Mount Olivet School of Music and the Arts (MOSOMA)

The Mount Olivet School of Music aims to encourage the musical advancement of people of all ages and musical backgrounds. Taking private lessons advances the musical development of each student through highly valuable one-on-one instruction from our extraordinary selection of qualified teachers. Lessons are available for an expansive list of instruments, which includes piano, guitar, voice, strings, brass, woodwinds, and many more!!!

Missed Lessons
If a teacher misses a lesson, he or she is required to make up the lesson or a refund will be issued. If the student misses a lesson, the teacher is not obligated to make up the lesson but will make an effort to do so if possible. The make-up week at the end of the semester can be used for lessons missed by the teacher or the student at the discretion of the teacher. If possible, teachers should be notified of any absence at least 24 hours in advance.

Spring Semester Schedule 2023
Week of January 9 – Semester Begins
Tuesday, April 4 through Monday, April 10 – NO LESSONS
Week of May 15 –  Last Week of Lessons
Week of May 22 – Make Up Lesson/Recital Week
Week of June 12 – Summer Lessons Begin

Summer Lessons Schedule 2023
Week of June 12 – Summer Lessons Begin
Week of July 3 – NO LESSONS
Week of August 21 – Last Week of Lessons
Week of August 28 – Make Up Lesson Week
Week of September 11 – Fall Semester Begins

Fall Semester Schedule 2023
Week of September 11 – Fall Semester Begins
Week of November 20 – NO LESSONS
Week of December 11 – Last Week of Lessons
Week of January 8 – Spring Semester Begins

Kristine West Denton, piano
Kristine West Denton has enjoyed piano students of all ages and levels  for over 35 years. She is happy to be back in MN after serving on college faculties in Pennsylvania and Iowa. Kris is interested in building musicianship at the piano, not just playing pieces.  She believes that fluent music reading and relaxed, efficient technic leads to confident students.
Kris has a DMA in piano from the Univ. of Iowa and had a Collaborative Fulbright to Germany. She has appeared with orchestras as a concerto soloist and loves collaborating with singers and instrumentalists. She is a member of MMTA and a performing artist member of Thursday Musical, serving  as VP of the MacPhail concert series.

Dana Donnay, Piano
Dana Donnay is a professional oboist and woodwind performer. She studied oboe performance at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA, and at the University of Minnesota. She has taught young instrumentalists for over a decade and loves the opportunity to share with people of all ages her enjoyment of music. Dana teaches Oboe, Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, and Piano. She is experienced in teaching band and early childhood music classes, and is a licensed Kindermusik educator. Dana is also a very active performer. She plays oboe and english horn in many professional orchestras throughout the midwest and is a busy freelance musician in the Twin Cities. She holds the english horn position with the South Dakota Symphony. She also plays in many chamber music ensembles including the Semada Trio, and the Gilded Lily Trio. Dana is a multi-instrumentalist. She performs as a woodwind doubler in musical orchestra pits, in particular with the Bloomington Civic Theater and the Chanhassen Dinner Theater. She enjoys playing a variety of styles which include jazz and world folk music. Dana also has a diploma in instrument repair, and has worked as a repair technician at Midwest Musical Imports.

Lauren Drasler, Piano
Lauren has loved and studied music from a young age- starting with piano lessons at 5-years old and going on to major in Vocal Music at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. After college, Lauren performed in Musical Theater and Opera around the Twin Cities including: The Guthrie Theater, Skylark Opera, Minneapolis Musical Theater and more! She then attended the London Academy for Music and Dramatic Arts for her Masters Degree, moved to LA where she did some Television and Commercial work (including a Guest Star role on ABC’s The Middle). After her daughter Quinn was born, she and her family came back to the lovely Minnesota where she is thrilled to be teaching at Mount Olivet. She is a great beginner voice teacher, as she is energetic and fun with high-standards. Her vocal teaching has a foundation in breath work and efficiently of sound. Lauren is comfortable with a variety of styles: Musical Theater, folk, opera and some pop as well. She stresses the importance of self-awareness and mindfulness in music-making!

Dr. Charles Gibb, Piano
Charles Gibb is a flutist, pianist, and recitalist who has toured as a soloist through the American Midwest and Europe. Gibb began playing piano at 5 and flute at 10. He received his DMA from the University of North Texas, his MM from Bowling Green State University, and BM in Flute Performance and his BA in Spanish from St. Olaf College in Minnesota. Teachers included Marcia Metzger, Catherine Ramirez, Conor Nelson, Terri Sundberg, and James Scott. Gibb has performed on multiple albums released by the North Texas Wind Symphony and has soloed with the Bowling Green Philharmonia, the Bowling Green State University Wind Symphony, and the University of North Texas Symphony Orchestra. In addition to winning concerto competitions at all three academic institutions he attended, Gibb won the US Army Band “Pershing’s Own” National Collegiate Solo Competition, gaining an opportunity to record as well as perform with “Pershing’s Own” at the US Capitol Building in June 2019. Gibb has also been a prize winner in competitions for the Oklahoma Flute Society, the Upper Midwest Flute Association, the Colorado Flute Association, the Seattle Flute Society, the Raleigh Area Flute Association, and the NJ Flute Society.

