BILL BASTIAN

William Bastian was born and raised in Wisconsin, graduated from Milton College in 1973, and received a Master's Degree in vocal music performance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1983. Between these two events he went to London to study for a year (1974) with the English countertenor, James Bowman. From 1970-1979 Bastian sang as a countertenor (a male alto — a voice used extensively in music written before 1750). In 1979, he began working as a tenor, in part, because of his desire to sing Schubert songs. Besides being an active performer in the Northland, Bastian also is an Instructor in Music and Choral Conductor at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minn.

 

 

CARLA MCCAULEY

Life long Duluthian and Country music “on air” personality, Carla McCauley has spent  three decades as singer, songwriter, musician, and  radio and television personality. Today Northlanders can still see and hear Carla in her family’s band: “The McCauley’s” and as featured radio personality on “BIG-KAT 98.9”. Aside from her many personal appearances Carla was one of the first in line to donate her time and talents to this worthy project.

 

DONNY BUCK

Founder and front man of the popular group “Rock a Billy Revue”. Donny has performed in a number of regional groups over the years and performed throughout a the upper Midwest. Also the composer and singer of “We Stand Behind You” the song dedicated to U.S. troops, their families and all U.S. Veterans.

 

JULIE FINKLE

Julie Finkle has a 25 year history in the music business, writing, performing, and recording a wide range of styles from Bluegrass to Rock.  For the past 15 years, Julie has been in the Duluth area, and has played with many of the finest musician's from Duluth to the Twin Cities. Currently, you can catch her at the Club Saratoga, where she has been a host Jazz vocalist for over a decade, as well as with her Classic Rock Band "The Centerville Allstars", which she has been a member of for 9 years.  Julie also owns and operates her own fully digital studio, where she specializes in composing Advertising Jingles, on a local and national level. www.jkfproductions.com.

 

KEN AHLBERG

The son of a long-time music teacher and choir director, and grandson of a Juliard School of Music graduate, Ken has been singing all his life.  Early on, Ken sang for years with the Duluth Boys’ Chorus, then with the choirs at Hermantown High School, where he now is the choir director.  During his years at the University of Minnesota – Duluth, Ken sang with every vocal ensemble, touring Europe, as well as enjoying the opportunity to sing at Carnegie Hall in New York City.  Currently, Ken can be heard singing at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd where he is the Director of Music Ministry, and has been seen and heard performing with the musical theatre group, The Good Shepherd Community Players.  Ken played a leading role in both directing and acting in the popular Stephen Schwartz musical "Children of Eden" where he sang the role of "Father." 

 

MARY CLAVEAU LEE

Mary Claveau Lee is a poet and musician who teaches saxophone and clarinet at the John  Duss Music Conservatory in Duluth. Shešs played sax with the Big Time Jazz Orchestra, the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra, the Minnesota Free Arts Collective, Cherry Cola, and the North Shore and Big Woods Big Bands. She performed at the World Saxophone Congress in 2003 with the Greg Kehl Moore Saxophone Quartet. Being a singer is just a fluke in the whole grand scheme of things, yet is a nice respite from nagging her four sons. They think so, too.

 

RANDY LEE
RANDY LEE earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education, with a
minor in Jazz Studies, from UMD and his Master of Science degree in Education-Instruction from the Univ. of Wisconsin-Superior. He teaches middle school band, jazz band, and general music in Hermantown, MN. He is an adjunct instructor of jazz saxophone at UMD and is busy as a saxophone clinician and professional musician, including performances with the Lake
Superior Chamber Orchestra, the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra, the Lake Superior Saxophone Quartet, and the Twin Ports Wind Ensemble. Randy performed at the World Saxophone Congress in 2003 with the Greg Kehl Moore Saxophone Quartet. Randy is a busy free-lance musician for various jazz gigs, dances, and receptions involving everything from Dixieland duos to big bands. Mr. Lee has twice been the director of the IAJE MN Northeast Region High School Honor Jazz Band, and guest directed the Wisconsin Lakeland Region High School Honor Jazz Band.  He has twice conducted the UMD Junior High Honor Band, judged the Iowa High School Jazz Championships, was the sax section coach for the MN All-State Band, and has been a featured soloist with the UMD Jazz Bands and the Twin Ports Wind Ensemble. Randy is the founder, artistic director, and tenor sax soloist of the Big Time Jazz Orchestra which recorded a CD of original compositions and arrangements at the MN Public radio studios (thanks to a grant from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council and the MN State Legislature).

 

ROBYN ROH

Lead vocalist for well known groups ‘Guilty’ and the ‘Mike Meier Band’, Robyn recently worked with 2004 YADA Award winning group ‘Almost Seven’ as lead vocalist and songwriter. Robyn has worked with noted west coast producer Scott Mathews recording and publishing her own material. Currently Robyn is pursuing work as a solo artist.

 

 

TIM STRATIOTI

Tim Stratioti graduated from Duluth's Denfeld High School in 1979 and attended college locally at UWS and UMD where he was a student of Jim Stellmaker and Dr. Geoge Hitt, completing his studies in 1984. He received a Jazz Ensemble Performance Certificate from the Eastman School of Music where he studied improvisation with Jim Pugh. Listed amoung the luminaries Tim has been featured alongside are: Curtis Fuller, Lee Konitz, Henry Butler, Conrad Herwig, Earnie Watts, and Paul Mckee.  A former Frank Rosolino Award finalist, Tim remains an active freelance trombonist and clinician. He is also a founding member of Randy Lee's Big Time Jazz Orchestra with which he currently sings and plays.

 

TRACY LUNDEEN

A native of Crookston MN Tracy Lundeen moved to Duluth in 1963. A graduate of Duluth Denfeld High School he spent a brief period of time in the broadcasting program at the University of Wisconsin Superior before pursuing his music interests and touring with the Duluth based band QuickBreath throughout the upper Midwest. After touring he spent nearly two years in the Twin Cities booking regional and national entertainers before purchasing Show Pro in 1975 and returning to Duluth. From that time he has been  the driving force behind the Willie Nelson and Beach Boys Concerts at Wade Stadium, the creation Bayfront Festival Park events and many other events throughout the region. He has served as a member of the Duluth Public Arts Commission (founding member), the Wade Stadium Task Force, the Duluth State Convention Center Board (DECC) and others. He currently owns Lundeen Productions a company that owns the Duluth Bridal Show, Duluth Senior Expo, Fun Fair and books local and regional entertainers. Lundeen also records and tours with a family show called “Jungle Sam and the Safari Band.”

 

VIKKI TRUE

Vikki True, singer, educator, band leader and composer/arranger has performed around the world to include world renowned jazz festivals and as soloist with numerous symphony orchestras. In the late 70’s and early 80’s Vikki performed  in and around the Duluth area with well known groups such and Bacchus and the Steve Kuether Quartet before continuing to travel and pursue her jazz interests and education. Vikki currently resides in the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts.