Thaxter Cunio

B.M. Vocal Performance, University of Wisconsin; M.M. Opera Performance, State University of New York; Performers Certificate in Opera, Eastman School of Music. Further studies at Indiana University and Staatliche Hochschule für Musik, Freiburg, Germany. Resident Artist at Tri Cities Opera Company, Binghamton, NY. Opera, oratorio and recital performances in the United States, Canada and Europe. Teaching Fellowship Awards State University of New York and Eastman School of Music. Former Voice Faculty member Eastman School of Music Community Education Division, Nazareth College of Rochester, NY and The Hochstein School of Music. Fulbright Scholarship Recipient, Germany. Former tenor soloist and assistant conductor, First Unitarian Church, Rochester, NY. Currently voice faculty member, voice class instructor, Prelude: Singer/Actor Performance Lab and director of the Master Chorale, Sopraltus and M'a cappella Singers at MacPhail Center for Music.

Carol Caouette is the WBUUC Adult Choir accompanist and pianist/singer for the WBUUC Big Band. Her primary musical training is in classical piano, which she studied for 13 years. Carol also studied voice for several years before becoming a performer. She also spent several years accompanying high school and college choirs, ensembles and soloists for concerts and juried competitions. She sang and played professionally for twenty years on the nightclub circuit.

Russell Packard is currently a music teacher at Friends School of Minnesota. He has extensive experience teaching ethnic music through the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Concordia International Language Villages, among others. He has recorded music with children’s groups at Friends School and Seward Montessori. His research has taken him to many countries providing a rich background for choosing music to introduce to the children. He has worked with our children’s choir, the Northern Lights for the past few years on a part time basis.

Mary Duncan teaches and practices piano in her Schoolhouse Music Studio just north of Marine. With a BA in Piano Performance and MA in Musicology from the University of Minnesota, she has taught music history, piano, organ, choirs, handbells and writing classes at the college level for many years before becoming an independent music teacher. Performing both solo and accompaniments on piano and organ has been a big part of her life, and a major joy. She has accompanied the Dale Warland Singers, World Voices, the Macalester Festival Chorale, and the Northwestern and Bethel College choirs. Besides being a church organist and choir director at several Twin Cities churches, Mary has also supervised the rebuilding of the pipe organ at First Lutheran Church in White Bear Lake, and is a trained Musikgarten teacher. She is on the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Music Teachers Association and is active as a piano adjudicator and workshop presenter.

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