DR. LOREN (Master Piano Instructor) – Loren graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance. While there, he was the recipient of a Berneking Fellowship and taught private lessons and class piano for over 250 students. He holds a bachelors degree in Music from Northern Kentucky University, where he received the prestigious Dean’s Scholarship and the Commonwealth Scholarship for Academic Excellence. Loren currently serves as Adjunct Professor of Piano at St. Cloud State University. His principal teachers have been Lydia Artymiw, Sergei Polusmiak, and Nina Polonsky.
Loren has over ten years of experience teaching piano students of all ages and levels, and his flexible teaching approach is geared toward helping students achieve their potential. His goal is to help each student succeed in attaining enjoyment and personal expression through music.
Loren is an active performer, and he has recently appeared in solo recitals at important Minnesota venues, including for the Schubert Club at the Landmark Center in St. Paul, Minnesota Public Radio’s 2011 Bach Anniversary Concert at the St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel, and as a soloist with the Minnesota Sinfonia. He has won top awards in various competitions, including the Graves Regional Young Artist Competition, the Tifereth Israel Young Artist Competition, the NFAA National Arts Recognition Talent Search, the Paducah Symphony Concerto Competition, the MTNA Kentucky State Piano Competition, and the Columbus Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition. He has been a featured participant in numerous chamber music festivals throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Loren is also a prolific cartoonist, and his musical humor panel “Humoresque” is currently published by Clavier Companion, and in the UK by Piano Professional.
DR. YU-HSUAN (Master Piano Instructor) - A native of Taiwan, Yu-Hsuan received her Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from the University of Minnesota where she studied with Prof. Alexander Braginsky. She received her Master of Music in Piano Performance under tutorage of Dr. Louis Nagel from the University of Michigan. Her undergrad study at National Taiwan Normal University focused on piano, cello, and music education.
She has ten years of experience teaching students from all ages and levels. While a Graduate Instructor at the University of Minnesota, Yu-Hsuan also taught private piano lessons to both music and non-music major students for two years. She has successfully prepared students for auditions, juries, and concerts.
Yu-Hsuan won several competitions, including the Schubert Club Scholarship Competition and Changhua County Piano Competition. She had participated in master classes with Authur Green, Hie-Yon Choi, Rebecca Penneys, and Read Gainsford. Besides teaching, Yu-Hsuan is still an active performer and has performed in many concerts as both a solo and collaborative pianist.
CHRISTINE (Piano Instructor) – Christine graduated from Northwestern College with a degree in Music with a Piano Performance emphasis. Christine has been playing piano since the age of seven. She was taught by her mother and now is pursuing teaching piano as a career. Prior to All Things Musik, Christine has taught in many places to children and adults from various backgrounds. Her experience as the Student Choral Conductor at Northwestern College has developed her interest in vocal/choral music and broadened her appreciation of different types of music education. Christine is currently in her sixth year of teaching piano and recently completed a piano internship with the MacPhail Center for Music.
ALISON (Piano Instructor) – Alison recently graduated from Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, MN with a Sociology degree and minors in both Music and Psychology. Music has always been a big part of her life as she has taken part in many musical ensembles including Bethany’s Concert Choir, Mary Martha Choir, College and Church Handbells, and Drum Line. She has also taken piano lessons since she was in Kindergarten, voice lessons for three years at Bethany, and has accompianed both soloists and choirs. While at Bethany she was blessed to obtain roles in several of the musicals including (Pitti-Sing) in “The Mikado,” (Saphir) in “Patience,” (Phillipa Ruxton) in “Oh, Kay,” and (Mrs. Elliot) in “Jam Jar Sonnets.” She most recently was privileged to perform in her own solo recital at Bethany in May of 2011 which included both voice and piano.
Alison works at a local grade school as the 5th and 6th grade music teacher, as well as the 7th and 8th grade Handbell director. This fall, she will again be apart of her church’s Handbell ensemble and is looking forward to continuing to use her piano and vocal skills as a soloist at her church. She has a passion for music and can’t wait to pass her knowledge onto the next generation of students. She strongly believes in the wonderful benefits that can come to those who take instrumental lessons and who learn and study music. Her goal is to make each student’s learning as fun and as beneficial as possible so that they, too, can learn to love music as she has!