Miriam Jensen, Piano
With Over 30 years of teaching experience, Miriam Jensen maintains a large studio both in her home and at Mt. Olivet School of Music. She teaches students from early elementary ages through adults, and enjoys the unique gifts each student brings to the piano, striving to find repertoire that encourages and challenges. Along with a BA in Music and an MS and Piano Pedagogy, Miriam continues to grow through active participation and leadership in local music organizations (APPI, MMTA, MTNA), as well as her role as associate organist/accompanist at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church and as a freelance accompanist/performer throughout the Twin Cities.

Dr. Paul Kovacovic, Piano
Paul Kovacovic enjoys a career that spans both classical and popular styles. He has been the guest soloist with several orchestras as well as the accompanist for artists such as singer-songwriter Ann Reed and Las Vegas entertainer and television host Tony Sandler. Paul has performed concerts across the United States and Czech Republic, and he has won first prizes in the Thursday Musical, Schubert Club, and Indiana University Piano Concerto Competitions.
Paul was an accompanist and coach for the Florida Grand Opera in Miami and has also worked with several theater companies in his home state of Minnesota, including the Minnesota Opera, Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, and Chanhassen Dinner Theatre.
Paul studied piano at Indiana University with Edward Auer and at the University of Minnesota with Alexander Braginsky. He has also studied composition at the European American Musical Alliance in Paris with students of legendary pedagogue Nadia Boulanger and at film scoring workshops in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami.
Paul loves to teach piano and compose as well as perform. For more information, please visit his website at www.paulkovacovic.com.

Leslie Mallery, Piano & folk instruments
Leslie has been teaching at the Mount Olivet School of Music since 2005. She has a Bachelor‘s Degree in Music Theory and Composition from the University of Minnesota. She has an interest in working with students who have tried lessons with other teachers but haven’t enjoyed the experience. She tailor’s her teaching style to fill the needs and interests of each student. Her primary instrument is piano but she is also proficient in a number of folk instruments including acoustic guitar, 5-string banjo and mandolin. She has a special interest in helping students learn the language of music to compose their own songs and to become comfortable with performing and auditioning.

Emily Nelson, Piano
Emily Nelson is a pianist and entrepreneur who has been teaching private music lessons since 2006. She also works as a freelance accompanist. She received her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Northwestern–St. Paul, and a Master’s in Music Education with an emphasis in Piano Pedagogy from the University of St. Thomas.
Emily helps students develop a genuine love for music and to enjoy making it with excellence. She tailors her approach to the individual’s learning style and helps foster self-expression and independence. She has a classical approach to teaching and learning but this definitely doesn’t mean only “classical” music! Many styles are explored, and lessons typically focus on the following:

• Expressive playing
• Reading and memorization skills
• Technique (so no song is off limits!)
• Music theory (how is music constructed? Aids in learning learning/memorizing pieces quicker and paves the road for skills in composition and improvisation)

Lessons are available for beginner through early advanced students, starting as young as 6 years old. In addition to bi-annual recitals at Mt. Olivet, students have the option of being involved in programs through organizations like MMTF (Minneapolis Music Teachers Forum) and MMTA (Minnesota Music Teachers Association).
Emily lives in St. Paul where she enjoys running along the beautiful lakes and trails. Outside of work you can find her exploring the Twin Cities with friends, studying psychology and personality theory, attempting yoga, and spoiling her cat Lily.

Dr. Osip Nikiforov, Piano
Born in the city of Abakan in Siberia to a family of musicians, Osip started studying piano with his father at age 6. While still living in Russia, Osip has participated and won numerous awards in national and international competitions, such as the Gold Medal at the Delphic Games in 2006 in Astana, Kazakhstan, and Third Prize at 2008 1st International e-Piano Junior Competition in Minnesota, where at the age of fourteen he shared the prize with Jan Lisiecki. A year later, he was the winner of Dorothy McKenzie Award in New York City at the International Keyboard Institute and Festival Competition. At just 14 years of age, Osip performed Beethoven Concerto #3 with Minnesota Orchestra.
Since 2010 Osip Nikiforov has been residing in the United States. In 2021 Osip was a recipient of two grants – the Sviatoslav Richter Outreach Grant for concerts in the Houston area and the Amici di Via Gabina Grant for the historic keyboard instrument research in Italy. In the same year, Osip was also a finalist in the Jinji Lake International Piano Competition in Suzhou, China. In 2020 he was awarded First prize at San Antonio Young Artist Tuesday Musical Competition. Osip is regularly invited to perform at concert series as well as festivals, including the Schubert Club Courtroom Concert Series in St. Paul, the Salon se Leve Concert Series in Minneapolis, the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series in Chicago, the Memorial Classical Music Series in Houston, and the Mozart Festival Texas in San Antonio. Besides the United States, he has given solo recitals in Spain, Israel, South Africa, Russia, and Japan. Osip has also frequently collaborated with national and international orchestras, including the St. Petersburg State Academic Capella Symphony Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Khakass Philharmonic Orchestra, the Incarnate Word Symphony Orchestra, and the Golden Valley Symphony Orchestra. In 2016 he became a recipient of the Adopt a Young Artist award, given to a young classical musician in Minnesota. He is also the Second prize winner of 2014 Music Teacher National Association Competition in Young Artist Division in Chicago.
Osip Nikiforov has graduated from Shattuck St. Mary’s School in Minnesota and the University of Minnesota, studying piano with Alexander Braginsky, the last student of Alexander Goldenweiser. Currently, he is a Malcolm W. Perkins Teaching Fellow in the Doctor of Musical Arts program at Rice University, studying with Jon Kimura Parker. He has also appeared on Minnesota Public Radio, WFMT Radio, Star Tribune, GetClassical, and Classical Connect. Besides performing, Osip also enjoys making his own transcriptions for piano as well as playing solo jazz piano. In Fall 2021 Osip’s first piano solo album “Russian Elegie” was released by Orpheus Classical Label on all major digital platforms.

