Creative Individuals
Creative Individuals
Schmidt will engage Minnesotans in his creative practice through a series of YouTube videos titled "The Songwriter's Craft". He will present a concert featuring original songs and lyrics inspired by the southeast Minnesota coulee region, and produce a new recording.
Carol Bruess: author, speaker, relationship social scientist, and creator; Uri Camarena: business consultant; Michael Charron: arts educator, arts and civic leader; Richard Cohen: attorney in private practice, former state legislator; Emily Galusha: arts and civic leader, former arts administrator; Anthony Gardner, healthcare consultant; Ken Martin: political strategist, campaign manager; Philip McKenzie: adjunct college faculty; Michele Sterner: higher education administrator; Dobson West: retired attorney; Christina Woods: executive director, arts organization
LJ Bauermeister: Chang was raised in south Minneapolis and graduated from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities with a BS in psychology and minors in leadership and public health; he received the UM President's Student Leadership and Service award. He worked in the social impact space at U. S. Bank for more than five years during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and the racial justice movement after the murder of George Floyd. He has worked at Starbucks Coffee Company in supplier diversity and inclusion for the past two years, and has experience serving on nonprofit boards for YouthLink and Mossier.; Rachel Engstrom: Engstrom is a professional tutor and nonprofit leader with extensive experience in educational program management and community engagement. She holds a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of St. Thomas and is pursuing a certificate in nonprofit leadership. Engstrom has volunteered with various organizations, advocating for mental health and the arts. Her involvement in grant writing and program evaluation equips her with the insights necessary to serve as an effective advisor for the Minnesota State Arts Board, contributing to the accessibility and quality of the arts for all Minnesotans.; Isabel McNally: McNally is the communication and programs manager at Engage Winona, a nonpartisan nonprofit focused on rural leadership development and community engagement. Previously, she worked with the Minnesota Farmers Market Hub initiative in Winona and on small organic farms in the Driftless region. She holds a degree in recreation and tourism from Winona State University and has served as a farmers market board member and local library volunteer.; Luke Randall: Randall is an artist who enraptures audiences with his performances in opera, recital, and oratorio works. Along with his deep love of performing, he is a passionate educator and scholar, having taught at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI), Eastern Michigan University (Ypsilanti, MI), and Interlochen Center for the Arts (Interlochen, MI). Randall received his DMA and MM in vocal performance from the University of Michigan and his BM in vocal performance from Lawrence University (Appleton, WI). He was previously the director of the Mount Olivet School of Music and the Arts. He is currently pursuing his MBA at the University of Minnesota.; Samantha Thibert: Thibert is the senior interior designer for Marvin. When she isn't working on community development projects, she is also a ceramic artist and supporter of the local art community. She serves on the Advisory Board for Bemidji State University's Arts Board.
ACHF Arts Access
I will link engaging Minnesotans in my creative practice, songwriting, online via YouTube to doing so in live performance and through a new recording. YouTube episode viewers will be asked to self-identify their Minnesota domicile in the online comment section of each video and capstone concert attendees will report the same on evaluation forms. This data will be compiled and reported to the Arts Board.