Director of Bands and Coordinator of the Instrumental Music Education program, Dr. Benjami...

Director of Bands and Coordinator of the Instrumental Music Education program, Dr. Benjamin James Druffel earned a DMA in Wind Band Conducting from the Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University. As a Wind Conducting Associate, he studied conducting with Dr. Kraig Alan Williams and regularly guest conducted the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Band and Concert Band. His duties also included serving as an instrumental instructor with the Rutgers University Marching Scarlet Knights, leading performances of the Pep Band, and helping prepare the marching band for a pre-game performance at Superbowl XLVIII. Dr. Druffel began his career abroad in Dubai, United Arab Emirates teaching music at an American/International school. Over his six-year tenure, his duties were varied from elementary general music to high school band to the International Baccalaureate Diploma music curriculum. He has also conducted and performed with ensembles in Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the UAE. Prior to his appointment at MSM, Dr. Druffel held positions at McMurry University (TX) and Eastern Illinois University.

Dr. Jenny Dufault has over thirty years of experience teaching voice, twenty-five of them ...

Dr. Jenny Dufault has over thirty years of experience teaching voice, twenty-five of them at MSM, where she has crafted a legacy of students who are performers and teachers. Dr. Dufault received her PhD from the University of Minnesota and is a longtime member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Most recently, she earned graduate certificates in Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) vocal pedagogy from Shenandoah University and now coordinates MSM’s Commercial Music degree. Dr. Dufault has taught all levels of students: beginning voice students to young professional performers. She has trained music education majors, music theater majors, music industry majors, vocal performance majors, and commercial music majors. She has performed in dozens of productions over the years, ranging from charity fundraisers and theatre productions to leading roles in professional operas.

Dr. Jean Hellner holds a Ph.D. in musicology from the University of North Texas and a mast...

Dr. Jean Hellner holds a Ph.D. in musicology from the University of North Texas and a master's degree in musicology from The Florida State University. Her scholarly interests include narratology, nineteenth-century German symphonic literature, and opera. She has presented and published papers for a variety of international conferences, including the International Congress on Musical Signification. Dr. Hellner has been a panelist for several sessions held at the national meetings of the American Musicological Society, and she served on the Committee for the Status of Women for the Society for Music Theory. She is active in a number of FM music organizations, most notably as cofounder of the Community School for the Arts and the Edvard Grieg Society of the Dakotas. She is also a member of the Red River Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and the Red River Theatre Organ Society. In addition to her duties as a professor of Music History at MSM, Dr. Hellner performs regularly as a collaborative pianist with the MSM choral program.

Dr. Michael J. Johnson serves as Director of Choral Activities and Vocal Music Education a...

Dr. Michael J. Johnson serves as Director of Choral Activities and Vocal Music Education at Minnesota State University Moorhead. He directs the University & Concert Choirs, teaches a range of choral and music education courses, while also supervising student teachers in the field. Previously, Dr. Johnson conducted choirs and taught conducting classes at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting with a Composition minor. While at the University of Wisconsin, his doctoral research centered on the modern choral music of social justice. He also holds a Master of Music degree in Conducting from the University of Denver and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from Luther College. Dr. Johnson has taught K-12 music and choir in Minnesota and within an array of community, collegiate, and church choirs around the country. Dr. Johnson was the recipient of the 2020 Mullen Prize for composition and took first place in the 2018 ACDA conducting competition in Oklahoma City. He studied with Stefan Parkman as a 2019 Conducting Fellow for the International Choral Conducting Masterclass at Baylor University and was named a 2019 University of Wisconsin-Madison Honored Instructor by his students. He spends his free time biking, composing, and enjoying life with his wife Kelsey, son Shea, daughter Summer, and French bulldog Dot.

Dr. Laura Kellogg, Professor of Flute, graduated with a doctorate in flute performance fro...

Dr. Laura Kellogg, Professor of Flute, graduated with a doctorate in flute performance from the University of Oklahoma. She holds a master’s degree from Wright State University and a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University, both in music performance. Her teachers include Richard Sherman, Christopher Chaffee, Valerie Watts, Sharon Sparrow, Amanda Blaikie, and Jeff Zook. An enthusiast of operetta and musical theater works, she has played with the Ohio Light Opera in Wooster, Ohio since 2014. In 2022, she became the Personnel Manager of the Ohio Light Opera Orchestra. Laura is also the Executive Director of the Fargo Moorhead Area Youth Symphonies (FMAYS). Laura has played flute and piccolo in the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra, Fargo-Moorhead Opera, Fort Wayne Philharmonic (IN), South Bend Symphony Orchestra (IN), Fort Smith Symphony (AR), Jackson Symphony Orchestra (MI), the Lansing Symphony Orchestra (MI), and the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra (MI).

