Click on the faculty members name to contact them via email
Dianna Babcock, Director of Early Childhood Music (ECM) has worked in the early childhood arts department since 1990. Over the past 15 years, she has been an early childhood educator in the Twin Cities area, as a teacher and educator. Dianna has undergraduate degrees in music and psychology (with an emphasis in child psychology). In 1997, she completed her master of music education in early childhood education and pre-K licensure from the University of Minnesota. Dianna frequently conducts early childhood music workshops at local preschools and ECFE programs.
Dan Abdon, Early Childhood Music, received his BFA in Music Theatre at Webster University Conservatory of Theatre Arts in St. Louis, MO. He has been an active actor in several theatrical performances throughout the area, as well as vocalist & pianist. Dan taught at MacPhail for a few years in the early childhood arts department and as a piano for children and community partnership instructor. Dan is returning to MacPhail after focusing his time on teaching at Spring Hill Waldorf School in Excelsior, MN. Dan has also been teaching private piano in his studio called From The Heart Music Services.
Rebekah Butter Grathwol, ecm instructor
Jessica Cherne, ecm instructor
Katie Condon – Katie has a BA in music/piano performance from the University of St Thomas and a MM (masters of music) in musicology from Northwestern University. She is currently in the Piano Pedagogy Graduate Program at the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul. She is an elementary music teacher at the Interdistrict Downtown School and narrator/educator for the WAMSO /Minnesota Orchestral Association Kinder Konzert series. She also works with children at the Summer Youth Theatre in Watertown.
Angela Crofoot received her Bachelor of Arts in Music Therapy from the University of Minnesota. Angela has worked as a lead preschool teacher, a music therapist, a Sunday school music coordinator and a private piano and flute instructor. Prior to joining the MacPhail Early Childhood Arts faculty in 2005, Angela worked at All God’s Children Learning Center as a preschool teacher and music therapist. She sings and plays the flute, organ, guitar, and piano.
Paula Gudmundson, flutist, is an active recitalist and freelance musician in the Twin Cities. She has been a teaching artist at MacPhail Center for Music since 2001. Along with individual instruction she conducts Flute Ensembles, teaches in several Community Partnerships and is involved in the Early Childhood Music Program.
Ms. Gudmundson is an active performing artist in Vocal Essences’ Witness Program. Paula is also a former Board Member of the Upper Midwest Flute Association (UMFA) and former Chair of the Visual Documentation Committee of the National Flute Association. She is also a teaching artist at the St. Paul Conservatory of Music and the International Music Camp in Dunseith, ND.
A South Hadley, Massachusetts native, Paula’s major teachers include Valerie Watts, Adrianne Greenbaum, Alex Ogle, Ernestine Whitman, Terri Sundberg and Immanuel Davis. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance from Lawrence University and a Masters of Music Degree in Flute Performance from the University of North Texas. For more information about upcoming performances check out her website at: www.paulagudmundson.com
Cheryl Henningsgaard , M. S., B.M.T., MT-BC, has worked in the field of early childhood and early childhood music for over 25 years as a board certified music therapist, pre-kindergarten and early childhood special educator. Cheryl holds a bachelor of arts in music and music therapy from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 1982; registration and board certification as music therapist, 1982 - present, and master of science degree in child and family studies from St. Cloud State University with teaching licenses in pre-kindergarten and early childhood special education, 1997 - present.
Cheryl Henningsgaard has been a member of the MacPhail Center for Music Early Childhood Music Faculty since 2000. Her professional activities include: early childhood music instructor, curriculum development, teacher training mentor, and community partnership instructor (Wilder Child Development Center). Cheryl also conducts Early Childhood Music workshops, and consults for MacPhail. Cheryl's musicianship includes piano, guitar (6 and 12 string), violin, and voice. Cheryl is a Life Patron of the International Harp Guitar Society.
Emily Ireland received her Bachelor of Arts in Music and German from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. She is currently pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Music Education with a concentration in Piano Pedagogy from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. She joined the MacPhail Early Childhood Music faculty in 2005. In addition to teaching at MacPhail, Emily maintains a private piano studio and teaches early childhood music at the Minnesota Valley School of Music. Emily has also worked as a piano accompanist and is experienced as a choral singer.
Nicholas A. Johnson, Music Therapist, MT-BC, NMT
Nicholas joined MacPhail Center for Music in the fall of 2003. He has had the opportunity to serve individuals, groups, and emerging partnerships through the music therapy department. In the fall of 2004, Mr. Johnson joined the Early Childhood Music faculty and teaches music for young children and families. He earned his bachelor of music therapy degree from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, and completed training in Neurological Music Therapy through the Center for Biomedical Research in Music. Johnson came to MacPhail from Fairview University Medical Center - Adolescent Mental Health Unit where he served as the lead music therapist. Prior to the Medical Center, he was with the Parkinson’s and Hospice teams at Park Nicolett Health Systems. Johnson works in Wisconsin as an independent contractor for individual guitar instruction in jazz, blues, rock and folk genres. Currently he performs in an acoustic duo and in a five piece rock ensemble.
