Faculty

Judi Donaghy
jdonaghy@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.

Jennifer (Scovell) Parker
jparker@mcnallysmith.edu
Faculty Member Since: 2006
Primary Department: Voice
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, Steve Zegree, 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, 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 honors festivals.  She has maintained a private voice studio for 12 years. Before relocating to Saint Paul, Jennifer was the director of the Jazz and Pop vocal ensembles at Washington State University where she taught for five years.

She has made demonstration recordings for Hal Leonard Music Publishing and The Complete Guide to Teaching Vocal Jazz, written by Dr. Stephen Zegree and published by Heritage Music Press.

Jennifer is a member of I.A.J.E. and M.E.N.C. and N.A.T.S.

Jill Marie Diem
Faculty Member Since: 2006
Primary Department: Voice
Formal Education: B.A. College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University, St. Joseph, Minnesota, Artist Diploma McNally Smith College

Professional Experience: Since completing study at McNally Smith in 2003, Jill Marie has been singing, acting, and music directing at several venues around the Twin Cities. Most recently she has been seen in Les Miserable'at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres. Other acting credits include Minneapolis Musical Theatre, Starting Gate Productions, Ashland Productions, Theatre La Vie, and Bloomington Civic Theatre. Jill Marie has performed with Clay Aiken in his 2005 Joyful Noise Tour, has toured nationally with "Three Hits and a Miss," and sang with the Minnesota Zephyr Cabaret. She works as a soloist for several area churches and has recorded with Augsburg Fortress. Other teaching credits include private coaching and theatre workshops.

Lori Dokken
ldokken@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.

Debbie Duncan
Faculty Member Since: 1996
Primary Department: Voice
Formal Education: Wayne State University, Detroit

Professional Experience: Debbie Duncan has 14 years of vocal training, including four years at Wayne State University-Detroit and a background steeped in jazz, gospel and Motown. Debbie is often called the “Working-est Singer in the Twin Cities.” Her opening concerts for Herbie Hancock, Stephane Grapelli and Miles Davis received rave reviews. She has also performed with Bob Seger, Mitch Ryder, Bobby Watson (Horizon), Mark Murphy, Von Freeman, Marlena Shaw, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Joe Henderson, Jimmy McGriff, John Hendricks, and more. After 10 years working the LA nightclub circuit, Debbie moved to Minneapolis and has since worked with Rupert’s Orchestra, Synergy, The T.C. Jammers, Back to You gospel group, The Girls, and she regularly sings in all of the top local jazz venues. Debbie has 4 solo CDs to date: Nice one for Boo, Live at the Dakota, It Must be Christmas, and her latest, Traveling at the Speed of Love. Other teaching experience: Jazz clinician. Awards and Honors: After receiving numerous Minnesota Music Awards, Debbie was the first recipient of the “Perpetually Outstanding Performer” award. Memberships: Twin Cities Jazz Society.

Steve Faison
sfaison@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.

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

Professional Experience: Peggy Larson has an extensive career as a jazz singer, voice teacher, and choral director specializing in improvised jazz and world music.

Based in the Netherlands for many years, Peggy is known her work with own her own avant-garde jazz band and numerous other Dutch jazz groups. She is recognized as a leader in choral music and founded the ground-breaking improvising jazz choir Tamam and world music group Peggy’s Angels. She has toured in many European countries and appears on numerous recordings.

In Minnesota, Peggy gives both group and private voice lessons, directs choirs, and has continued her work in world music with a Master’s Degree study of diverse European vocal music styles.

She taught voice and vocal pedagogy at the Amsterdam and Rotterdam Conservatories for many years and returns to the Netherlands every summer to teach her sold-out workshops for  Buitenkunst.

Erin Schwab
eschwab@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.