Arts Experiences

Caitlin Drayna: Drayna is the events and membership relations director at the Shakopee Chamber of Commerce. She helps small businesses and nonprofits in her community connect and engage with others. Previously, Drayna worked for Shakopee Brewhall, organizing events and engaging with the community. She has organized hundreds of community building events, including live music, trivia nights, and crafting classes. With eight years of experience as a middle and high school band director, Drayna also teaches private music lessons at a small studio in Chaska. Drayna graduated from the University of Minnesota Morris with a degree in music education and holds a master's in music education from Florida State University (Tallahassee, FL). ; Claudia Dreyer: Dreyer is an art educator with 30 years of experience. During this time, she has taught art to preK to 12th graders in the public school system and also to adults through community education. She graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a BFA in studio art and teacher certification, and holds a MEd from Texas Wesleyan University (Fort Worth, TX). ; Steven Hirsh: Hirsh composes music on the drum set. His music is created in real time on the bandstand. It is a process of creation that draws from the influence of his fellow bandmates. Among the musicians he has performed and recorded with are Daniel Carter, George Cartwright, Ellen Christi, Rick Countryman, Art Edmaiston, Douglas Ewart, Gabby Fluke-Mogul, Chad Fowler, and many more. Based in Minnesota, Hirsh plays regularly in New York City and around the U. S. and collaborates with musicians worldwide. ; Evelyn May: Hinrichsen is a writer, editor, and artist. She has been published in Swimming with Elephants, Wingless Dreamer, Brew Your Own, Rain Taxi, and Still Point Arts Quarterly. Hinrichsen is the founder and head editor at Other Worldly Women Press. She holds a BA in technical communication from Metropolitan State University and graduated in 2020 from Augsburg University with a concentration in nonfiction creative writing. She is a Minnesota State Arts Board grant recipient for her editing and writing. ; Juliana Thrall: Thrall is a board certified art therapist and licensed professional clinical counselor at Art of Counseling, serving intersectionally diverse clients. Her past experiences include graduate assistant faculty at Adler Graduate School and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (Saint Mary-Of-The-Woods, IN), lead art therapist at Ars Bellum Foundation, and art therapist at Clara's House. She is finalizing her dissertation research on reflective art practices in museums to complete her PhD at Adler University. She graduated from Pratt Institute (Brooklyn, NY) with a MPS in creative art therapy and creativity development. She has since fulfilled her life passion of sharing the arts with communities to find connection and hope. ; Shawna Weaver: Shawna Weaver is the director of programming at the Duluth Armory Arts and Music Center and runs its Music Resource Center. She has been in nonprofit leadership for more than a decade, including three years as the programs and outreach director for the Walter Monk Foundation for the Oceans and five years as the education director at Animal Allies Humane Society.