Leah Siltberg, Piano
Pianist Leah Siltberg is an active and sought-after performer in several contexts. Based in Minneapolis, Siltberg has performed or recorded with the Weisman Art Museum’s SONIC WAM, the James Sewell Ballet, Minnesota Public Radio, St. Paul’s Schubert Club, Thursday Musical, the Chamber Society of Minnesota, and the American Composers’ Forum. In 2010, Siltberg was featured as a solo performer in Jerusalem’s Mozart and Chopin festivals and performed as part of a chamber music tour of the West Bank and the Golan Heights. In 2008, she performed Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto with Minneapolis’s Kenwood Symphony. In 2007, she was part of the premier of a Colombian trio at the White House Conference on the Americas. Although Siltberg most often concertizes as a collaborative pianist, she has performed both solo and collaborative recitals in the United States, Canada, Central America, the Middle East, Spain, and New Zealand. Siltberg graduated from Toronto’s Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music with a Performance Diploma, Bachelor of Music, and Artist Diploma under the tutelage of former Leningrad Conservatory piano chair Boris Lysenko and the Duke Trio’s Peter Longworth and completed a M.Mus. and DMA in collaborative piano and coaching at the University of Minnesota with Timothy Lovelace and Noriko Kawai.

Rie Tanaka, Piano
Japanese pianist Rie Tanaka is a prize winner of international and national competitions in Japan and the U.S. She won top prizes at West Central MTNA Young Artist Competition (Winner), Schubert Club Scholarship Competition (1st Prize), Thursday Musical Young Artist Scholarship Competition (1st Prize), Chautauqua International Piano Competition (Finalist, Best Performance of Commissioned Piece Award), 8th Rosenstock International Piano Competition (Jury Special Award), Kyoto Piano Concours (Bronze), and more.
An active solo and chamber musician, Tanaka performs frequently in the Midwest area. She has appeared in venues such as NHK Osaka hall, Phoenix hall in Osaka Japan, the Ordway Center for the Performing, Landmark Center, and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra center, among others. She is a Thursday Musical Artist, as well as regular performer at the Coffee Concert Series at the Saint Paul Conservatory of Music.
Tanaka attended the prestigious music special course at the Yuhigaoka High School in Osaka, Japan, which led to the musical tour in Vienna, Austria, performing in Wieber Musikverein. She received her Bachelor of Music from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point where she studied under Raffi Besalyan. She was chosen as the winner of the Outstanding Music Major Award 2013 for her excellence in performance and academia. She received a Master’s degree in Piano Performance at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities and is currently pursuing the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Minnesota under the guidance of Alexander Braginsky.
Tanaka is a piano faculty at the Saint Paul Conservatory of Music and Mount Oliver School of Music. She is a frequent guest artist/faculty at the South Beach Chamber Ensemble, Green Lake Chamber Music Camp, and Minnesota International Piano Camp. She has passion in educating musicians about performance injury and prevention, and has been invited to give lectures and lead special wellness sessions.
Please visit the official website www.riepiano.com to see more information.

Mike Wolter, Piano
Since moving to the Twin Cities from Chicago in 2016, guitarist Mike Wolter has established himself as an in-demand leader and sideman on the jazz and improvised music scene. He has collaborated with many of the area’s finest musicians, including Cody McKinney, Cory Healey, Brandon Wozniak, Jay Epstein, Phil Hey, JC Sanford, Javier Santiago, Joan Hutton, Pete Hennig, Josh Granowski, Nathan Hanson, Aaron Hedenstrom, Chris Bates, Omar Abdulkarim, Graydon Peterson, Matt Peterson, Tom Lewis, Chris Olsen, and others. He can be heard playing on a regular basis in the area’s leading venues, such as The Black Dog Cafe, The Ice House, Amsterdam Bar, and The Dakota.
Mike Wolter received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire where he majored in music composition. While a student he performed UWEC’s prestigious Jazz Ensemble I and was a featured soloist on the group’s Downbeat award-winning album, Soul Searching. He went on to earn his Master’s Degree in Jazz Performance from DePaul University in Chicago where he studied with leading jazz performers, including drummer Dana Hall, bassist Larry Gray, and pianist Ron Perillo.
Mike has taught at Mt. Olivet School of Music since the fall of 2016 and is proud to be part of its wonderful faculty and staff. He offers lessons in piano, guitar, and bass, as well as in jazz improvisation and techniques.