LAURA (Piano and Voice Instructor) – loves seeing her students constantly grow in their skills and passion for music! In December, she graduated from Northwestern College in Saint Paul with a degree in Vocal Music Education. There, as a section leader in the Northwestern College Choir, she had the opportunity to tour in Arizona and Texas, as well as Estonia, Latvia, and Finland. Laura loves spending time with her husband, playing guitar and piano, and performing music at her church in Minneapolis.
PENNY (Piano Instructor)- Penny graduated from St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN with a Bachelor of Arts in music degree. Her areas of study included voice, organ, and piano. Penny sang with the St. Olaf Choir and with Robert Shaw and the Atlanta Symphony Chorus and Chamber Chorus.
Penny has sixteen plus years experience in private music instruction and has served as music instructor for Redeemer Lutheran School in Wayzata, Minn. In addition, Penny has served as organist and choral director for several churches through the years and currently is the organist and choral director for a church in Brooklyn Center, Minn.
Penny believes in teaching in a very positive, and nurturing way. She loves to watch each student develop a love and appreciation for music at the pace that best suits his or her individual learning style.
ELLIOTT (Piano, Voice, Guitar, Composition Instructor) – Elliott studied Music Theory & Composition at The University of Sioux Falls, SD; he then transferred to The University of South Dakota and received a BFA in Musical Theatre Performance, Minor in Music. He is continuing his teaching, composition, and acting career in the Twin Cities. He is a composer, songwriter, musical director, actor, singer, dancer, model, playwright, and performer. He has been teaching voice, guitar, and piano professionally for over five years and is excited to be continuing his teaching career with “All Things Musik.” Elliott has also composed the music and lyrics for the new Contemporary American Musical, “The Music Box.” He has toured with several theatrical Broadway companies in New York, Texas, South Dakota, and Minnesota. His favorite theatrical performance roles include (Tony) “West Side Story,” (Chad) “All Shook Up,”(Cinderella’s Prince) “Into the Woods,” & (Host) “Survivor Live.”
LYNN (Piano Instructor) - Lynn graduated from Saint Mary’s University with a bachelor’s degree in Saxophone Performance with a concentration in Music Education and a master’s degree in Instruction with a concentration in Special Education. She is currently finishing a doctoral degree.
Lynn began her musical career almost twenty years ago, with her first saxophone lessons. Since then, she has performed with numerous bands, including marching bands, pep bands, concert bands, wind ensembles, jazz ensembles, jazz combos, and other various musical groups. Lynn has even performed at Le Petit Journal, a world renowned jazz club in Paris. She has taught music in private and public institutions, and is eager to stay involved in music as an instructor at All Things Musik. Because of Lynn’s vast musical experience, she is qualified to teach all band instruments, beginning piano and voice.
MIKE (Master Piano Instructor) - Mike graduated from Saint John’s University in Collegeville, MN in 2007 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Piano Performance. During his four years studying under the tutelage of Fr. Robert Koopmann; OSB, now the president of the University, Mike developed the passion for music that encouraged him to start teaching piano to elementary students, and he’s never looked back. After graduating from Saint John’s University, Mike attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he earned his Master’s Degree in Piano Pedagogy in 2009. Studying under the guidance of Judit Jaimes further enhanced his desire to share music and teach piano to children. While working towards his Master’s Degree, he taught both individual and group piano lessons to elementary students. Since earning his Master’s Degree, Mike has taught primarily individual piano lessons; the last two years to 30 students in the Minnetonka School District. Mike firmly believes that successful teaching is based on a positive relationship between student and teacher and that each lesson should be catered to the student’s needs and abilities in order to spark the imagination and witness the joy that comes with making music. In addition to teaching, Mike enjoys playing for weddings and accompanying in the Twin Cities area.
