Beth (she/her) is a teacher of all things woodwinds, specializing in double and single reeds. She learned piano from her mother, a jazz musician, before starting on clarinet in middle school. This led to adding tenor sax in high school in order to join the jazz band, then bass clarinet for pit orchestra, and as one thing leads to another, she discovered the beautiful and unearthly joy of the bassoon. Before graduating she dove into conducting, leading the pit orchestra, clarinet choir, and woodwind quintet.
This range of instrumental skills led her to the University of Minnesota Duluth, where she studied bassoon & reed-making under Dr. Jefferson Campbell, studied oboe under Laurie Van Brunt, joined the study abroad program to teach K-8 Music in Slovenia, and caused mayhem as president of UMD’s Humans vs. Zombies alliance before graduating with a Bachelors of Music Education and Theater minor. Beth spent 13 vibrant years in Duluth as part of the Music & Theater community, performing on and off the stage as an actor, music director, pit musician and comedian. She worked with K-8 vocal students at South Ridge school, taught acting classes for the Duluth Playhouse, and led the band & choir department at Willow River. Some highlights of her time in Duluth include bassooning with the Twin Ports Wind Orchestra, playing accordion for “La Cage aux Folles” and “Cabaret,” and performing as Rachel in the one-woman stage play “My Name is Rachel Corrie.”
Beth delights in music-directing new and unusual works, such as “Lizzie,” the 4-woman Rock/Metal murder musical with Renegade Theater. She also voice acts as an undead bard for the D&D Podcast “Twin Portals,” and has been a long-standing member of the Renegade Improv Team. She is a ferocious believer in the healing power of music, both for the individual musician and the community.
Since moving to Minneapolis, Beth can be found teaching middle school Music & Theater at Hiawatha Academies, adventuring with her beloved partner, and adoring parenthood with their splendid 6-month-old.
Beth teaches on SUNDAYS (online only) and has slots available NOW!