Kira Seidel, Piano
Kira Seidel is a freelance French horn player and private teacher based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Seidel has appeared as a tour soloist in Spain with the St. Olaf Band on their European tour and has also soloed with the St. Olaf Orchestra after winning their annual Senior Soloist Concerto Competition. Seidel has performed throughout the country as a principal ensemble player, as well as China, Spain, France, and Italy.
After beginning piano lessons at age four, Kira continued to study piano in addition to horn through the end of her bachelor’s degree, and enjoys teaching both piano and horn lessons. She has taught privately for eight years, and has held studios in Phoenix, Dallas, and Minneapolis.
Kira recently finished her Masters of Music in horn performance at Arizona State University. Her primary instructors include John Ericson, as well as Herb Winslow while earning her Bachelors of Music at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. In her free time, Kira enjoys baking, traveling, and spending plenty of time with her friends and family.

Gabrielle Glass, Violin and Viola
In the 2017/18 season, Gabrielle Glass won the Harmony Fellowship with the New Haven Symphony as well as a Diversity Fellowship with Orpheus Chamber orchestra where she will be performing with the symphony as well as working in the community and local schools. Ms. Skinner is passionate about teaching and is devoted to empowering young minds with the knowledge of music. She has participated in programs dedicated to bringing relief to those in need at both the Cleveland Clinic and Texas Children’s Hospital. She is also an active member with the Sphinx Organization, a group dedicated to bringing diversity to the arts. Gabrielle is educated in Suzuki Pedagogy and Viola Pedagogy, and has maintained a private studio in addition to teaching at Cleveland School of the Arts and Rice University. Gabrielle also enjoys freelance work; a recent highlight was performing with 2Cellos on their Texas tour showcasing their new album. She teaches at the Mount Olivet School of Music in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Mrs. Glass has performed in masterclasses for Heidi Castleman, Jeffrey Irvine, Jutta Puchhammer-Sédillot, David Holland, Mark Jacobs, Sabina Thatcher and Roger Tapping. She has also performed in chamber music masterclasses for David Geber, Mark Steinberg, Cavani String Quartet, Miami String Quartet, Brooklyn Rider, American String Quartet and Jupiter Quartet. She has been a scholarship recipient to programs throughout the United States, earning fellowships to Aspen Music Festival, North American Viola institute, Meadowmount School of Music, and Strings Music Festival. In 2016, Gabrielle became a founding member of the award winning Kamila Quartet, with whom she attended the Robert Mann Institute in January 2017. In her free time, Gabrielle enjoys playing chamber music, knitting, and watching cooking shows. Gabrielle plays a custom made 2013 viola by Geoffrey Ovington.

Claire Loudon, Violin & Viola
Claire has taught privately and in group settings since 1998. She has taught for several conservatories and schools of music in MN, OH and the United Kingdom, concurrently maintaining private studios. Claire undertook formal studies of string pedagogy and Dalcroze eurythmics at the Cleveland Institute of Music. She holds a Bachelor of Music from Cleveland Institute of Music, a Master of Music from Royal Northern College of Music (Manchester), and a Postgraduate Diploma (International Artist Diploma) from the RNCM with honors. Additional conservatoire training includes viola second study at the RNCM and piano at CIM.
Ms. Loudon is a violin substitute with Minnesota Sinfonia and Minnesota Orchestra. She has appeared in concerts across Europe, the United Kingdom, and North America as a member of prize-winning quartets and as soloist. An active professional orchestral musician, Claire has held several orchestral positions in the US and UK.
Teaching methods depend directly upon the learning style of the student, drawing upon a broad range of proven pedagogical techniques and musical styles. Providing consistency and clarity for students coupled with the goals of continuous development, music appreciation, and pride in achievement comprise her primary teaching objectives.

Diane Loudon, Cello
Diane Loudon earned her Bachelor and Master of Music Cello Performance from the University of Illinois – Urbana. She was a full merit based scholarship recipient for the duration of her studies under the tutelage of Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi. Diane began teaching cello privately while still in high school, accepting overflow students from the studio of her own private cello teacher. While in college, Ms. Loudon studied pedagogy extensively and continued to teach privately. Ms. Loudon has been in demand to teach beginner cello courses and orchestra sectionals throughout Minnesota school districts including Edina Public Schools for a number of years. Along with her quartet, the Rosewood String Quartet, Diane has conducted outreach programs and delivered presentations to encourage participation in the performing arts in Bloomington, Moundsview, and Hasting to name a few. Many of Diane’s students fill leadership roles in their school orchestras, earning the principal cellist seat. Diane’s students are frequently featured as soloist with their school orchestras. Other student accomplishments include earning best of site at Solo and Ensemble and String Fest, and successfully auditioning for placement with Minnesota Youth Symphonies and Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies. Many students gain a position with the top orchestras in MYS and GTCYS and also hold principal chair positions. Her students have had numerous competition successes and have gained acceptance to esteemed University and College music programs, including Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Diane offers many performance opportunities, hosting multiple studio recitals each year. Students also enjoy collaborating with peers in cello quartets and large cello ensembles as part of their studies, playing a wide range of genres from classical to rock to pop. In addition to a dedication to teaching, Ms. Loudon enjoys an active performing career as both soloist and chamber musician. She has held several orchestral posts throughout the United States.

