House Musician / Músicos locales
Craig Wasner
Craig Wasner is known in the Northfield community as a talented musician, band leader, musical arranger, mentor, colleague, and friend. Pre-1990, Craig and a varying group of musicians performed several annual concerts, with all proceeds going to World Vision, a charity fighting for those in need. In 1991 Craig joined forces with Pastor Will Healy and others to expand on the World Vision benefit idea, creating the Over & Back benefit shows supporting local charitable efforts and area organizations whose missions included community building, education, and improving the quality of life for the more vulnerable among us. Craig also loves working with aspiring young musicians and understands the power of music in education. Always willing to give everyone an opportunity to experience the beauty and power of music, no auditions are necessary, “just a voice that can carry a tune and a passionate desire to make great music”. If you asked Craig where his music comes from he’d say, “It’s a feel thing.” Craig has dedicated his life to sharing his musical gifts with anyone needing a little something more, no matter the reason.
Performers / Artistas
LISTED IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE
The Over & Back Band
Craig Wasner – keys and vocals
Gordon Oschwald – bass and vocals
Kenny Wilson – pedal steel and guitar
Mike Hildebrandt – violin and vocals
Steve Jennings – drums and vocals
The Over & Back Band has been together since their start as the house band for the renowned Northfield benefit show, Over & Back, hosted by Will Healy. The addition of first call Minnesota pedal steel guitarist Kenny Wilson (Daisy Dillman Band) compliments the already exciting instrumental virtuosity displayed by Craig, Gordon, Mike and Steve. It’s an irresistible combination of jazz, bluegrass, country, blues and rock music.
Daniel Lohmann
Daniel Lohmann is a singer/songwriter/performer hailing from Northfield, where he developed a passion for music through participation in various Northfield musical productions, as well as leading his high school rock band Autophobia. He has since combined his interests in music and travel by performing internationally as an acoustic solo artist, and touring with rock group The Haze in Switzerland and Italy. His 2018 cover of Keane’s Everybody’s Changing and his 2019 EP Howling at the Moon are available on Spotify and other music platforms. Daniel is currently based in Rīga, Latvia, where he lives with his wife Anna and works as a researcher for the EU’s ICT4COP project on community-based policing in post-conflict regions. You can find him on Facebook and Instagram (daniellohmannmusic).
Louis & Dan and the Invisible Band
Louis and Dan live across the street from each other in Northfield, MN. Louis lives on the south side of the street. Dan lives on the north side of the street. Louis teaches at St. Olaf College. Dan teaches at Carleton College. Louis is short. Dan is tall. Louis is young. Dan is old. Louis is handsome. Dan is really handsome. By rights they should be mortal enemies. But really, they’re best friends who write songs about rodents, underwear spaghetti, princesses, and hot dogs. Louis and Dan the Invisible Band have released two albums — available everywhere you can stream music — and are busy at work on a third. With their invisible band backing them up, Louis and Dan will have children and adults alike dancing, singing, and acting like squirrels. Learn more about these best friends!
Tesfa Wondemagegnehu & Jane Moore
Tesfa Wondemagegnehu – With a love of music as big as his last name, Tesfa Wondemagegnehu has been sharing joy and a vision for equity and justice through song for over a decade. Through a triumvirate of teaching, conducting, and performing, he has found a way to transform both students and audiences and to reach those seeking resolutions of peace, equality, and respect … through music. Born and raised in Memphis, with an impressive collection of opinions on barbecue, Tesfa learned early on from one of his mentors that “Excellence is never an accident.” Tesfa currently serves as the conductor of the Viking Chorus and the Chapel Choir at St. Olaf College and has conducted and led masterclasses, workshops, and clinics both nationally and internationally. Learn more about Tesfa or connect with him on Instagram (tesfawon).
