School of Performing Arts Events

Dr. Kenyon Williams has worked throughout the United States as a professional performer, educator, arranger, and clinician. A graduate of Abilene Christian University, the Hartt School of Music, and the University of Kentucky, he has performed as a guest soloist and section member for numerous orchestras, including the Abilene Philharmonic (TX), the Louisville Symphony (KY), the Lexington Philharmonic (KY), and currently serves as Principal Percussionist for the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra. As an educator, he has taught at the secondary school level as well as at universities in Texas and Kentucky. Dr. Williams is currently the Director of Percussion Studies at Minnesota State University Moorhead where he maintains an active teaching and performing schedule and directs the acclaimed “Fuego Tropical” World Percussion Ensemble as well as hands-on world music ensembles in Trinidadian steel pan, Javanese gamelan, African drumming, Afro-Cuban salsa, and Brazilian samba. His interests have taken him abroad for extended studies in Ghana, Cuba, Brazil, Indonesia, and Trinidad, where he has performed with the legendary Invaders and Birdsong Steel Orchestras in Panorama. In the United States, he has taken his love for the music of the Caribbean to new levels by establishing, arranging, and performing for steel bands and Afro-Cuban ensembles in Kentucky, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Minnesota, North Dakota and Texas. Dr. Williams is a Yamaha Performing Artist and endorses Yamaha and Latin Percussion instruments, Innovative sticks and mallets, and Coyle Steel Drums, through which he has published numerous original arrangements and transcriptions. Dr. Williams is a member of the Board of Directors of the Percussive Arts Society, the largest professional body of percussionists in the world, and has served as a past chairman for the World Music Committee as well as Treasurer for the Minnesota Chapter of PAS. He also performs regularly with the “Varying Degrees” Percussion Trio and recently released a solo album of newly commissioned solo works for percussion entitled “Homage,” which is available on both iTunes and CDBaby.com.

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.

Flute

Selah Grahn; Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (BS); Fargo ND

Leonora Klocke; Instrumental Music Education (BS); Moorhead MN*#

Jordin Roxberg; Instrumental Music Education (BS); Brainerd MN

Jacee Stachovich; Criminal Justice and Psychology (BA); Chisholm MN

Jae Thom; Audio Production (BS); Fargo ND

Brianna Wallert; Entertainment Industry and Tech (BS); Waconia MN

Clarinet

Ben Christman; Mathematics Education (BS); Avon MN#

Madeline Juntunen; Criminal Justice (BA) and Chemistry (BS); Duluth MN

Janae LaFerriere; Mathematics and Mathematics Education (BS); Pelican Rapids MN

Sophia Lambrecht; Art Education (BFA); Minneapolis MN

Anna Nordwall; Psychology (BA); Wendell MN

Aubrey Pfennig; Drawing and Illustration (BFA); Springboro OH*

Brenden Rentz-Molde; Economics and Social Studies Education (BS); Bemidji MN

Woodland Zilka; Music Performance (BA); Little Falls MN

Bass Clarinet

Abigail Troke; Film Production (BFA); Eyota MN

Bassoon

Damien Brandvold; Medical and Cellular Biology (BS); Perham MN#

Trombone

Blake Alonzo; Social Studies Education (BS); Battle Lake MN#

Madilynn Moen; Business Administration (BS); Fargo ND

Benjamin Vetsch; Commercial Music (BS); Devils Lake ND*#

Euphonium

Michael Atteberry; Instrumental Music Education (BS); Barnesville MN

Autumn VanLanduyt; Instrumental Music Education (BS); Litchfield MN*#

Tuba

Conor Hedblom; Music Performance (BA); Roseville MN

Alto Saxophone

Eli Davis; Audio Production and Entertainment Management (BS); Bismarck ND*

Reid Haugen; Geosciences: Geoarchaeology (BS); Lakeville MN

Brandon Sandberg; Engineering and Physics (BS); Perham MN

Brandon Stalboerger; Mathematics and Mathematics Education; Melrose MN

Tenor Saxophone

Bella Becerra; English (BA); St. Paul MN

Madison Kern; Biology (BA) and Chemistry (BA); Frazee MN

Haven Roth; Engineering Physics (BS); Ottertail MN

Baritone Saxophone

Andy VanLith; Commercial Music (BS); Fargo ND*#

Trumpet

Hogan Bergene; Psychology (BA); Adams MN

Molli Erickson; Art Education (BFA); Montevideo MN*

Brenna Monahan; Criminal Justice (BA); Elk River MN

Horn

Rhone Nelson; Music (BA); Minot ND

Bella Richman; Instrumental and Vocal Music Education (BS); Maple Grove MN#

Dominic St. Marie; Biochemistry and Biotechnology (BS); Albany MN

David Threatt; Biology (BS); Crookston MN*

Electric Bass

Joseph Pollock; Instrumental Music Education (BS); Detroit Lakes MN#

Percussion

Andrew Burnett; Entertainment Industry and Technology (BS); Avon MN

Zian Loe; Audio Production and Entertainment Management (BS); Las Vegas NV

Annika Lukken; Instrumental Music Education (BS); Battle Lake MN*

Julia Putt; History (BA); Minot ND

Eva Stoeckel; Undecided; St. Cloud MN

Jacob Voxland; Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (BS); Shakopee MN

*principal

Guest Performers

Kayla Kurowski; Clarinet; MSUM Student Teacher

Paul Liversage; Tenor Saxophone; MSUM Music Faculty

Doug Neal, Trombone; MSUM Music Faculty

Andrew Smith, Trombone, MSUM Alum

Brian Sterriker, Bassoon; MSUM Music Faculty

Tom Strait, Trumpet; MSUM Music Faculty

Grace Tangen, Trumpet; MSUM Alum

Jacob Woody, Trumpet; MSUM Alum

Instrument Manger – Andy VanLith

Percussion Managers – Jacob Voxland and Annika Lukken

Librarian – Autumn VanLanduyt