Jesse Nummelin, Cello
Jesse Nummelin is a native of Stevens Point, Wisconsin.  He started Suzuki cello at age three with the Aber Suzuki Center for the Arts and performed with the Suzuki Chamber Ensemble under Mr. David Becker from 2004-2008.  Jesse later went on to complete a Bachelor of Arts in cello performance at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point and then a Masters of Music at Arizona State where he worked as Teaching Assistant to Professor Thomas Landschoot.
Jesse is an avid chamber musician and teacher.  He is currently a member of the South Dakota Symphony and has played with orchestras including Phoenix Symphony, Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra, Scottsdale Arts Orchestra, Musica Nova, Tucson Pops and the Tucson Symphony.  He has played with the CWSO scholarship quartet, premiered several compositions with string quartet at the Museum of Musical Instruments in Phoenix, AZ and has performed on the UWSP radio broadcast “Acoustic Revival.” He also made a series of Jazz recordings through the Foulger Institute with acclaimed artists Allison Eldredge and Tom Landschoot. Jesse has performed with notable artists including Lang Lang, Andrea Bocelli, Pinchas Zukerman, Anne Akiko Meyers, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Curtis Stigers, the Juilliard String Quartet and John Williams.
He has taught cello to people of all ages and backgrounds through various programs and private studios.  He served as a faculty of cello at the Aber Suzuki Center for the Arts at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point in 2016.  Jesse currently lives in St. Paul and teaches cello at the St. Paul Conservatory of Music, the Waldorf City of Lakes School and Music Connection in Forest Lake.
Jesse’s teachers include Thomas Landschoot, Tom Rosenberg, Dr. Lawrence Leviton, Dr. Tim Mutschlecner, John Greiner, and Susan Bender.

Evan Shallcross, Violin
Violinist Evan Shallcross traces his love of music to the sounds of voices, instruments, and records that filled his childhood home. At age nine he began violin study with Twin Cities musicians Taichi and Robin Chen, and enjoyed participating in school and extracurricular ensembles. He went on to attend the Oberlin Conservatory and the Yale School of Music, obtaining bachelor and master of music degrees, respectively. His major teachers were Milan Vitek and Syoko Aki, and he reveled the opportunities to broaden his interests and collaborate with peer composers on new music. Since that time, he has performed and held positions with major professional orchestras in the United States and abroad, including the New Haven Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Macao Orchestra, City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong, and as concertmaster of the Gustav Mahler Orchestra of Hong Kong. Nurturing a love for small ensemble playing, Evan co-founded the Hong Kong Chamber Music Collective and the Twin Cities-based Crossroads String Duo, and has also been active in various capacities as a soloist, conductor, composer, and arranger. In parallel with his performance career, Evan has long channeled his musical passions into teaching students and ensembles of all ages and levels, and takes pride in seeing how music empowers his students to express themselves. Outside of music, Evan enjoys photography, dance, and learning about social science, physics, and philosophy. And he is a cat person!

Rick Widen, Guitar & Ukulele
Rick Widen began teaching guitar at the Mount Olivet School of Music year-one, 2003, when he graduated from the University of Minnesota – Duluth with a BA in Music, minor in Philosophy. He’s been a church choir director, pit orchestra guitarist, DayJams rock band coach, and for six years he was a CCA at Minneapolis Kids Burroughs right across the street! He’s won a Jug Band Trophy (he plays a mean banjo), a French Horn Trophy, and a plaque that reads “Best Musical Act at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival.” He keeps a music theory and songwriting statistics vlog called www.tonaltrends.com and also publishes articles with Brooklyn based www.soundfly.com. He’s produced 5 albums of his own songs and played on many other albums in other capacities with many other bands and groups. He’s written the book, music, and lyrics for five musicals and is currently working on his sixth.

Mike Wolter, Guitar
Since moving to the Twin Cities from Chicago in 2016, guitarist Mike Wolter has established himself as an in-demand leader and sideman on the jazz and improvised music scene. He has collaborated with many of the area’s finest musicians, including Cody McKinney, Cory Healey, Brandon Wozniak, Jay Epstein, Phil Hey, JC Sanford, Javier Santiago, Joan Hutton, Pete Hennig, Josh Granowski, Nathan Hanson, Aaron Hedenstrom, Chris Bates, Omar Abdulkarim, Graydon Peterson, Matt Peterson, Tom Lewis, Chris Olsen, and others. He can be heard playing on a regular basis in the area’s leading venues, such as The Black Dog Cafe, The Ice House, Amsterdam Bar, and The Dakota.
Mike Wolter received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire where he majored in music composition. While a student he performed UWEC’s prestigious Jazz Ensemble I and was a featured soloist on the group’s Downbeat award-winning album, Soul Searching. He went on to earn his Master’s Degree in Jazz Performance from DePaul University in Chicago where he studied with leading jazz performers, including drummer Dana Hall, bassist Larry Gray, and pianist Ron Perillo.
Mike has taught at Mt. Olivet School of Music since the fall of 2016 and is proud to be part of its wonderful faculty and staff. He offers lessons in piano, guitar, and bass, as well as in jazz improvisation and techniques.

