Instructors

(In alphabetical order)

Anna Dahl

Musikgarten

Having spent most of her childhood playing duets, trios and quartets with her 3 sisters, Anna brings a wealth of family music experience to her Musikgarten classroom. She’s a licensed Musikgarten instructor who’s also taught at Step-by Step Montessori School and Treks and Trails Preschool.  Anna lives in NE Minneapolis and teaches at Anishinable Academy.  She recently received her Master of Arts in Elementary Education degree from the University of St. Thomas.

Andrea DeOtis

Woodwinds

Andrea started playing the clarinet and singing in choir when she was in 5th grade.  She went on to receive her Bachelor of Science degree in Instrumental and General Music Education from Minnesota State University, Mankato where she played with the Concert Wind Ensemble and the Mankato Symphony Orchestra.  Currently, Andrea plays in the Robbinsdale City Concert and Marching Bands and is an instrumentalist and vocal soloist at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Robbinsdale.  A life-long learner herself, Andrea encourages you to “Never stop learning.  Try to learn something new everyday.”

Nelson Devereaux

CMS/Waite Park Community School After-School Band Program

Nelson’s been involved in music since the age of 8 when he first began playing the saxophone.  He participated in many, varied musical projects and ensembles in the Milwaukee area and studied jazz at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music.  He recently graduated from the U of M with a Bachelor of Music in Saxophone Performance and a Bachelor of Music Education.  You can see Nelson performing in the Twin Cities with “Alicia Steele and the Endeavors”, “Hustle Rose”, “The Tasty Tones”, “The Adam Meckler Orchestra”, “The Brass Barn Polka Band” as well as many other collaborations.

Annie Frohlich

Musikgarten
Annie is a licensed Musikgarten instructor who’s been teaching and assisting in Musikgarten classes for over 10 years. She’s also a preschool and kindergarten teacher at Hand in Hand Christian Montessori School, as well as a singer and professional harpist who enjoys performing for events in the Twin Cities.

Bruce Jackson

Piano, Harmonica, Banjo, Mandolin, Accordion, New Visions Academy Extended Day Program

Bruce has shared his knowledge of the piano by teaching in his own studio and at Evan’s Music for the last 11 years.  Teaching piano improvisation is one of his specialties, which he honed under the direction of the great Manfredo Fest.  He also plays and enjoys teaching harmonica, banjo, mando and accordion.  Bruce performs with legendary Twin Cities acts Ipso Facto, The New Primitives and his own band, Bruce Jackson & The Moondogs88 Band, among many others.  Bruce recently moved to the Victory Neighborhood in North Minneapolis and is excited to give back to the music community by teaching at Camden Music School.

Prudence Johnson

Voice, Group Singing; Planet Homeschool and Restart programs.

Prudence has worked as a full-time performing, recording and teaching artist working in musical theater, film, radio and on concertstages across the US, Europe and Canada for over 30 years.  She’s been a music director at Stepping Stone Theatre for Youth Development since 1996 and has taught private voice lessons as well as group singing classes in Community Education at MCTC.  Now, Prudence wants teaching to be a more significant part of her career mix.  She’s ready to build a singing program and is eager to pass on what she’s learned.

Miguel Hurtado

Drum Set

Miguel graduated in 2010 from the Manhattan School of Music in New York with a BA in Jazz Drumset Performance.  His education out east included an internship at Def Jam Recordings and classes at the Berklee School of Music in Boston.  Miguel is also a proud alum of Minneapolis’ South High music program where he was a member of the Jazz Ensemble.  With his students at CMS, Miguel carefully balances the acquisition of technical skills with their musical tastes.  He adapts his instruction to any performance situations they may have as well.  You can catch Miguel performing around town with Javier Santiago, Toussaint Morrison and Davina and the Vagabonds, among many others.