Jane Moore – Jane Moore’s career as a collaborative pianist began when she was a 12-year-old seventh grader asked to accompany her junior high choir. Memorably, “Close to You” and “You Light Up My Life” were among the first choral arrangements she recalls playing in that role. Following four years as a high school choral, solo/ensemble and community musical accompanist, Jane studied piano with William Nelson at Carleton College, where she also played for the Carleton Choir and Chamber Singers, Gilbert & Sullivan productions, musical revues and student vocalists/instrumentalists. She holds a B.A. in English from Carleton. Jane has accompanied church choirs, chamber groups, weddings, funerals, vocal and instrumental soloists/ensembles, high school and college choirs, choral festivals and more than two dozen musical theater productions over the past 25+ years. She recently relocated with her family to Northfield, where she hopes to find new opportunities for musical involvement. In addition to her recreational clarinet playing, Jane is a freelance writer, a wife, a mother of three musically engaged young adults, a willing volunteer and a (reluctant) caretaker of two cats and one bearded dragon.
Stina Nesbit & Sam Adams
Northfield native, Stina Nesbit, started her singing career by participating in Northfield Youth Choirs, Northfield Arts Guild theater productions, and the Northfield High School Choir. When she attended St. Olaf College Stina met Sam Adams, who would become her partner in life and music. While their first musical experience together was in a folk band, they now play mostly jazz and R&B at local venues near their home in Knoxville, Tennessee. When they aren’t out performing, Stina works as a mental health therapist for people in addiction recovery and Sam is attending the University of Tennessee where he is completing his master’s degree in Jazz Piano.
Mary Doodles
Artist. You-tuber. Comedy performer.
My name is Mary Gutfleisch, and I Doodle. We could leave it at that, but let’s continue. for fun.
Like many other creatives with many other interests I found a home on Youtube. My channel launched in 2011, featuring time-lapse videos showing the process of my paintings and the stories they tell. Over the years a community of Doodle Bugs have emerged. They are fun, curious, positive beings who enjoy learning how to make their own art or just enjoy watching paint dry. My introduction to Youtube was through a friend and roommate who got me working as a costumer on the hit web series Epic Rap Battles of History. Before that I was busy dropping out of film school to pursue an odd variety of jobs, sometimes working on the set of films and sometimes working with animals. Before that I was busy growing up in the town of Northfield, MN, which had way too much access to the arts because all I did was draw, paint, make videos and act in plays. Before that I was probably very uninteresting, seeing as I cannot remember what was going on. Currently I live in Los Angeles with a dog I can cuddle and a man who goes for hikes. I spend my days drawing, painting, making videos and performing live comedy. Learn more on Mary’s website or watch her on YouTube!
The Limestones
The Limestones are a 9-voice, male-identifying a cappella group from St. Olaf College. They began in 1989 and have been growing and developing ever since, recruiting new talent and exploring different musical genres ranging from Pop to Country and even classic Barbershop. The Limestones maintain a tradition of arranging all of their own music and performing it regionally for thousands of audience members each year. Learn more about this wonderful group!
The Triplets – Helen Forsythe & Parker Ousley
The Triplets – Helen & Parker – have been making music together since 2014. Cello, banjo, vocal harmonies, and the occasional kazoo make up their unique blend of folk, rock n’ roll, jazz, and early 2000s pop hits. Listen to a sample of their music!
Pinnacle Performing Arts
Pinnacle Performing Arts is a group of young artists, ranging in age from 2 to 52, who use dance, drama and music to create art anytime they can. Inspiring. Dynamic. Inclusive. Fun. These are just a few of the words students use to describe classes at Pinnacle Performing Arts. Pinnacle strives to help each child reach the peak of their potential. Professional instructors at Pinnacle know how to encourage performers and bring out the star in every student. At Pinnacle, every day is an adventure – and it’s all about the climb! Learn more about Pinnacle!
Ben Wang
Ben Wang is an actor, musician, and writer currently living and working in New York City. He has done work for CBS, Disney Plus, Off-Broadway, Juilliard, and many corporate advertising campaigns. He is so glad to have been given the opportunity to join this event; to make something benefiting the community he grew up in.
