The College

Harry Chalmiers took office as President of McNally Smith College of Music in August 2007.  He is the first person to be selected as President of the St. Paul, Minnesota college other than the school’s co-founders.  Mr. Chalmiers, a Louisiana native, brings a wealth of experience as a music educator and administrator to his role as President.  Mr. Chalmiers is also an accomplished guitarist and music composer who holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Composition from Berklee College of Music and a Master’s Degree in Music Composition from the New England Conservatory of Music.

Prior to joining McNally Smith, Mr. Chalmiers spent eight years as the Vice President for Academic Affairs/Provost at Berklee College of Music in Boston.  During his time at the prestigious music college, Mr. Chalmiers led many important academic initiatives, including co-authoring the grant to redesign Berklee’s music education curriculum by using music technology in teaching methodology. Mr. Chalmiers played a key role in program management and financial planning, in improving relations between the faculty union and college administration, and in advancing diversity and equity in the college faculty and leadership positions.

Mr. Chalmiers career in music education included a previous tenure in Minnesota as the Executive Director of the MacPhail Center for Music.  As Executive Director, he guided MacPhail’s transition to becoming a private arts school when its affiliation with the University of Minnesota ended in 1994.   Mr. Chalmiers oversaw successful funding campaigns, raising over $1 million annually, and forged important partnerships with the Minnesota Orchestra and the Walker Art Center.   While at MacPhail, Mr. Chalmiers also helped to create the prestigious McKnight Artist Fellowship for Performing Musicians.

In 1985, Mr. Chalmiers co-founded the Indian Hill Music Center in Littleton, Massachusetts.  At Indian Hill, where he also served as the first Executive Director, Mr. Chalmiers helped build one of the northeast region’s premier community music schools and professional symphony orchestras.  In the early 1980’s, he helped to establish the jazz education program at the University of Massachusetts – Lowell where he created a ground-breaking curriculum using music technology to teach music theory based on songwriting.  An early adopter of music technology, he presented the subject for Silver Burdett Ginn Publishers and has established curriculum-based music technology programs in numerous public and community music schools.

As a music instructor, Mr. Chalmiers has taught ear training, music composition, counterpoint, and jazz and classical guitar performance at the University of Massachusetts – Lowell and at Berklee College of Music.

Mr. Chalmiers started out on guitar in the fourth grade, and was an accomplished rock guitarist by the time he graduated from high school in Louisiana.  Once he heard a recording of Segovia playing a Bach composition, Mr. Chalmiers turned his focus to classical guitar.  Mr. Chalmiers went on to become an accomplished classical guitarist, performing as soloist with symphony orchestras and giving numerous solo and chamber music concerts.  He has composed piano music, orchestral music, electronic pieces and guitar music in a wide range of styles.  His compositions for classical guitar are published by Clear Note Publications.  

Harry Chalmiers lives in St. Paul, MN, and Harvard, MA, with his wife of nearly 30 years, Alice Gebura.

Read the President's Blog.

Chris Osgood
Vice President of Organizational Development

Chris Osgood was named Vice President of Organizational Development at McNally Smith College of Music in May, 2008. Before coming to McNally Smith, Chris was Director of Artist Services at Springboard for the Arts- a position he held for 18 years. At Springboard, Chris met with or spoke to over 3000 self-employed creative people a year on marketing, career planning, and other professional development issues related to making a living as an artist.

Before Springboard, Chris was label manager and producer at Twin/Tone Records- an independent "artist-oriented" label located in Minneapolis. He is a guitar player, and in 1989 was named Rock Guitarist of the Year at the Minnesota Music Awards and was chairperson of the Minnesota Music Academy board of directors from 1989 to 1991. Chris was Minnesota Music’s Man of the Year in 1992. He recently served on the boards of Franklin Art Works (where he was board president) and the Developing Arts and Music Foundation (he was board chair), and on the advisory boards of the Native American Music Association and the Fairview Arts Medicine Center.  Chris was appointed to the Minnesota State Arts Board in 2001. He served until 2005 as one of eleven appointees from around the state who oversee Arts Board activities. In March, 2006 Chris received the Sally Ordway Irvine Award for his contributions to Minnesota arts and culture.

 Chris formed the seminal punk rock band The Suicide Commandos in 1975 and recorded for Phonogram and Twin/Tone Records 1977-80. The Commandos were re-released on Mercury Records, August 1996 and were inducted into the Minnesota Rock and Country Hall of Fame in May, 2006. Pioneer Rock videographer Chuck Statler’s video of Chris’ song Burn It Down was screened at New York’s Museum of Modern Art in November, 2006. The Suicide Commandos were released on iTunes Island Def Jam and iTunes Twin/Tone in 2007.

Jack McNally
Chairman of the Board

Jack's vision to start a music school began while teaching at the MacPhail Center for Music, then a part of the University of Minnesota. Jack is currently the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the music college while continuing to be active as a guitarist and singer/songwriter.

Jack is past president of the Minnesota Music Academy, a member of NARAS (National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the GRAMMY organization) and recipient of the 2000 Outstanding Musicians of the 20th Century. He was named to the INC 500 as chairman of one of the fastest growing organizations in the country and is listed in the Who's Who in Executives and Professionals.
 

Doug Smith
Vice President

Doug has worked with many music professionals to create the college music curriculum and develop each program the school offers. Doug is a classical guitarist, lutist, composer, and author of the 12 volume series, Doug Smith’s Classical Guitar Method [McNally Smith College Press] and the best seller Classical Guitar for Young Children . Doug’s music is recorded on the Munificent label. A graduate of Winona State University, Doug served as National Education Chairman of the Guitar Division of the American String Teachers Association. Doug serves on the board of the Saint Paul Conservatory of Music.
 

Cliff Wittstruck
Dean of Academic Affairs

Cliff received a bachelor’s degree in professional music from Berklee College of Music, and was awarded the Jim Hall Scholarship and the Ovation Guitar Award. Cliff earned his master’s degree in jazz performance from the New England Conservatory of Music, and has studied with Mick Goodrick, Bob Moses, and Dave Holland.

Cliff performed with the R&B group Inside Straight and opened for such nationally renowned performers as James Brown, Roy Buchanan, Junior Walker and the All Stars, Sam and Dave, the Minnesota Orchestra, and Sun Ra. Since returning to the Twin Cities, Cliff has played with Bernadette Peters, Rupert’s Orchestra, Mick Sterling and The Stud Brothers, and The Wolverines Classic Jazz Orchestra. Cliff was also recognized in the 2002 and 2004 editions of Who's Who Among America's Teachers. He also performed throughout the U.S., Far East, Mexico, and Caribbean with the group Synergy. Cliff is a regular performer with Guy’s All-Star Shoe Band on the nationally syndicated radio program A Prairie Home Companion,  hosted by Garrison Keillor. On the show’s 20th anniversary special broadcast, Cliff played with country great, Chet Atkins. Cliff continues to perform regularly at various Twin Cities venues and on various CD recording projects, as well as on TV and radio commercials.

 

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