SPRING 2022
NEW APPOINTMENT
Richard Joseph, ABD
Assistant Professor of Music 

Richard Joseph won appointment to the rank of Assistant Professor of Music beginning fall 2022. Formerly a Lecturer in Voice, Joseph has taught voice lessons and music courses at UNW since 2016. He is a noted performer in the Twin Cities, having sung with Minnesota Opera, Minnesota Chorale, Metropolitan Symphony, and Lyra Baroque Orchestra. Joseph is a DMA candidate at University of Minnesota; he holds a MM in voice performance from Florida State University and a BA in Music from Clearwater Christian College. Roles have included Johnny Inkslinger in Paul Bunyan, Spoletta in Puccini’s Tosca, Fenton in Falstaff, and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. 
NEW FACULTY
Christian Howard, ABD
Adjunct Instructor of Low Brass  

Christian Howard received his bachelor’s degree in music performance from Boston Conservatory and his master’s degree from Mannes School of Music. He is currently a doctoral candidate at University of Minnesota, where he holds ABD status. Howard’s primary teachers include Thomas Ashworth – University of Minnesota, Steve Lange – Boston Symphony, and Weston Sprott – Metropolitan Opera. As an orchestral musician, Christian has performed with New York City’s LoftOpera, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, and held the position of Principal Trombone with Chautauqua Summer Festival from 2014 to 2017. Howard has performed as a soloist with the Merrimack Valley Philharmonic. He also advanced as finalist for positions with The Orchestra Now, as well as United States Military Premier Bands. 
Weily Grina-Shay, MM
Adjunct Instructor of Clarinet

Weily Grina-Shay received her Master of Music degree at Peabody Institute of Music studying under Anthony McGill in 2016 where she was awarded the Martha and William Bill Memorial Prize in Clarinet. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree from University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music studying under Ixi Chen in 2013. She co-founded 10th Wave Chamber Music Collective, a chamber music organization that seeks to curate innovative concert programs to connect and engage with new audiences in the Twin Cities. Grina-Shay previously performed in the Chione Quintet from 2018–21, an all-female woodwind quintet based in the Twin Cities. With Chione, Grina-Shay toured Minnesota libraries performing “Story Time with Chione,” an educational program pairing music with narrated stories to children of all ages.
NEW STAFF
Brittany Quinn, MM
Director, Academy of Music
 
Brittany Henry Quinn, an active performer and teacher, most recently served as violin and viola faculty and chamber music coordinator at Northwestern University Music Academy in Evanston, IL. She earned a Bachelor of Music degree in violin performance from Rice University Shepherd School of Music studying with Kenneth Goldsmith, former concertmaster of the Detroit Symphony, and earned a Master of Music degree in violin performance from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, studying with Mark Kaplan and Federico Agostini. While at Indiana University, Quinn studied pedagogy with Mimi Zweig, taught students in the world-renowned Indiana University String Academy, served as assistant conductor and violin sectional coach for Musical Arts Youth Orchestra and taught private and group lessons to underserved students at Fairview Elementary School in Bloomington, IN.  
FAREWELLS
President and Mrs. Cureton 

On May 17, UNW celebrated Dr. Alan and Gayle Cureton for their legacy at Northwestern. With more than 20 years at the organization’s helm, Dr. Cureton has faithfully served more than three times longer than the average private college president. As a gift, the Cureton’s received a framed musical score of Mitzvah, signed to them by composer Eric Barnum. Mitzvah was commissioned specifically for the Northwestern Choir in celebration of Dr. Cureton’s fifteenth year as president. The commission was a gift from the Cureton family, presented to him by his wife, Gayle, in spring 2017. Thank you, Dr. Cureton and Gayle, for your dedicated service to the entire Northwestern community. 
Doreen Hutchings
Associate Professor of Music 