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TIFFIN (Piano Instructor and Master Flute Instructor) – A music-lover from a young age, Tiffin graduated from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota with degrees in Flute Performance and English. She then went on to attend the Arizona State University School of Music and received a Master’s Degree in Flute Performance. Besides teaching flute students for over 20 years, Tiffin has also enjoyed performing in South Dakota, Arizona, and Minnesota and is still active locally performing for weddings, musicals, and other events. She counts herself a member of both the National Flute Association and the Upper Midwest Flute Association. Tiffin began piano lessons in first grade and continued to study privately through her freshman year in college. She also accompanied juries at the college level. Four years ago, she began teaching piano students in addition to flute. She currently is a church choir accompanist and parochial school staff accompanist and enjoys accompanying her students, too. She also performs locally for weddings, funerals, and other events. Along with the flute and piano, Tiffin is organist for two local churches. After stumbling on the opportunity to play organ, she caught the bug and studied organ privately at Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota.
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REBECCA (Piano and Voice Instructor) – Rebecca was born in Bismarck, North Dakota, but has lived all over the United States. Rebecca graduated from the University Of Southern Maine School Of Music with a bachelor’s degree in Music Education with a concentration in voice. She has directed and sung in numerous choirs and musical productions, working with students from ages 4-18. Rebecca has taken piano lessons for over 22 years. Rebecca believes that music is essential to the education of all students. She believes it provides a mentally stimulating and creative experience that enhances every student. Rebecca loves the energy and open-mindedness of young students. She enjoys sharing her passion for music, both through piano and voice, with a new generation of musicians.
LINDSAY (Piano and Voice Instructor) – Originally from Wausau, Wisconsin, Lindsay has been performing in the Midwest since the age of eight. She was classically trained in both piano and voice at the Wausau Conservatory of Music throughout middle school and high school. After high school she moved to Northfield, MN to pursue music and psychology at St. Olaf College. There she was a member of the Chapel Choir, continued her training in voice and piano and participated in local community theater. After college she made the big move up to the cities and began a career as a musical theater actress. After three years in Minneapolis, Lindsay decided to make the even bigger move to Los Angeles to pursue all things performance. There she participated in the world premier rock opera Frank Zappa’s Joe’s Garage, began writing music and performing at various venues. When she spent a month in Ghana teaching in an orphanage she learned her love for teaching. Now happy to be back in Minneapolis, Lindsay teaches piano and voice lessons during the week and can be found on the weekends either playing music at a local venue or performing with one of the various local theaters.
JACCI (Piano Instructor) - Jacci graduated Summa Cum Laude from St. Cloud State University where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education. Before earning her teaching degree, Jacci attended the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh for two years as a music education major with an emphasis in piano. Jacci believes in creating a caring, patient, and safe environment where students are encouraged in their talent or skill. Jacci is attuned to different learning styles, and she will work with a variety of methods to fit each student. She encourages her students to have fun, and usually provides a reward system for practice. Jacci currently volunteers at her church by serving in the children’s ministry where she leads the preschool class and serves as a keyboardist on the worship team. In addition, she volunteers by playing the piano at a nearby Assisted Living Center in Osseo, MN .
Susan (Piano Instructor) -Susan enjoys teaching all levels of students, and has a soft spot for beginners because they bring such enthusiasm and excitement. Susan began piano lessons when she was six years old, studying under Julliard graduate Maggie Gammell for 15 years. With Mrs. Gammell, Susan participated in adjudicated competitions and played for a variety of audience sizes and types. While in college, Susan also studied in Salzburg, Austria, birthplace of the revered composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. She also received formal kinder music training. Susan has had a wide variety of music-related positions for many years, including church organist (25 years), pianist for a women’s group, choir accompanist, and theatre accompanist. Susan encouraged her four children (now grown) to love and participate in music, so she brings with her a parent’s perspective. Susan lives in Maple Grove with her husband and daughter.
JOHNA (Voice/Piano Instructor) - Johna graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. She has been teaching private voice and piano lessons for six years. Johna began taking private voice lessons at the age of 13, and currently studies with Jean del Santo at the University of Minnesota. She also studied percussion, specializing in mallets, from the time she was 11 through her sophomore year in college.
