Shane Akers

Plays:
Acoustic and Electric Guitar, Dobro, Lap Steel

Education:
Degree in Music Performance and Degree in Studio Performance, McNally Smith College of Music

Professional Gigs:
Currently playing with: Doug Otto & the Getaways, the Andra Suchy Band, Matt Pudas & the North Country Bandits; Fills in or has played with: The Dollys, The White Iron Band, The Copperheads, Sam Kuusisto, Chuck Suchy (a true honor)

Styles:
Blues, Rock, Country, Bluegrass, Jazz, Funk; flatpicking guitar, old and modern Bluegrass/Jazz

Music Icons:
Tony Rice, Jerry Douglas, Pat Metheny, John Scofield, Bill Frisell, Bryan Sutton, Hendrix, Clapton, Rob Ickes, Mike Auldridge, Sam Bush, Edgar Meyer, Bela Fleck, Coltrane, Miles Davis

Career Highlights:
Studying and recording under jazz guitarist/Nashville studio musician and producer Mike Elliott whose career list is as impressive as it gets (including Johnny Smith, Les Paul, Jonny Cash, Ray Charles, Edgar Meyer, Chet Atkins, Howard Roberts, and Neil Young).

Elliott Blaufuss

Plays:
Guitar, Keyboard, Clarinet, Saxophone, Bass plus Vocals

Professional Gigs:
Ipso Facto, Dred I Dred, The Johnny Holm Band, The Intentions

Styles:
Jazz, Funk, Soul, R&B

Music Icons:
Robben Ford, James Taylor, Steely Dan, Lyle Lovett, Ray Charles, Bing Crosby, Charlie Parker

Kevin Fuhrmann

Plays:
Steel Drum, Drumset, Marimba, Vibraphone, Hand Percussion, Marching Percussion, Timbales

Education:
Bachelor of Music, Arizona State University, Magna cum Laude

Professional Gigs:
"33 North" (steel drum band in Twin Cities), Bloomington Civic Theater, Chanhassen Dinner Theater; also Marching Band Director for Coon Rapids and Maple Grove High Schools, Drumline Director for Coon Rapids and Simley High Schools

Styles:
Island Music; Drumset styles include Rock, Funk, Jazz, Latin, World

Music Icons:
Steve Gadd, Vinnie Caliuta, Dave Weckl, Andy Narrell, Led Zepplin, The Police, Parliament, Sting, Paul Simon

Career Highlights:
Co-authoring Turn It Up and Lay It Down, a critically acclaimed drumset method publication, and writing Additive Rhythm Technique Approach to Sightreading on Keyboard Percussion.

Tiffin Fuhrman

Plays:
Flute, Piccolo, Piano, Organ

Education:
Bachelor of Arts, Flute Performance Augustana College; Master of Music, Flute Performance Arizona State University School of Music; Organ, School of Continuing Studies, Concordia College

Professional Gigs:
Sound Perception (flute and marimba duo), Arizona Art Ensemble, Arizona State University: Symphonic Band, Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera Theatre Orchestra, New Music Ensemble as well chamber ensembles and solo performances, Augustana College: Symphonic Band as well as chamber ensembles and solo performances

Music Icons:
James Galway, Jean-Pierre Rampal, and my teachers over the years

Career Highlights:
Performing solo concerts with orchestra as winner of concerto competitions, traveling on tour as a concert soloist with the Augustana band, traveling with the ASU choir in Europe as flutist, freelance chamber music work in MN and AZ, as well as successful student recitals.

Tom Halpin

Plays:
Guitar, Bass, Voice, Piano

Education:
Bachelor of Arts, Plattsburg State University, Classical & Jazz Guitar Performance Major

Professional Gigs:
Began playing guitar, bass guitar and piano during Middle School in churches throughout New York State, including the Up With People folk group; played in the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s rock, blues, funk, jazz, and country bands

Styles:
Rock, Jazz, R&B, Funk, Classical, Contemporary Christian, Folk, Country, 50s R&R

Music Icons:
Charlie Christian, Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, Jeff Beck, George Benson, Peter Townsend, Larry Carlton

Career Highlights:
Being an ensemble guitarist for Northern New York performances with Maynard Ferguson (best known for Rocky theme); participating in master class, classical guitar, with Muriel Anderson; having conversations with Joe Pass.

Peter Hennig

Plays:
Drumset.

Education:

2 years private study with Nashville based session drummer Rick Brothers. Graduated from McNally/Smith College of Music with a degree in performance. 2 years private study with Twin Cities based drummer Dave King. On going study with New York based drummer Ari Hoenig.

Professinal Gigs:
Has performed with: Bruce Henry, Debbie Duncan, Billy Johnson, Wayne McFarlin, Les Exodus, Katie Gearty, Sophia Shorai, Arnie Fogel, John Starkey, Sam Kuusisto, etc...