Bethany Jones, ecm assistant
Karena Lokken, ecm instructor
Yelena Martinez, ecm intructor
Michael McGarthwaite, ecm assistant
Joy Moeller, ecm instructor
Karen Moon has been at MacPhail since 1990 where she teaches Musical Trolley classes. Trained as a violinist, she also teaches individual violin lessons at MacPhail and Violin for Children at Ascension School. She plays violin with the Civic Orchestra of Minneapolis and “Quartet Spiritoso” which she leads and manages.
Sarah Hruska Olson has been a member of MacPhail’s Early Childhood Music department since 1997. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and music from Lawrence University, a Master of Music in voice from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Minnesota. Currently, she studies voice at MacPhail with Mary Laymon. Past voice teachers include John Koopman and Martha Sheil. Sarah loves teaching music to young children and tries to stay active as a singer as well. In 1992 Sarah performed the role of La Ciesca in the Pine Mountain Music Festival’s first opera, Gianni Schicchi. For several years she was a member of the Minnesota Chorale.
Frances Ouellette
B.S., University of Minnesota
MacPhail Early Childhood Dept. since 1976
Developed and taught MacPhail Early Childhood Creative Dance Program since 1977
University of Minnesota, Bachelor of Science Degree in Design 1971
Dance training, since 1968, including modern dance, composition, improvisation and ballet (to present)
Dance performer and choreographer 1974-1983
Teacher trainer and dance curriculum writes since 1977
Dance teacher in St Paul Public Elementary Schools 1974-1995
Dance teacher in Twin Cities preschools since 1983 (to present)
Preschool classroom teacher 1971-1973
Nora Paoli, ecm instructor, received her Bachelor of Arts degree in music from Macalester College and her Minnesota K-12 vocal/classroom music teaching license from the College of St. Catherine. As a choral singer she has performed with the Minnesota Chorale, the Minnesota Oratorio Society, and Unity Unitarian Choir. Nora teaches in the MacPhail Community Partnerships program and the Early Childhood Music department where she also assists with administrative duties. Nora also teaches early childhood music at the St. Paul Conservatory of Music. In addition to singing, Nora plays piano and guitar and released a CD of original compositions entitled “Panoramic” in 2005.
Todd Schwartzberg, Music Therapy Partnership and Recruitment Coordinator,
M. Ed, MT-BC, NMT
Todd first worked with MacPhail as primary music therapist for the Rondo Elementary School Community Partnership in May, 2003. He now provides individual and group music therapy both at MacPhail as well as at several of the community partnerships. He also teaches several Early Childhood Music Classes. Previous to joining MacPhail, Schwartzberg worked with Morris Park Elementary and Anderson Open Schools. Todd’s previous experience includes working with adults in long-term care facilities with Dementia of the Alzheimer’s Type, Parkinson’s Disease and cancer, as well as, children with cochlear implants, William’s Syndrome, Seizure Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder for the Minneapolis Public Schools. He continues to work for the Autism Society for Minnesota (AuSM) at their 3 week summer camp as well as their newest camp created as a partnership with MacPhail. Todd has helped to create 14 on-going community music therapy partnerships at MacPhail, some of which include: Gillette Children’s Hospital, Opportunity Partners - Karlins Center, Partnership Resources, Inc., Ronald McDonald House, Courage Center, Autism Society of Minnesota and The Whole Learning School. Schwartzberg holds a bachelor of music in music therapy from the University of Kansas, 1998; and a master’s of education from the University of Minnesota. He has also completed his training in Neurological Music Therapy through the Center for Biomedical Research in Music. He has been a board certified music therapist since November 1999, serves as Government Relations Director for the Minnesota Music Therapy Association and sits on the Board of Directors of the Autism Society of Minnesota.
Jeremy Swider, ecm instructor
Yelena Tsvetovat, ecm instructor
Jessica Warren, ecm assistant
Sandy Waterman received her B.S. in music education at the University of Minnesota with certification to teach K-12 vocal/general music in Minnesota. She is a composer of children’s musicals and writes and directs a children’s show annually at Unity Church-Unitarian in St. Paul, since 1990. Ms. Waterman also designs and teaches classes for music and theater students at the White Bear Lake summer program. She directs for Stepping Stone Theatre and Brooklyn United Methodist Church.
Brent Weaver began taking guitar lessons at age 12. After completing a bachelor of arts degree in music from California State University, Sacramento in 1980, he moved to Nevada City, California where he worked as a guitar and elementary school music teacher. In 1996, Brent finished his master of music education degree from Holy Names College in Oakland, California. Soon after, he moved to Minnesota and began teaching at MacPhail Center for Music. Brent has studied guitar with Jose Rey de la Torre, John Majors, Alan Johnston and Chris Kachain. He teaches private guitar lessons and Early Childhood Music classes through the MacPhail community partnership program.