Dr. Scott Agster, Low Brass
Dr. Scott Agster has 15 years of experience teaching in higher education including: Assistant Ensemble Department Head at McNally Smith College of Music, Adjunct Professor of Low Brass at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Adjunct Professor of Low Brass and Jazz Band at Concordia University, and Adjunct Professor of Jazz History at Normandale Community College. During this time, Dr. Agster taught college courses in: Applied Low Brass, Improvisation, Ensembles, Arranging, Finale, Conducting, Pedagogy, Ear Training, Keyboard, Jazz History, and Music Appreciation.  He currently teaches private brass lessons at Breck School and Mount Olivet School of Music.
Dr. Scott Agster remains active as a clinician, guest artist, and educational leader.  He most recently held the positions of Jazz Honor Band Site Coordinator for the Minnesota Band Directors Association and MMEA All State Jazz Band as a Section Coach. He has also performed at many educational outreach events as a guest artist, clinician, and adjudicator.  Dr. Agster’s mission is to provide high quality music education to students of all ages and ability levels.
Dr. Scott Agster is also an active performer.  He is currently a full-time member of several bands including: Salsa del Soul, Nooky Jones, Jack Brass Band, Twin Cities Stompers, Snowblind Jazz Quintet, and the Explosion Big Band.  He has had the opportunity to perform and work with many acclaimed artists and groups such as: The Doc Severinsen Orchestra, The One O’clock Lab Band, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, The JazzMN Big Band, Jimmy Heath, Benny Golson, Dave Douglas, Phil Woods, Nicholas Payton, Sheila E., Pinetop Perkins, Aaron Neville, Kenny Loggins, Slide Hampton and Trombone Shorty.  Dr. Agster has also participated in pit orchestras at the Ordway Center, Children’s Theater Company, and the History Theater.
Dr. Agster earned his Doctor of Musical Arts in Trombone Performance from the University of Minnesota.  He also holds a Master of Music in Trombone Performance and a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of North Texas.

Gerard Ahlgren, Trumpet
Trumpeter Gerard Ahlgren is based in the Minneapolis, Minnesota. He currently holds a Master’s Degree in Music Performance from McNally Smith College of Music with emphasis on Jazz Studies. Gerard plays locally with Blue Water Kings, Soultight Committee, Northstar, and Moonlight Serenaders. Gerard also has extensive experience playing professionally with the History Theatre and for Old Log Theater as well as Breck Middle School. Because of his diverse training from various trumpet players such as, Dave Jensen, Charles Lazarus, Marshall Scott, Michael Davison, and Adam Meckler, Gerard is fluent in several styles of music including jazz, blues, latin, fusion, and classical.

Kira Seidel, French Horn
Kira Seidel is a freelance French horn player and private teacher based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Seidel has appeared as a tour soloist in Spain with the St. Olaf Band on their European tour and has also soloed with the St. Olaf Orchestra after winning their annual Senior Soloist Concerto Competition. Seidel has performed throughout the country as a principal ensemble player, as well as China, Spain, France, and Italy.
After beginning piano lessons at age four, Kira continued to study piano in addition to horn through the end of her bachelor’s degree, and enjoys teaching both piano and horn lessons. She has taught privately for eight years, and has held studios in Phoenix, Dallas, and Minneapolis.
Kira recently finished her Masters of Music in horn performance at Arizona State University. Her primary instructors include John Ericson, as well as Herb Winslow while earning her Bachelors of Music at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. In her free time, Kira enjoys baking, traveling, and spending plenty of time with her friends and family.

Dr. Takako Senn, Trumpet
An artist with international credentials, Takako Seimiya Senn won first prize in the prestigious Tokyo Bunkakaikan Hall Competition in 1993, first place in the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra’s Solo Concerto Competition to perform in their 2009-2010 season and 2016-2017 season, and continues to be in demand as a soloist and freelance performer.
Takako was selected for a 2001 tour of Japan and a 2008 tour of New York City with the Minnesota Orchestra and has performed in numerous subscription concerts including several recordings.  She has also performed with the Minnesota Opera and many freelance orchestral and chamber ensembles as well as a 2008 production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and a 2009 production of “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” at Chanhassen Dinner Theatre. She became a member of the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra from 2015 to the present.
She earned her Bachelor of Music degree in performance and education at Musashino Academia Musicae, Tokyo, Japan and her Master’s and Doctorate of Musical Arts in Performance at the University of Minnesota.
Takako is a dedicated teacher who has been teaching scores of students in various high schools and music studios around the Twin Cities.  She is currently an adjunct professor of Trumpet at St. Cloud State University as well as Concordia University –St. Paul.  Her teachers and coaches are Manny Laureano, David Baldwin, Ron Hasselmann, Frank Bencriscutto and Isao Fukui.

Erica Bennett Duggan, Flute
Erica Bennett Duggan is a private flute instructor, freelance performer, and early childhood music educator and individual flute instructor at the Mount Olivet School of Music.  She holds a Master of Music degree in Flute Performance from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, where she was under the instruction of Immanuel Davis and Julia Bogorad-Kogan.  Erica also studied under Kay Sahlin at St. Olaf College, where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Flute Performance and graduated with Departmental Distinction.  As a student, Erica was a soloist on a United States tour with the St. Olaf Orchestra as a result of winning the symphony’s concerto competition.
Erica currently plays principal flute with Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra in Minneapolis, and was a featured as a chamber soloist with the orchestra in 2010.  She has recently performed a season with the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra, and has frequently played with the Rochester Symphony Orchestra, the Park Avenue Wind Quintet, and the Dolce Wind Quintet, as well as countless other freelancing groups around the Twin Cities.
A dedicated and enthusiastic teacher, Erica has taught private flute lessons for over fifteen years at studios and schools in the Twin Cities metro area.  She has served as flute instructor for the St. Olaf summer music program, was a judge for the Laudie Porter Competition, and was an evaluator of MMTA flute exams for several years.  Erica has helped her students reach their personal and academic goals in flute lessons by using a respectful approach of instructing students how to be their own best teachers.  She absolutely loves teaching music and working with students of all ages and abilities and looks forward to meeting you!