Currently performs with:

The Atlantis Quartet, Ticklefight, The Fantastic Merlins, Andra Suchy, The Wild Colonial Bhoys, and DJ Charlie Devanna.

Styles:
Rock, Jazz, Raggae, Funk, Latin, West African, Country, Bluegrass, etc...

Music Icons:
John Bohnam, Steve Gadd, Steve Ferrone, Vinnie Colaiuta, Jeff Ballard, Ari Hoenig, Dave King, Bela
Fleck...

Career Highlights:
Sharing the Dakota stage with members of the Michael Buble Group. Winning one, and being nominated for three other Minnesota Music Awards in 2004 (with the John Starkey Band). Having original compositions featured on 88.5 KBEM and 90.3 KFAI.

Chris Martin

Plays:
Violin, Guitar, Piano

Education:
Studied at Truman State University plus 12 years private study

Professional Gigs:
Falling for Fenton, Mammas Boys

Styles:
Classical, Rock and Blues

Music Icons:
John Lee Hooker, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and B.B. King

Career Highlights:
Being a 2-time winner of the Missouri Federation of Music Club

Cody McKinney

Plays:
Electric/ Acoustic Bass Guitar (primary instrument), Double-Bass, Acoustic and Electric Guitar, Drums, Piano

Education:
McPhail Center for the Arts, Berklee College of Music; studied with Charlie Banacos (Mike Stern's teacher), Bruce Gertz (Stu Hamm, Victor Bailey's teacher), Anthony Cox

Professional Gigs:
Sophia Shorai, Katie Gearty, Inspirado, The Park Evans Quartet, Battlecat, Sam Kuusisto, Axis Mundi at venues including The Dakota Jazz club, Rossi's Blue Star, The Walker Arts Center, 7th Street Entry, Northrop Auditorium, Peavy Plaza, Mpls Convention Center, as well as on tour and on over two dozen recordings ranging from Jazz to Heavy Metal, local and national

Styles:
Jazz, West African, Cuban, Funk/Fusion, R&B, Avant-garde, Polyrhythmic cycles of Eastern Europe and Western Asia,
Harmony and Reharmonization

Music Icons:
Jazz bassists: Dave Holland, Larry Grenadier, Marc Johnson, Gary Peacock, Steve Swallow, Charlie Haden;
Pop-bassists: Pino Palladino, Jaco Pastorious, Tony Levin, Rocco Prestia; Film Composers: Thomas Newman, Ennio
Morricone, Danny Elfman, Henry Mancini

Career Highlights:
Playing with Blue Note Saxophonist Joe Lavano, jazz icon Mulgrew Miller, jazz guitarist Clay Moore, Dean Macgraw, Billy McLaughlin, members of Prince's NPG, as well as hundreds of local greats; receiving nominations for three Minnesota Music Awards (as a member of the John Starkey Band) and sharing the stage with Steppenwolf and The Guess Who.

Siren Mitchell

Teaches:
Vocal training, also plays Guitar

Education:
Trained with Elizabeth Sabine and studied music at Westminster College and Diablo Valley College

Professional Clients (local):
X Ray Hip, Estyria, Rico Nevotion, F.A.I.T.H., Licker, Ryan Pula and many more

Styles:
professional studio training in voice as well as songwriting, performance 101, marketing, branding and booking; vocal students participate in a showcase performance at the Fine Line Music Cafe each quarter

Eric Moeckel

Plays:
Acoustic and Electric Guitar, Piano

Education:
Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies, DePaul University. Studied under Bobby Broom and Bob Palmieri

Professional Gigs:
The Sextons (indie rock), Subdivider (indie rock), Eric Moeckel (singer-songwriter), Duo Arco (classical violin/guitar duo), New Mercury Trio (jazz)

Music Icons:
Nick Drake, Elliot Smith, Radiohead, Wes Montgomery, Loenard Cohen, Joe Pass, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Beatles, The Pixies

Musical Highpoints:
Several shows around Minneapolis/St. Paul at the Fine Line, the Uptown Bar, the 400 Bar, the Turf Club, the Hexagon, Rossi's, the Acadia Cafe, and others, and in Chicago at the Beat Kitchen, the Empty Bottle, and Schuba's.

Albert Perez

Plays:
Guitar

Education:
Associates Degree in Applied Science and Advanced Musicianship Diploma, McNally Smith College of Music

Professional Gigs:
Doug Otto and the Getaways

Styles:
Most American styles including Jazz, Blues, and Country. Also Rock, Latin, and Reggae

Music Icons:
Jim Hall, Albert King, Danny Gatton, Jimi Hendrix, TIto Puente, Bob Marley, Marc Ribot, Kevin Daily, Mike Elliot, Bob Stanton, and the many other talented teachers at McNally-Smith

Career Highlights:
Performing at 10K Festival, graduating from Music School and being a part of the first Latin rock band Estimulos.