Casey Wasner
Casey Wasner is an American singer, songwriter and musician from Northfield, MN, but for nearly 20 years he’s made his home (and made some pretty incredible music!) in Nashville, TN. Casey has toured as a drummer and guitarist alongside blues legends Keb’ Mo’ and Robben Ford and is a versatile and creative collaborator. As a frontman, Casey has produced some fine music in his own right, releasing a self-titled collection of top-notch original songs in 2013 and continues to write and record new material – including several excellent 2019 singles – with some of the finest musicians in Nashville. As if that’s not enough, Casey is also a Grammy winning engineer and can usually be found at his studio, The Purple House in Lieper’s Fork, TN, helping others produce their best music. Find out more and catch Casey’s newest offerings on Spotify or on his website.
Laura Caviani & Friends: Laura Caviani, Kevin Clements, Dave Hagedorn, & JC Sanford
Laura Caviani – Pianist, Recording Artist, Composer and Educator. Laura Caviani is a veteran of over two decades of performing, recording and composing. With seven CDs to her name, and many more as a supporting musician, she has recorded with some of the best jazz musicians in the region. Working in Northfield and the greater Twin Cities area, Laura collaborates with many wonderful musicians. As a composer, Laura has recently written choral works for the MN–based choirs Vocal Essence and the Great River Chorale. She holds degrees from both Lawrence University and The University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. As a dedicated educator, she is on faculty at Carleton College, where she directs the jazz ensemble, coaches chamber groups, and teaches jazz piano and improvisation. Learn more on her website!
Kevin Clements has been performing as a jazz bassist for over 50 years. From an early age he found jazz as his music of choice. Growing up in Kansas City he was exposed early on to that city’s fertile jazz heritage. After graduating from the Conservatory of Music in Kansas City, Kevin played and toured for several years. He had the good fortune to have performed with many great artists, including Billy Eckstine, Rosemary Clooney, Robert Goulet and Rita Moreno. In 1989, after a ten year stint as an Air Force pilot, he settled in Minneapolis/St Paul where he has become a staple in the Twin Cities jazz scene. Shortly after moving to Northfield in 1996, he met Dave Hagedorn and they have been playing together regularly ever since. Kevin taught jazz bass at Carleton College in Northfield for several years and flew airplanes for Northwest Airlines and Delta Airlines. He is currently enjoying retirement by playing more music, brewing beer and working in his woodshop.
Dave Hagedorn is a retired Artist in Residence at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, where he taught percussion, jazz studies, and world music. In June, 2019, Downbeat magazine awarded St. Olaf Jazz I an Outstanding Performance among undergraduate large jazz ensembles, and in June, 2011, Downbeat magazine deemed St. Olaf Jazz I to be the “Best Undergraduate Large Jazz Ensemble” in the 34th annual student music awards. This group had a very successful cultural exchange tour in Cuba in March of 2016. Dave holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music, New England Conservatory, and the University of Minnesota. Hagedorn has a number of jazz albums, including: “Solid/Liquid” on the artegra label in SACD format released in October of 2003, a duo album with pianist Dan Cavanagh, “Horizon” released in December of 2010, and “20 Years” released January 2018. Among others, he has recorded with the George Russell Living Time Orchestra on Blue Note Recordings (nominated for a Grammy award), jazz singer Debbie Duncan, Brian Setzer Big Band, and with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. Hagedorn regularly performs in the Twin Cities with groups such as the Phil Hey Quartet, and Inatnas Jazz Orchestra. On the classical side of music, he also has performed with the Minnesota Orchestra, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Opera, VocalEssence, Cantus, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and the Grand Teton Festival Orchestra.
