical theater, folk and classical music.

In 2006, Greg received the Diana Ross Scholarship from McNally Smith College, graduating with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance in 2008.

In addition to vocal instruction at McNally Smith, Greg is the full-time Music Director and worship leader at Oak Hills Church, a growing modern church in the Twin Cities area.

Rachel Holder
Rachel.Holder@mcnallysmith.edu
Faculty Member Since: 2009
Primary Department: Voice
Formal Education: BA in vocal performance from McNally Smith College of Music

Professional Experience: Rachel Holder has been singing professionally in the Twin Cities since she was 19 years old. Her unique voice has a sensitivity and expressiveness far beyond her years. In 2007, Rachel graduated from McNally Smith College of Music with a Bachelor's degree in vocal performance. Currently, she performs at several venues in the Twin Cities, including The Dakota Jazz Club, Hell’s Kitchen, Honey, The Townhouse and The Artists’ Quarter.

Rachel is an extremely versatile singer and performs many genres of music, including jazz, latin, R&B, and pop. She performs with the Wolverines, the George Maurer Group and Vital Organ, as well as fronting her own groups.

Rachel’s debut album, “Save Your Love For Me,” recorded with jazz pianist Dan Musselman, was released in February of 2009. Rachel has been a guest artist and clinician at several Minnesota and Wisconsin high schools. She's been teaching voice and piano privately since 2007.

Aaron Humble
Aaron.Humble@mcnallysmith.edu
Faculty Member Since: 2010
Primary Department: Voice
Formal Education: Doctor of Music, and Masters of Music Indiana University; Bachelor of Music, Millikin University

Professional Experience: Described as “remarkably virtuosic” by the Columbus Republic and “transcendent” by the Daytona Beach News Journal, tenor Aaron Humble originally hails from Northeast Ohio. Aaron currently sings with Cantus, a Minneapolis-based, nine-member professional, male, vocal ensemble where he also serves as part of the Artistic Council.

In a recent issue of Fanfare, Cantus was named “the premier men’s vocal ensemble in the United States.” During his tenure with Cantus, Aaron has enjoyed solo appearances with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, The Minnesota Orchestra and the Boston Pops. With Cantus, Aaron has also enjoyed collaborating with Trio Medieval, Theatre Latté Da, and Bobby McFerrin.

Performing with Cantus has taken Aaron from the Library of Congress and the Kennedy Center to Cameroon in West Africa. Cantus’ 2007 self-titled album was named one of the Top Ten best new albums by NPR and their 2006 Christmas with Cantus was syndicated throughout the United States and in over 27 countries via the European Broadcast Union.

Recitals, concerts and oratorio have taken Aaron to a variety of venues in the United States, and across the globe. Oratorio credits include: "Seven Last Words of Christ" (Dubois and MacMillan), "Schumann's Die Rose Pilgerfahrt," Bender's "St. Mark's Passion," Gounod’s "St. Cecilia Mass," Handel’s "Israel in Egypt" and "Messiah," as well as numerous Bach Cantatas.

Operatic credits include "Tamino Die Zauberflote," Jenik in "Bartered Bride," Pedrillo in "Die Einfuhrung Aus Dem Serail," and Harlequin in "Der Kaiser von Atlantis."

In addition to his work with Cantus, Aaron maintains a private voice studio and enjoys freelance work as a guest conductor and clinician. A graduate of Indiana University and Millikin University, Aaron holds a Doctorate of Music in Vocal Performance and Literature.

 

Peggy Larson
Peggy.Larson@mcnallysmith.edu
Faculty Member Since: 2005
Primary Department: Voice
Secondary Department: Ensemble
Formal Education:MA in Ethnomusicology, Bethel College, Minnesota; BA in Music Education, Concordia College, Moorhead, MN

Professional Experience: Peggy Larson has had an extensive career as a singer and choral director both in the Netherlands and USA. In the Netherlands she founded the improvising jazz choir Tamam to perform contemporary compositions and combine music and theater, and her vocal group, Peggy's Angels, was very popular for their outstanding performances of jazz and world music.

Here in the Twin Cities, Peggy teaches private and group lessons, and leads the world music women’s choir, the Earthtones, and a church choir. She has taught workshops at Compleat Scholar, MCTC and the University of Minnesota. She regularly performs improvised and world music and gives concerts/lectures on Norwegian herding calls. 

Peggy returns to the Netherlands every year to teach and perform.

Other teaching experience: Peggy taught voice and vocal pedagogy at the Arnhem and Rotterdam conservatories for many years.
 