Dana Donnay, Woodwinds
Dana Donnay is a professional oboist and woodwind performer. She studied oboe performance at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA, and at the Univeristy of Minnesota. She has taught young instrumentalists for over a decade and loves the opportunity to share with people of all ages her enjoyment of music. Dana teaches Oboe, Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, and Piano. She is experienced in teaching band and early childhood music classes, and is a licensed Kindermusik educator. Dana is also a very active performer. She plays oboe and english horn in many professional orchestras throughout the midwest and is a busy freelance musician in the Twin Cities. She holds the english horn position with the South Dakota Symphony. She also plays in many chamber music ensembles including the Semada Trio, and the Gilded Lily Trio. Dana is a multi-instrumentalist. She performs as a woodwind doubler in musical orchestra pits, in particular with the Bloomington Civic Theater and the Chanhassen Dinner Theater. She enjoys playing a variety of styles which include jazz and world folk music. Dana also has a diploma in instrument repair, and has worked as a repair technician at Midwest Musical Imports.

Dr. Charles Gibb, Flute
Charles Gibb is a flutist, pianist, and recitalist who has toured as a soloist through the American Midwest and Europe. Gibb began playing piano at 5 and flute at 10. He received his DMA from the University of North Texas, his MM from Bowling Green State University, and BM in Flute Performance and his BA in Spanish from St. Olaf College in Minnesota. Teachers included Marcia Metzger, Catherine Ramirez, Conor Nelson, Terri Sundberg, and James Scott. Gibb has performed on multiple albums released by the North Texas Wind Symphony and has soloed with the Bowling Green Philharmonia, the Bowling Green State University Wind Symphony, and the University of North Texas Symphony Orchestra. In addition to winning concerto competitions at all three academic institutions he attended, Gibb won the US Army Band “Pershing’s Own” National Collegiate Solo Competition, gaining an opportunity to record as well as perform with “Pershing’s Own” at the US Capitol Building in June 2019. Gibb has also been a prize winner in competitions for the Oklahoma Flute Society, the Upper Midwest Flute Association, the Colorado Flute Association, the Seattle Flute Society, the Raleigh Area Flute Association, and the NJ Flute Society.

Julie Johnson, Flute
Flutist/composer/improviser Julie Johnson brings her distinct sound and approach to many multi-genre projects, including places where, she’s been told, the flute doesn’t belong.  As a creator and performer of new music, Julie’s work walks the line between composition and songwriting, art music and popular music, between genres as seemingly different as classical and blues.  A finalist for the McKnight Fellowship for Performing Musicians and a winner of grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board, American Composers Forum, Lanesboro Arts Center, Springboard for the Arts, MacPhail Center for Music, Knight Foundation, MRAC, and a Banff Centre residency, she plays in many styles, working to bring both the flute and her audiences to music they haven’t been in contact with before.  She performs regularly with her roots/folk trio, Julie Johnson & The No-Accounts, with cellist Jacqueline Ultan in J2J, and with modern dancer/choreographer Tamara Ober.  www.julieflute.net

Jacob Meyer, Clarinet
Jake Meyer is the principal clarinetist of the Ocala Symphony Orchestra and is an active freelancer and teacher in the Twin Cities. Recently, he has performed with the Round Top Festival Orchestra and served as principal clarinetist of the Florida State University Symphony Orchestra and Wind Orchestra. He has also appeared as a soloist with the St. Olaf Orchestra on six occasions, performing the first movement of Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto and Debussy’s Première Rhapsodie.
As private instructor, Jake has worked with students of all ages and abilities. He served as a teaching assistant while studying at FSU, teaching private lessons to undergraduate music majors, coaching chamber music and teaching the clarinet methods course. He has also written a guide to inform musicians about health and wellness issues they face on a daily basis.
Jake holds his Bachelor of Music from St. Olaf College and his Master of Music from Florida State University. Away from the clarinet, Jake enjoys reading, swimming, exploring sustainable living, and getting involved in his local St. Paul community. For more information about lessons with Jake, you can check out his website jakemeyerclarinet.com.

Gus Sandberg, Saxophone, Flute, & Clarinet
Gus Sandberg is an educator and performer in the Twin Cities.  He holds a Bachelors of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
He has performed with the Minnesota Orchestra, New Orleans Trumpeter James Andrews, and has performed with the Jack Brass Band at Preservation Hall in New Orleans.   He enjoys performing with the Bluewater Kings Band, Jack Brass Band, Bill Simenson Orchestra, and the Explosion Big Band.   Gus believes that music should be fun for all ages and enjoys helping people reach their musical goals.

Lauren Drasler, Voice
Lauren has loved and studied music from a young age- starting with piano lessons at 5-years old and going on to major in Vocal Music at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN.  After college, Lauren performed in Musical Theater and Opera around the Twin Cities including: The Guthrie Theater, Skylark Opera, Minneapolis Musical Theater and more! She then attended the London Academy for Music and Dramatic Arts for her Masters Degree, moved to LA where she did some Television and Commercial work (including a Guest Star role on ABC’s The Middle). After her daughter Quinn was born, she and her family came back to the lovely Minnesota where she is thrilled to be teaching at Mount Olivet. She is a great beginner voice teacher, as she is energetic and fun with high-standards.  Her vocal teaching has a foundation in breath work and efficiently of sound.  Lauren is comfortable with a variety of styles: Musical Theater, folk, opera and some pop as well.  She stresses the importance of self-awareness and mindfulness in music-making!

