School of Performing Arts Faculty & Staff

MSUM's School of Performing Arts dedicated faculty members are seasoned professionals who are deeply connected to the arts community. They are focused on helping students reach their dreams and aspirations and offer extensive professional expertise and networks. The school is extremely influential in the Fargo-Moorhead arts community, through active faculty involvement in professional music and theatre groups. Every year the department sponsors exceptional student performances, nationally recognized visiting artists and several community outreach events.

Laurie Blunsom, PhD, MFA, MM, BM
Professor
School of Performing Arts
Send Email | Phone: 218.477.4606218.477.4606
CA 102
Laurie Blunsom received her Ph.D. in musicology at Brandeis University and also holds an M...

Lori Cline
Adjunct
School of Performing Arts

Benjamin Druffel, DMA, MM, BA
Assistant Professor of Instrumental Music Education
School of Performing Arts
Send Email | Phone: 218.477.2103218.477.2103
CA 135
Benjamin James Druffel is currently Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Bands at ...

Jenny Dufault, PhD, MM, BS (She/Her/Hers)
Professor
School of Performing Arts
Send Email | Phone: 218.477.2101218.477.2101
CA 110
Jenny Dufault has taught private voice lessons for over thirty years; twenty-four of them ...

Melissa (Missy) Howard
OAS Intermediate
School of Performing Arts
Send Email | Phone: 218.477.2124 218.477.2124
CA 102

Maxfield Johnk, MM, BMUS
Adjunct Professor of Commercial Music
School of Performing Arts
Max Johnk is a bassist, composer and teacher. A native of the Fargo- Moorhead area, Max ea...

Michael Johnson, DMA, MM, BA (He/Him/His)
Assistant Professor of Vocal Music Education
School of Performing Arts
Send Email | Phone: 218.477.4099218.477.4099
CA 107
Dr. Michael J. Johnson serves as Director of Choral Activities and Vocal Music Education a...

Laura Kellogg, DMA, MM, BM
Adjunct Professor of Flute
School of Performing Arts
CA 105
Laura, Professor of Flute, graduated with a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Univers...

Jonathan Larson, MEd, BA
Adjunct Violin Professor
School of Performing Arts
Send Email | Phone: 218.477.2101218.477.2101
CA 137
Mr. Jon Larson, Adjunct Violin Professor. Mr. Larson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Ed...

Paul Liversage, MEd, BS
Adjunct Professor of Saxophone and Clarinet
School of Performing Arts
Paul Liversage received his Masters of Music Education degree from Florida State Universit...

Eric Martens, MM, BM
Adjunct Professor of Guitar
School of Performing Arts
Send Email | Phone: 218.477.2101218.477.2101
CA 139
Guitarist Eric Martens has been an active performer and instructor in the Midwest since 20...

Amy Mercer, DMA, MM, BM
Assistant Professor
School of Performing Arts
Send Email | Phone: 218.477.4094218.477.4094
CA 106
Amy Mercer earned her doctorate in piano performance at North Dakota State University, stu...

Alison Molony, BA
Adjunct Professor of Commercial Music
School of Performing Arts
Alison Molony is a professional singer with almost 20 years of experience in the entertain...

Douglas Neill, MS, BS
Adjunct Professor of Electric Bass and Tuba
School of Performing Arts
Send Email | Phone: 218.477.2101218.477.2101
CA 138
Doug Neill is currently the adjunct bass and tuba instructor at MSUM. He has spent the pa...

Elise Nelson, MM, BM
Adjunct Professor of Cello
School of Performing Arts
Send Email | Phone: 218.477.2101218.477.2101
CA 136
Cellist Elise Buffat Nelson currently teaches at NDSU and MSUM and has an extensive precol...

Timothy Nelson, MM, MM, BM
Adjunct
School of Performing Arts

Brian Sterriker
Adjunct Professor
School of Performing Arts
CA 105
Professor Brian R. Sterriker, Adjunct Professor of Bassoon at MSUM, has played with multip...

Tom Strait, DA, MM, BME
Professor
School of Performing Arts
Send Email | Phone: 218.477.4096218.477.4096
CA 141
Dr. Tom Strait is has been a faculty member at MSUM since 2001. He teaches trumpet, trombo...

Matthew Tinjum
Adjunct
School of Performing Arts

Kelley Tracz
Adjunct
School of Performing Arts
Dr. Kelley Tracz is an adjunct Professor of Oboe at MSUM, and is very active as both a per...

Christopher Underwood, MS, BS
Adjunct Faculty
School of Performing Arts
CA 116
Christopher Underwood teaches K-5 grade music at Washington Elementary in Fargo, N.D., whe...

Kenyon Williams, DMA, MM, BME
Professor
School of Performing Arts
Send Email | Phone: 218.477.4610218.477.4610
CA 102E
Dr. Kenyon Williams has worked throughout the United States as a professional performer, e...

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