Mr. Jon Larson, Professor of Violin and Director of the MSM String Orchestra, holds a Bach...

Mr. Jon Larson, Professor of Violin and Director of the MSM String Orchestra, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Bethel College, St. Paul, Master of Music Education from the University of Minnesota, and completed further graduate studies at The Ohio State University, St. Cloud State University, and Hamline University. Mr. Larson is a member of the Bemidji Symphony Orchestra and plays violin with the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra. As a music educator, Mr. Larson directed the Moorhead High School Orchestra for 20 years, establishing it as one of the largest, most successful high school orchestra programs in the Upper Midwest. He has also worked with school orchestras in Bemidji and Minneapolis. As a conductor, he has conducted the Bemidji Symphony Orchestra, the Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra, the Bethel University Orchestra, and the Fargo-Moorhead Youth Symphony.

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.

Dr. Amy Mercer earned her doctorate in piano performance at North Dakota State University ...

Dr. Amy Mercer earned her doctorate in piano performance at North Dakota State University studying with Robert Groves and her master’s degree in piano performance and pedagogy at Ohio University where her principal instructor was Richard Syracuse. She completed her undergraduate degree at Concordia College under David Worth and also studied with Antoinette Perry at the Aspen Music Festival and School. A nationally certified music teacher with over three decades’ experience, Dr. Mercer is a certified Suzuki music instructor and is active in the National Federation of Music Clubs and Music Teachers’ National Association. She conducts presentations throughout the upper Midwest, instructing students and music educators on topics ranging from improvisation and pedagogical methods to diverse repertoire. While at MSM, she founded the Community School for the Arts and she is also the founder and director of the Piano Ensemble, providing musical arrangements for the group while also contributing as a performer. A founding member of the FM-based Lyra Trio, she is an active performer as a chamber musician and soloist and also serves as pianist with the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra.

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.

Elise Buffat Nelson teaches cello at Minnesota State Moorhead as well as universities thro...

Elise Buffat Nelson teaches cello at Minnesota State Moorhead as well as universities throughout the region while maintaining an active private studio. She is principal cellist of the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra and a member of the Lyra Trio with violinist Jane Linde Capistran and pianist Dr. Amy Mercer. She also performs regularly with the 3rd Avenue String Quartet, an ensemble composed of members of the FMSO. Mrs. Nelson was a member of the symphony's 8th Street Quartet and the Dakota Rose String Quartet for several years prior. Before moving to Moorhead, she served as Assistant Principal Cello of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and was a member of their full-time Quapaw Quartet. In graduate school, she had the privilege of being a member of the Strelow String Quartet at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she worked under the tutelage of the Pro Arte Quartet while she received her master’s degree studying with Parry Karp. Mrs. Nelson earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Superior studying with Eugenia Slezak.

Brian R. Sterriker, Professor of Bassoon at Minnesota State Moorhead, has performed with m...

Brian R. Sterriker, Professor of Bassoon at Minnesota State Moorhead, has performed with multiple orchestras throughout the American Southwest including the New Mexico Philharmonic, the Santa Fe Symphony, and the San Juan Symphony in the San Juan Valley of Colorado. An MSM alumni, he achieved the rare honor of completing a dual undergraduate degree program, earning both a Bachelor of Science in Music Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance. Mr. Sterriker received a full graduate assistantship to the University of New Mexico where he studied bassoon with Denise Reig Turner while completing his Master’s Degree in Performance. During his time in the Southwest, he also served as Education and Grants Manager at the Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and he is currently the owner of Sandia Reeds, a reed-making company selling expertly crafted double reeds for beginners to advanced players across the United States.

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. Kelley Tracz, Professor of Oboe at MSM, is very active as both a performer and educato...

Dr. Kelley Tracz, Professor of Oboe at MSM, is very active as both a performer and educator in Minnesota and beyond. Dr. Tracz has performed with numerous orchestras across the United States, including multiple appearances with the New World Symphony, the Brevard Music Center Festival Orchestra, the Ohio Light Opera Orchestra, and more. A past winner of the Midwest Double Reed Society Young Artist Competition, she is also a passionate and dedicated educator and has given masterclasses and served as a clinician to young oboists and fellow music educators across the country, including serving as a faculty artist for the national double reed camp, Bocal Majority, as well as the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and Kansas State Music Camp. Dr. Tracz received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Oboe Performance and a Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Ethnomusicology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, her Masters of Music degree from the University of Minnesota, and her Bachelors of Music degree at Kansas State University.

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.