Michael May

Guitar, bass, ukulele

Michael has been playing, teaching and studying the guitar for over 30 years.  He’s experienced and comfortable with teaching a range of other stringed instruments as well, including bass and ukulele, and he really enjoys helping students reach their musical goals. Michael graduated from Wayne State University in Detroit with a B.A in Music.  Michael will be subbing for Jeffrey Willkomm during the spring 2014 term, while Jeff rests and heals his left hand.

Matthew Mindeman

Violin, Viola

Matthew has 10 years of private teaching experience, and he enjoys teaching students of all ages and abilities.  His goals are to help students find their own musical voices, to build good practicing skills, and to enjoy playing with ease and comfort.   Matthew is currently studying for his Doctorate of Musical Arts at the University of Minnesota.  He received his Bachelors of Music in Viola Performance from Concordia College in Moorhead (his hometown).  Matthew also has a Masters of Music in Viola Performance Degree and a Performer Diploma in Viola from Indiana University’s Jacob School of Music.

Kristin Moon

Cello

Kristin is a delightful, talented teacher who believes “There is an infinite possibility in every student.”  She starting teaching in high school and has continued through college and for the past five years since she received her graduate degree.  She has a B.A. in Music, cum laude, from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa and an M.M. in Cello Performance from the University of Illinois in Urbana.  Kristin has a broad array of performance experience as well and is currently playing cello with the Northern Symphony Orchestra in Anoka.

Chico Perez

Hand Drums

Chico is an Afro-Caribbean percussionist, artist, instructor and drum maker who taught for 10 years at the Cultural Center of Minnesota. He’s also taught at North High, Lucy Laney, Sheridan, Waite Park and Northeast Middle School among many others.  He plays professionally with New Primitives and regularly participates in studio recording projects.

Rick Sellen

Piano, Voice

Rick Sellen is an accomplished teacher, pianist, singer and choral conductor who received his BA in music from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa.  One of his teaching goals is to cultivate enthusiasm, pride and an attitude of possibility in his students so they can realize their full potential.  Rick moved to Minneapolis from Ames, Iowa where he taught piano for 9 years and directed a 23-voice adult church choir.  He’s taught voice and piano, and practiced the art of reaching people in meaningful ways through music at CMS for the past two years.  He is also a member of the American Choral Directors Association.

Nancy VanKampen

Musikgarten, Musikgarten Keyboard

Nancy received her BS degree in Music Education from Case Western Reserve University.  She’s taught Musikgarten classes as a licensed instructor for 8 years, and has been teaching piano and directing children’s church music programs for over 20 years.   Nancy is a true life-long learner, to the benefit of all her students.  She regularly attends the yearly Musikgarten festival in Greensboro, NC.  She’s also a 25-year member of the Minnesota Music Teachers Association and volunteers as the chair of their annual Young Artist Honors Recital, among other volunteer activities.  Last summer she earned her Ultimate Music Theory Certification and she’s now working on her National Music Teachers Certification certificate.

Ginna Watson

Violin, Viola

Ginna really enjoys teaching “all ages of students and all styles of music!”  She’s taught private lessons locally for 20 years and is currently the violin instructor at Hamline University.  She’s also taught at Breck School, Minnesota State University – Moorhead and was a sectional coach for the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies.  In addition, Ginna is an early music specialist, performing with The Rose Ensemble, the Lyra Baroque Orchestra, and others.  She received her Bachelor of Music degree in Music Performance from Michigan State University and has completed graduate work in musicology at the University of Michigan and the U of M.

Jeffrey Willkomm

Guitar, Bass Guitar, Music Theory, Rock ‘n Roll

Jeffrey is on leave during the spring 2014 term in order to rest and heal his left hand.  This is an important time for him – and we wish him well!  Michael May will be substitute teaching for Jeff during this term.

Jeffrey is a professional bassist/guitarist/vocalist with over 30 years of experience in teaching, live performance, theater, arranging, workshop development and recording. He studied for 2 years with Jeff Berlin and received certification at The Player’s School of Music in Clearwater, Florida.  You can see him perform with Exotik-A-GoGo on weekends at Psycho Suzi’s Motor Lounge in NE Minneapolis.