Audrey Johnson, Voice

Experienced and dedicated as both a performer and teacher, Mezzo-Soprano Audrey Johnson has held her vocal studio for over a decade and finds great joy and deep
fulfillment in guiding her students towards the achievement of their vocal and performance goals, utilizing the foundation of classical technique to best facilitate success
with vocal music of all genres.
Audrey received her Bachelor and Master of Music in Vocal Performance from Simpson College the University of Houston respectively, with additional Singer-Actor
training at the Wesley Balk Institute and the Second City Training Center of Chicago.  Her artist residencies included the Crested Butte Music Festival; the Lyric Opera Studio in Weimar, Germany; and Shreveport Opera. A small sampling of Audrey’s operatic roles include Meg March in Adamo’s Little Women with Opera Fayetteville,
Hansel in Hansel and Gretel with Opera for the Young in Wisconsin, Le Prince Charmant in Massenet’s Cendrillon with MetroWest Opera in Boston, and Mrs. DeRocher in Shreveport Opera’s production of Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking, for which she was invited to return as a Mainstage Artist. In Germany, Audrey was a winner of the
Richard Wagner Verband Vocal Competition and sang with the Wernigerode Kammerorchester as well as with the Staatstheater Darmstadt. Her recent album, On Pasture’s Edge, alongside the world-renowned Bass-Baritone William Powers, is a recording of American art song, funded by the Illinois Council for the Arts and the Sanfilippo Foundation.
Audrey combines this wealth of performing experience with pedagogical practices and mental training techniques to best serve the needs of each individual in her vocal
studio. Her students have been accepted into top concert and show choirs, as well as prestigious pre-college and college programs, including the grand champion show choir of Buffalo Grove High School in Illinois; the Manhattan School of Music’s Precollege Program in New York City; and the Music and Theater Programs of Millikin University. Audrey’s students have also been cast in leading roles in school and community musical productions, including Into The Woods, Shrek, Once Upon a Mattress, and Phantom of the Opera. They have also won gold ratings for superior performances at Solo and Ensemble competitions. Most importantly, all of Audrey’s students gain poise, self-assurance, and a belief in their unique abilities through the development of their vocal instruments, which serves them positively in all they do.

Dr. Luke Randall, Voice
Dr. Luke Randall, baritone, is a versatile artist who enraptures audiences with his performances in opera, recital, and oratorio works. He has had the pleasure of collaborating with renowned musicians, conductors, and directors such as Martin Katz, Thomas Hampson, Kathleen Kelly, Simon O’Neill, Timothy Cheek, and Jerry Blackstone. Along with his deep love of performing, he is a passionate educator and scholar. He has taught at the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, and Interlochen Center for the Arts. His scholarly focus centers on researching and performing Scandinavian art song, including works by Edvard Grieg, Wilhelm Stenhammer, Hugo Alfvén, Ture Rangström, and Gustaf Nordqvist. Dr. Randall received his D.M.A. and M.M. in vocal performance from the University of Michigan, and his B.M. in vocal performance from Lawrence University. He is currently the Administrator for the Mount Olivet School of Music.

To make a payment for private music lessons click here.

Family Painting Class
Monday, February 20, 6-7:30pm, Mpls Campus
This family painting class is a fun “Date Night” for you and your child to make art together. No experience is needed, this class is about spending quality time with your child and having fun. Each person is provided a 16 x 20 canvas, acrylic paints, and all the supplies needed to create their own masterpiece that can stand alone or be hung side-by-side for a combined work of art. The instructor will lead you step-by-step through the painting. Registration closes on Wednesday, February 15.

Register here

Beginner Paul Cézanne Painting Class
Monday, March 27, 6-7:30pm, Mpls Campus
In this class you will learn to paint in the style of Paul Cézanne. You will learn a bit of history of Cézanneas you follow step-by-step instructions to create a painting inspired by his techniques. An 8 x 10 inch canvas and all supplies needed are included. Adults and mature children of all artistic abilities are invited to join this wonderful class! Registration closes on Wednesday, March 22.

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Felt Succulent Garden Craft Class
Tuesday, April 11, 6-8pm, Mpls Campus
Create a beautiful succulent garden in a wood frame using colorful felt. Learn how  cut the felt to create different types of succulent. The finished piece can sit on a desk or be hung on a wall. Registration closes on Thursday, April 6.

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Introduction to Rosemaling Class
Wednesday, May 17, 6-8pm, Mpls Campus
Experience the traditional Norwegian art form known as Rosemaling. This distinctive style of painting includes a floral motif painted on a wooden object or furniture. In this class you will learn a bit of history on this art form and the basic strokes and supplies needed to create a finished work of art. We will spend class time practicing and perfecting the strokes on paper before moving on to a small wooden object provided. Registration closes on Friday, May 12.

Register here

For more information, or to be put on the email list, contact Luke Randall at mosom@mtolivet.org.