Mr. Paul Liversage, Professor of Saxophone and Clarinet, received his M.M. Ed. degree from...

Mr. Paul Liversage, Professor of Saxophone and Clarinet, received his M.M. Ed. degree from Florida State University and completed his undergraduate studies at North Dakota State University. As a music educator, Mr. Liversage taught at Lake Park Audubon (MN) for 36 years, sharing his infectious love for music with countless students during his tenure. He is a frequent clinician, section coach, and guest conductor for programs throughout the region. Mr. Liversage performs regularly with a number of local ensembles including Jazz Avalanche, the Blue Halcyon Jazz Quintet, the FM Kicks Jazz Band, and is a founding member of the Lake Agassiz Wind Symphony where he has performed as both a guest soloist and conductor.

Guitarist Eric Martens has been an active performer and instructor in the Midwest since 20...

Guitarist Eric Martens has been an active performer and instructor in the Midwest since 2003. He has performed with nationally and internationally acclaimed musicians such as Ignacio Berroa, Will Kennedy, Terri Lynn Carrington, Gregg Bissonette, Rex Richardson, and Phil Woods as well as in master classes hosted by world-renowned groups and musicians including classical guitar virtuoso Christopher Parkening, lutenist Phillip Rukavina, and the Minneapolis Guitar Quartet. In the spring of 2014, Martens recorded with saxophonist Grant Larson and his band in a marathon session lasting over six hours for the album Passages, released on the Dazzle Recordings label. Martens holds degrees in guitar performance from Concordia College and North Dakota State University. He has studied with classical guitarist Mike Coates and jazz guitarists Dan Phillips and Dale Bruning. Martens is a highly sought-after guitarist and session musician in the Fargo/Moorhead music community, where he performs regularly with a number of well-known local groups including Post-Traumatic Funk Syndrome, The Carluster Crumplebee Orchestra, Twelve Strings, and Kapeesh.

Alison Molony is a professional singer with almost 20 years of experience in the entertain...

Alison Molony is a professional singer with almost 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry. She first began as a singer/dancer for Valleyfair Amusement Park in Shakopee, MN at the age of 18 and has since performed with numerous musical groups and variety acts throughout the United States. With a focus on commercial vocals, Mrs. Molony specializes in pop, rock, R&B, country, and jazz. She currently fronts local band Post-Traumatic Funk Syndrome, which has been consistently named “Best Band in the Red River Valley” in numerous polls and publications for over a decade. Known for their 6-piece horn section and tribute performances, Post-Traumatic regularly performs not only as concert headliners, but also with university and public school music ensembles and with professional orchestras across the region. Mrs. Molony holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN. At Minnesota State Moorhead, Ms. Molony co-leads the Commercial Music Ensemble.

Doug Neill, Professor of Bass and Low Brass, holds a degree in Music Education from NDSU a...

Doug Neill, Professor of Bass and Low Brass, holds a degree in Music Education from NDSU and a Masters in Music Education from Minnesota State Moorhead. As a member of the Disney World All-American College Band, he shared the stage with various well-known artists such as Bobby Shew, Steve Houghton and Rob McConnell. During that same period, he studied with Sam Pilafian on tuba as part of the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. As a highly respected music educator, Mr. Neill directed band, choir, elementary music, and orchestra programs throughout Minnesota for 34 years, including helping to build one of the largest and most successful school orchestra programs in the country at Moorhead Middle School. Locally, he has performed as a bass player and keyboardist in the Kicks Big Band, the Fargo-Moorhead Jazz Arts Group, the Dick King Band, Post-Traumatic Funk Syndrome and virtually every jazz, rock, and orchestral ensemble in the region. Mr. Neill has served as the Principal Tubist with the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony since 1981.

Dr. Tom Strait, Professor of Trumpet, trombone and euphonium, has served as director of th...

Dr. Tom Strait, Professor of Trumpet, trombone and euphonium, has served as director of the award-winning MSM Jazz Ensemble for over 25 years, during which time he also served as the coordinator of the celebrated Commercial Music degree program teaching jazz improvisation, arranging, aural skills, and more. He holds a Doctor of Arts degree in trumpet performance from the University of Northern Colorado, as well as degrees from the University of Texas and Henderson State University (AR). Before coming to MSM, he taught for several years at both the university and public school levels and served in the U.S. Air Force, performing with the USAF Academy Falconaires at the Air Force Academy. In addition to his current duties as Principal Trumpet with the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra and his frequent performances as lead trumpet with famed FM-based funk band Post-Traumatic Funk Syndrome, he is an active freelance performer in the region known for his stylistic versatility, prodigious improvisational skills, and outstanding trumpet range. Dr. Strait is a Yamaha Performing Artist.

Dr. Kenyon Williams, Professor of Percussion and Chair of the School of Performing Arts at...

Dr. Kenyon Williams, Professor of Percussion and Chair of the School of Performing Arts at MSM, is a graduate of Abilene Christian University (TX), the Hartt School of Music (CT), and the University of Kentucky. He has performed as a guest soloist and section member for numerous orchestras across the country and has founded, performed in, and directed a variety of new music and world music ensembles. Dr. Williams currently serves as Principal Percussionist for the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra and directs the percussion studio at MSM where he leads the famed Fuego Tropical World Percussion Ensemble, the Dragon Drumline, and the Percussion Ensemble. His interests have taken him abroad for extended studies in Ghana, Cuba, Brazil, Indonesia, St. Lucia, and Trinidad, where he has performed with the legendary Invaders and Birdsong Steel Orchestras. As an educator, he teaches each summer at the International Music Camp as well as serving as a faculty member for the Kicks Big Band Jazz Camp. As an advocate for the percussive arts, he has served as a member of the Board of Advisors of the Percussive Arts Society as well as a past Chairman for the PAS World Music Committee. A Yamaha Performing Artist, Dr. Williams has published original works through Tapspace Publishing and also endorses Latin Percussion instruments, Innovative sticks and mallets, and Coyle Steel Drums.