Zak Rivers

Plays: Guitar and Cello

Education:
Zak earned a B. A. Music degree from Minnesota State University.  He paired it with a Microcomputer Technology minor. 

Professional Gigs:
Throughout college Zak performed with the Mankato Symphony Orchestra which provided a variety of opportunities besides the classics such as playing alongside The Moody Blues, The Fifth Dimension, and Vince Gill.  Today Zak performs with the Saint Paul Civic Symphony.
Zak plays with the cover band Decadence Inc., an original fusion trio Rivers Edge, and original rock Ghostwood Project.

Styls:
Rock, Blues, Classical, Metal, Finger-Style, and Jazz

Music Icons:
Bootsy Collins

Career Highlights:
Zak has always played in both cover bands and original music, having the opportunity to open for acts such as Skid Row, Green Day, Quiet Riot, NOFX, Night Ranger, Firehouse, and Nazareth. 

Nick Salisbury

Plays:
4 & 5 String Electric Bass (fretted and fretless)

Education:
Bachelor of Music in electric bass performance, Berklee College of Music, Summa Cum Laude; private studies with Peter Olson and Hutch Hutchinson (Bonnie Raitt Band and studio legend)

Professional Gigs:
G.B. Leighton, Mick Sterling & the Stud Brothers, Plums Minnesota Songwriters Showcase, Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Excelsior, Bridgewood Church of Savage

Styles:
R&B, Rock, Blues and Jazz; also a specialization in stylistic interpretation and bass line construction

Music Icons:
Aston "Family Man" Barrett, Jack Casady, Tommy Cogbill, Duck Dunn / STAX Records, Davey Faragher, Tony Garnier, Bob Glaub, Leroy Hodges / HI Records Rhythm Section, David Hood / Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, Hutch Hutchinson, James Jamerson / Motown, Larry Klein, Scott LaFaro, Paul McCartney, Pino Palladino, Jaco Pastorius, George Porter Jr., Taras Prodaniuk, Carl Radle, Michael Rhodes, Lee Sklar, Joey Spampinato, Steve Swallow, Willie Weeks and T-Bone Wolk

Career Highlights:
Working under the direction of veteran producers such as Don Dixon (REM, The Smithereens) and Marty Frederickson (Jonny Lang, Aerosmith); recording with legendary drummer Kenny Aronoff; sharing the stage with Brad Paisley, Cowboy Mouth and Tommy Stewart (Fuel, Godsmack) and recent studio sessions including G.B. Leighton, Mary Cutrufello, Apryl Electra, Gary D and the Fabulous Armadillos, Mick Sterling & the Stud Brothers, and Rick McGuire.

Brad Shermock

Plays:
Trumpet, Guitar

Education:
Bachelor of Music from University of North Texas, Master of Music from DePaul University

Professional Gigs:
Prince, Chaka Khan, Larry Graham, Donny Osmond, Franki Valli, Trisha Yearwood, Michael Bolton, Woody Herman, Glenn Miller, Jimmy Dorsey

Styles:
Jazz to Rock

Musical Icons:
Doc Serverinson, Maynard Ferguson, Eddie VanHalen, Wynton Marsalis

Casey Smith

Plays:
Guitar, Bass, Vocals, Piano, Saxophone

Education:
Degree in Jazz Guitar Performance, Moorhead State University; 10 years of study on piano, 7 years on saxophone, and 12 years on guitar

Professional Gigs:
Scarlet Haze (recipients of MMA for best hard rock recording and opening band for Bon Jovi at the Target Center). I have also opened for national acts such as Nickelback, Tim McGraw, Firehouse, Warrant, Foghat, Vince Neil, 7 Mary 3, and White Lion. Also the S.O.B.s (Singers on Barstools) acoustic group

Styles:
Mainly Rock, Jazz, and Blues

Music Icons:
Rock guitarists: Steve Vai, Nuno Bettencourt, Ty Tabor, Blues Saraceno, Steve Lukather, Scott Henderson, Jimmy Page;
Blues: Stevie Ray Vaughn, Robert Cray, Eric Clapton; Jazz: Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, John Scofield, Charlie Christian, Pat Martino; Country: Brad Paisley, Brent Mason; Acoustic: Michael Hedges, Jimmy Page

Pete St. Martin

Plays:
Guitar

Education:
McNally-Smith College of Music, currently studying full-time at the University of Minnesota, Pre-Med with a Biochemistry major and a Spanish Minor

Styles:
Rock, Metal, Alternative, Jazz, Blues, and a little bit of Flamenco

Music Icons:
The Weakerthans, Tom Waits, Beck, Radiohead, Weird Al, Pantera, Death, Lamb of God, Nirvana, Iron Maiden, Slayer, Bright Eyes, Alkaline Trio, Alice In Chains, and The Plastic Constellations