Doreen Hutchings joined the Northwestern faculty in 1999. Her standing progressed from a half-time appointment to a three-quarter-time Lecturer and then full-time Instructor; then to a new Assistant Professor appointment, and more recently she earned promotion to the rank of Associate Professor. She has truly given her all to Northwestern, and her students enthusiastically say, “WE LOVE HUTCH!"  
Doreen taught private voice lessons and related courses in vocal studies, taught and directed Opera Workshop, and held a leadership role in Theatre’s musical theatre productions as vocal director, or what we like to call “vocal coach.” Although she plans to spend more time with her husband, Mike, dog Zelda, and her two daughters and grandchildren, we look forward to seeing Doreen on campus next year as an adjunct faculty member to teach-out her current private voice students. We offer thanks for Doreen’s faithful teaching and service to Northwestern, and we wish God’s richest blessings upon her. 
ALUMNI NEWS
Joshua Choi ’20, viola, successfully auditioned for multiple graduate schools, deciding to attend San Francisco Conservatory this fall to begin a master’s in performance degree in the studio of Dimitri Murrath, a first prize winner of the Primrose International Viola Competition.
Jackie (Lofstad '19) and Josh ('19) Eidsor work at Carthage Classical Academy in Tunisia, where Jackie teaches third grade and Josh serves as chaplain, directs a choir, and teaches music composition.
Rachel Gee (Stokes ’20), violin, earned her master’s in violin performance from University of Minnesota Twin Cities. 

Benjamin Johnson ’22 will begin a position as instrumental music teacher and testing coordinator at Park Center High School, Osseo Area Schools, in fall 2022.
Anna Lapshina ’21 teaches elementary music in Eden Prairie Schools.
Austin Lewis ’16, tenor, auditioned and won Lead Singer aboard the Celebrity Equinox luxury cruise ship where he will sail the Caribbean through the end of the year. He previously toured nationally with Aquila Theatre’s productions of Macbeth and The Great Gatsby. Aquila is now one of the foremost producers of classical theater in the United States visiting 50–60 American cities per year.
Mikayla Liu (Brandenburg ’19), soprano, won admission to the Vienna Summer Music Festival June 26 to July 17 in Vienna, Austria. Each participant will perform a full role in an opera production. Liu will cover for the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro and is cast as Annabel in Mondo Novo and Mercury in Pluto, two newer operas. She continues as a graduate teaching assistant at University of Iowa where she performed as Beatrice in Three Decembers and will perform as Carolina in The Secret Marriage this fall.
Shawn Nelson ’18 serves as Director of Bands & Orchestras at Heritage Christian Academy in Maple Grove.
Barrett Radziun ’10, tenor, made headlines with his 2021 New Year’s resolution to bake all 105 recipes from Claire Saffitz’s cookbook, Dessert Person. Radziun earned his master’s degree in vocal performance from the Bard College Conservatory of Music in New York and received his DMA in vocal performance at University of North Texas. He is currentlyassistant professor of voice at Texas A&M – Commerce. 
Hannah Smith 18 teaches music and band at Sekolah Pelita Harapan International Christian School in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Grace Spieldenner (Friesen ’20) directs choir and teaches music at Sunrise Park and Central Middle Schools in White Bear Lake Area Schools.
Brianne Ulrich ’22, piano, won admission to Peabody Conservatory this fall to begin a master’s in performance degree in the studio of Benjamin Pasternack, a grand prize winner of the World Music Masters Piano Competition in Paris.
Matt Wilson ’99 served as Acting Associate Principal Horn in the Minnesota Orchestra for the 2021–22 season, including recording Mahler 8 and 9 and performing Strauss’ Don Juan and Tchaikovsky 6. He will perform Beethoven 2 and 6 with the orchestra later this summer. 
THANK YOU
If you have noteworthy news to share with us about students or alumni, please send your update to music@unwsp.edu. We look forward to seeing you at one of our many music events throughout the academic year.
 
May the LORD bless you,

Music Faculty & Staff
University of Northwestern – St. Paul
University of Northwestern  St. Paul provides an environment that fosters musical and academic excellence, Christian community, and exceptional preparation for the next generation of musicians and leaders. We hope you enjoy our newsletter, published annually. We apologize for any errors or omissions. Please like UNW Music on Facebook and follow @unwmusic on Instagram to keep up with the latest Music news.