JC Sanford – After spending 16 years in New York City as a professional musician, trombonist/composer/conductor JC Sanford returned to his hometown of Northfield, MN in 2016. He is the leader of two small groups: the jazz quartet JC4 and the chamber jazz trio Triocracy, both of which released new CD recordings in 2019. He has regularly been recognized as a “Rising Star” as a trombonist, arranger, and big band in DownBeat Magazine’s Critic’s Polls. He has been a member of several diverse NYC-based ensembles including: the Andrew Rathbun Large Ensemble, the Asuka Kakitani Jazz Orchestra, and Joseph C. Phillips, Jr.’s jazz/new music hybrid Numinous. He has performed as a trombonist with the likes of Danilo Pérez, Matt Wilson, Anthony Cox, and Bill Stewart. Since returning to MN, JC has performed as a trombonist in the Twin Cities area with many musicians including: JT and Chris Bates, Davu Seru, Anthony Cox, and Zacc Harris. Currently JC is a Visiting Professor of Jazz at St. Olaf College and Professor of Low Brass at Carleton College. He received a 2018 McKnight Composer Fellowship and a 2019 MN State Arts Board Artist Initiative Grant to record his quartet. He is also the artistic/musical director of the JazzMN Orchestra.
Karl Amundson & Emily Kristen Morris
Karl Amundson is a theatre-maker, songwriter, actor and singer who grew up in Northfield and is now based out of New York City. He earned his BFA in Musical Theatre from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and is currently developing two full-length theatrical works: Falling Forward (2020 New York Musical Festival Finalist), and Lenora Du Ponte: Live on Mars! To see more from Karl, check out his website.
Emily Kristen Morris – Actor, Singer, and Voice Teacher. Originally from San Francisco, Emily is a New York based actress, most known for her work as Bea in the national tour of Something Rotten. Regional credits include: Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival (Sophie in Mamma Mia), Cape Playhouse, Gateway Playhouse, Weston Playhouse, Summer Repertory Theatre (Nellie in South Pacific). Emily is also an Institute for Vocal Advancement (IVA) certified private vocal coach to students around the world. Proud CCM graduate. Check out Emily’s website!
The Passing Zone
The Passing Zone is an American comedy-juggling duo comprising Jon Wee and Owen Morse. Wee, originally from Northfield, Minnesota, and Morse, a California native, met at a juggling convention in northern California in 1986 and decided two years later to team up. Since then, the Passing Zone has won 18 gold medals from the International Jugglers’ Association and holds five Guinness World Records. The Passing Zone was one of ten finalists out of hundreds of acts to perform during the debut season of NBC’s America’s Got Talent, finishing as “the highest rated comedy act.” They also appeared during the 11th Season of NBC’s America’s Got Talent, where they were eliminated in the semifinals. They have entertained as part of the Royal Variety Performance for England’s Prince Charles—sharing the bill with Tony Bennett and the cast of Riverdance, among others—and also have been guest performers at the White House. The Passing Zone performs regularly for some of the top corporations in the United States while “inspiring groups to be better teams.” Prepare to be amazed. It’s not magic. It’s juggling. But you won’t believe your eyes! Learn more about this fantastic duo!
Sam Ryden
Sam Ryden is a singer-songwriter now living in Memphis, TN. A 2019 graduate of Northfield High School, Sam now studies Commercial Music (Voice) and Music Industry at the University of Memphis. His first album, Sometimes (2018), and most recent single, Hold On (2019), are available on Spotify and Apple Music. Sam loves looking over the artist list on this evening’s program and seeing so many familiar faces who generously share their music and inspired his own development (and continue to!) during his years growing up in Northfield. Connect with Sam at Sam Ryden Music or on Instagram (samrydenmusic).
Northfield Youth Choirs
Northfield Youth Choirs sparks the growth of its singers through artistry, shared experiences, and joy. The choirs offer a great place for children and adults to sing and enjoy weekly rehearsals with nationally renowned directors and music educators. From the youngest singers at pre-k to Kindergarten age, NYC builds a musical foundation appropriate to children’s ages and developing voices for singing and musical literacy, through games, movement, and high quality songs and on up to score study, music interpretation, ear training, and vocal development with the more developed singers. Since 1986, hundreds of young people have found their voice performed locally with NYC, in addition to a long-standing tradition of touring. With NYC, singers learn invaluable lessons, have fun, and create lifelong memories and friendships singing with these extraordinary choirs. Learn more about Northfield Youth Choirs!