Scott Anderson
Instructor in Music — Clarinet
anderss@stolaf.edu
B.M. clarinet performance, Eastman School of Music, a student of Stanley Hasty; M.M. clarinet performance, Northwestern University, a fellowship student of Robert Marcellus: additional study with Leon Russianoff, Rosario Mazzeo, Franklin Cohen, Mitchell Lurie, and Keith Underwood.  Anderson has held the position of Principal Clarinetist in the Honolulu Symphony, the Grand Rapids Symphony, the Oakland Symphony, and at a number of summer festival orchestras, including the Carmel Bach Festival, Glimmerglass Opera, and Colorado Music Festival. He was a member of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra; while in the Los Angeles area, he also worked frequently as a studio recording musician.  He has recorded on the CRI, Albany, Well-Tempered and Marco Polo labels and performed as concerto soloist at several venues across the United States and in Mexico.  Mr. Anderson taught previously at Grand Valley State University (Michigan), California State University Sacramento, and at the University of California at Berkeley and Davis.  He also currently serves on the summer faculty of the Interlochen Center for the Arts.

Kurt Claussen
Instructor in Music —Saxophone, Chamber Music
claussen@stolaf.edu
https://www.stolaf.edu/people/claussen/Kurt_Claussen_saxophone/Welcome.html
Kurt Claussen has taught saxophone and band for more than twenty years, working with students at all levels from beginner through adult. Since 1995, he has been a band and woodwind specialist at Falcon Ridge Middle School in Apple Valley, Minnesota.

In addition to his school duties, he is adjunct instructor of saxophone at St. Olaf College, and also maintains a select private saxophone studio. Mr. Claussen freelances throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area, and has appeared as a solo and quartet recitalist and clinician in the US, Canada, Norway and Germany.

He holds the performer’s Certificatfrom the Conservatoire National de Region de Bordeaux, France, where he studied with eminent saxophonist and teacher Jean-Marie Londeix. He earned the Master of Music degree in saxophone performance from the University of Minnesota, studying with Ruben Haugen, and the Bachelor of Arts in music education from St. Olaf College.

Mark Kelley
Instuctor in Music — Bassoon
lazarus@stolaf.edu
Mark Kelley earned a B.M. in Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Kelley has studied with George Berry, George Goslee, Norman Herzberg, and Gary Echols.
A 25-year member of the Minnesota Orchestra, Kelley is currently co-principal bassoonist and has appeared as a soloist on several occasions. He has also been a member of the Santa Fe Opera Company orchestra, and has attended numerous summer music festivals worldwide.
He keeps a rigorous performing schedule and maintains a private teaching studio. Kelley has been a member of the St. Olaf music faculty since 1991.

Dana Maeda
Instructor in Music — Oboe, Woodwind Techniques, Chamber Music
Director of Collegium Musicum,
maeda@stolaf.edu
Dana Maeda, graduated from St. Olaf College with a BM degree in Oboe Performance, Vocal Education and Instrumental Education. She then earned a MA in Education from St. Mary’s University. Her primary oboe teachers include Julie Madura and Rhadames Angelucci. In addition to 25 years as a private instructor, she has previously served on the faculty of Bethel University and Crown College.

Dana spent 14 years in the public and private schools teaching band, choir, and classroom music. Her experiences have included instruction at the high school, middle school and elementary levels.  The final 9 years were devoted to elementary classroom music instruction with an emphasis on early childhood development.

Dana currently performs with the Rochester Orchestra and is a founding member of WindWorks Woodwind Quintet. She is active as a free-lance performer in the Twin City area. Some of the ensembles she has performed with include the Bach Society of Minnesota, Minnesota Sinfonia, Minneapolis Pops Orchestra, Arius, Minnetonka Choral Society, Dolce Wind Quintet, and Moody Blues. Dana frequently assumes the coaching/clinician role. These opportunities have included St. Olaf Band Day guest lecturer and soloist, high school master classes on the art of chamber music, judging regional solo/ensemble competitions, and coach for the Minnesota All-State Orchestra woodwind section. In addition to working with the St. Olaf oboe studio, she also coaches chamber ensembles and teaches woodwind methods.

Jill Mahr
Instructor in Music — Flute, Conductor of the Handbell Choirs
mahrj@aol.com
Ms. Mahr holds a B.M. degree in flute performance and music education with a jazz minor from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. She earned a Master of Music degree in Flute Performance at Northwestern University, where she studied with Walfrid Kujala of the Chicago Symphony. In addition to flute instruction, Ms. Mahr directs the St. Olaf Handbell Choir, the St. Olaf Chapel Ringers, and oversees the direction of the student-led Manitou Handbell Choir. Previously she was director of the King’s Ringers at Mount of Olives Baptist Church in Duluth, MN. She is an active member of AGEHR (American Guild of English Handbell Ringers) and is currently their Area VII secretary. Ms. Mahr is principal flute in the Mankato Symphony Orchestra, flute instructor at Minnesota State University in Mankato, Carleton College and has a private flute studio in her home.

Catherine Ramirez
Assistant Professor of Music — Flute, Theory
ramirez@stolaf.edu
Catherine Ramirez earned flute performance degrees at Occidental College (BA), Boccherini Music Institute in Italy (Honors Diploma), Queens College (MA), Yale University School of Music (MM), and Rice University (DMA).  Her teachers include Melissa Colgin-Abeln, Gary Woodward, Marzio Conti, Tara Helen O’Connor, Ransom Wilson and Leone Buyse.

Dr. Ramirez won Second Prize in the Winds Division of the  2013 Città di Padova International Music Competitions and two Third Prizes (Winds and Virtuosity Divisions) at the same competition in 2012 in Italy (the only American to be awarded). She has performed as a solo, chamber and orchestral musician in Italy, France, Austria, Switzerland, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, China, and in the United States.  Dr. Ramirez made her New York recital debut in 2000, and has appeared as a soloist and chamber musician at the Teatro del Giglio in Italy, Salt Lake City’s Temple Square, Merkin Concert Hall, Symphony Space and Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall in New York. Garnering audience acclaim at the National Flute Association (NFA) Convention in North Carolina (2011), she was recently showcased at the 2012 NFA Convention in Las Vegas, and performed at the 2013 New Orleans Convention.  Her playing has been broadcast live on Chicago’s classical radio station WFMT, Rice University’s KTRU and Houston’s KUHF “Front Row” Program.

She has been a concerto soloist in the United States, Italy and China.  She performed on Bellini’s La Sonnambula Variations with L’Offerta Musicale Chamber Orchestra of Venice.  Symphonic performances include the El Paso Opera and El Paso Symphony Orchestras, the Vermont Mozart Festival Orchestra, and the Rice University Shepherd School Orchestras led by Larry Rachleff.  Pperformances as principal flutist include Mozart’s Don Giovanni with conductor Richard Bado, Lalo Schifrin’s Tangos Concertantes with violinist Cho-Liang Lin, and Strauss’ Four Last Songs with soprano Renée Fleming.

Dr. Ramirez is a recent winner of the Sallie Shepherd Perkins Prize for Best Achievement from Rice University(2010).  As the winner of grants from the Yvar Mikhashoff Trust, the Ernst Krenek Society, and philanthropist Andreas Waldburg-Wolfegg, she recorded her debut recital CD Transformation, and commissioned and premiered a new flute and piano work entitled Into Utter Forever (2006) by University of Colorado (Boulder) composer Daniel Kellogg.