Brian McCullough
Brian.McCullough@mcnallysmith.edu
Faculty Member Since: 2008
Primary Department: Voice
Formal Education:B.M. Western Michigan University; Certified Alexander Technique Teacher (AmSAT)

Professional Experience: Brian McCullough is a teacher of the Alexander Technique, a method of improving coordination and technical ease. His clients include performing artists of all levels of ability interested in learning to improve performance skills and to eliminate musculoskeletal discomforts.

He is certified by the American Society for the Alexander Technique (AmSAT). His training included daily study for three years (1600 hours) with Joan and Alex Murray, renown Alexander pedagogues from England.

In addition to his position at McNally Smith, Brian is a faculty member at the University of Minnesota and has held extended residencies at Augustana College (Sioux Falls, SD) and at the Saint John’s University (Collegeville, MN).

Other musical endeavors have included several years as a trombonist in the Rochester (Minnesota) Orchestra and fourteen years of nonprofit and arts administration experience.

Shon Parker
Shon.Parker@mcnallysmith.edu
Faculty Member Since: 2008
Primary Department: Voice
Formal Education:M.M. Vocal Performance, Western Michigan University; B.A., Washington State University

Professional Experience: Shon Parker is a diverse vocalist, arranger and educator with a variety of experience in styles including pop, rock, opera, classical, jazz and more. Shon earned his M.M. from Western Michigan University in Performance and his B.A. in Music from Washington State University with a minor in jazz studies. Shon has studied with Steve Zegree, Diana Spradling, Sheila Converse and John Weiss.

Shon’s experiences at Western Michigan University, as a member of the internationally renowned vocal jazz group Gold Company, included highlight performances at the IAJE conference in New York City, the Issac Stern Auditorium in Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center and the International Inventors Hall of Fame Ceremony in Akron, Ohio.

As a member of Gold Company, Shon also shared the stage with artists including Jennifer Barnes, Fred Hersch, Darmon Meader, Roger Treece and Janis Siegel. Shon served as assistant director to GC’s sister group, Gold Company II. Recently, Shon has been performing with the Shon Parker Quintet and the Weedies. He has also performed as a member of the Idaho-Washington Chorale, including a bass solo performance of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Mass in G Minor.

On top of teaching, Shon also coordinates school’s vocal festivals.
 

Erin Schwab
Erin.Schwab@mcnallysmith.edu
Faculty Member Since: 2001
Primary Department: Voice
Formal Education: B.S. in theater, Minnesota State University at Mankato; A.A.S. from Waldorf College, Forrest City IA

Professional Experience: Erin is an accomplished vocalist and musical theatre performer with credits that span the globe from cruise ships and amusement parks to professional theatres throughout the Twin Cities. As a musical theatre performer, Erin portrayed Tina in Hey City Theater’s long-running production of Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding and was in the first national tour of School House Rock Live!.  Erin performed in a new production at the Ordway Center’s McKnight Theatre. Erin also performs with The Girls, The Bellcats, the Wolverines and Metro Jam at a number of Twin Cities music venues, including The Times Bar & Café, Jitters and The Dakota. Other teaching experience: workshops in various secondary schools. Other training: studied with Cora Scholz.

Jennifer Scovell Parker
Jennifer.Parker@mcnallysmith.edu
Faculty Member Since: 2006
Primary Department: Voice
Secondary Department: Ensemble
Formal Education: B.A. University of Wisconsin-Green Bay; MM Vocal Performance - Western Michigan University
 

Professional Experience: A Wisconsin native, Jennifer (Scovell) Parker is proud to be with McNally Smith College of Music. She is active as a performer, educator, arranger, clinician and adjudicator. Jennifer earned an M.M. from Western Michigan University in Jazz Performance and her B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay in Jazz Studies. She was privileged to study with Linda Parins, Christine Salerno and Sunny Wilkinson.

As a performer she leads the Jennifer Parker Quartet, which allows her the opportunity to write and arrange.  She has enjoyed making music with numerous musical groups and special artists over the years including Jazz Northwest, Mark Levine, The Scovell-Sponcia Project, The Times, Milwaukee Symphony Chorus, Idaho-Washington Chorale, Frank Sinatra Tribute Band, Ziji Brazilian Jazz, Bay City Swing and Double Take.

With her heart in education, Jennifer spends a great deal of time as a guest artist, clinician and director at music festivals, camps and in classroom outreach. Her vocal arrangements are often performed by college and high school vocal jazz ensembles. She has made demonstration recordings for Hal Leonard Music Publishing and The Complete Guide to Teaching Vocal Jazz, written by Dr. Stephen Zegree.

Jennifer is a member of A.C.D.A and J.E.N.