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Joanna LinFounder & Executive Director
Joanna has always had a passion for music. She progressed from listening to musical “Little Einsteins" CDs in the car at roughly age 2 to learning the piano and clarinet, and was admitted as 1 of 3 clarinets to the Carnegie Hall's 2019 National Youth Orchestra 2 Program. She is the Principal Clarinet of the ND All-State Orchestra, the Fargo Moorhead Area Youth Symphony, and the Davies Wind Ensemble. She is also a Young Entrepreneurs Academy! graduate of the class of 2017. In addition to musical activities, Joanna enjoys being involved in her extracurricular commitments, learning languages, spending time with friends and family, and making bad puns.
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Katie RalstonPresident & Treasurer
Katie Ralston serves as the Manager of Education Initiatives at the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce. Her role includes facilitating the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) which allows her to support middle and high school students as they develop their own businesses. Katie holds bachelors and masters degrees in communication from Minnesota State University Moorhead and North Dakota State University. Outside of work, Katie teaches entrepreneurship at MSUM and serves as the Vice President of the Board for Red River Dance & Performing Company.
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Jane Linde CapistranSecretary
Jane Linde Capistran retired in May 2019 from her position at Concordia College as Assistant Professor of Music. She is the Associate Conductor & Principal Second Violin of the Fargo Moorhead Symphony and also in her 16th season as Conductor of the Fargo Moorhead Area Senior High Youth Symphony. A native of Moorhead, MN, she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Bemidji State University & her Master of Arts in Violin Performance from the University of Iowa. Capistran has many former students that are now string educators & conductors in the Upper Midwest.
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Jeff ThomasBoard Member
Jeff Thomas is currently the Market President at Cornerstone Bank for the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo communities. Prior to the role of Market President, Jeff worked as a Business Banking Manager, Business Relationship Manager, Internal Credit Review Officer and Auditor. Jeff served as chairman of the board of the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce in 2010-2011 and he served as the Chair of the Campaign Cabinet in 2012-2013 helping raise in excess $5.3M to better serve the people of Cass and Clay Counties. He is an instructor for the YEA (Young Entrepreneurs Academy) through the Chamber.
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Verlene StottsBoard Member
Verlene “Beanie” Stotts has been teaching band at Discovery Middle School in Fargo, North Dakota and is the Music Department Chairperson and a member of the Fargo Public School District Performing Arts Committee. She received her B.M.E. from Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota and M.M. in Clarinet Performance from New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico. In addition to her duties at Discovery, she enjoys teaching in her private clarinet studio, performing with the Clarion Quartet, cooking, shopping for “deals”, as well as spending time with family and friends.
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Diane HartmanBoard Member
Diane Hartman has a BS in Accounting from MSUM and did seasonal tax work, was the Information Manager for the MSUM Alumni Foundation and the Business Manager at Access of the Red River Valley. She is now retired and spends most of her time playing clarinet with the Red River Valley Veterans Concert Band, the MN 9th District American Legion Band, the Ulen Centenial Band and the Band of Faith. She also enjoys reading, knitting, and recently committed to volunteering with the Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre.
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Dr. Tiana GriséBoard Member
Dr. Grisé is an instructor of flute at Minnesota State University Moorhead. In addition to appearing as a guest performer and collaborator, she is also the executive director of the Fargo Moorhead Area Youth Symphony. During the summer she instructs flute at the International Music Camp, and is active in the Lake Agassiz Concert Band. Dr. Grisé is a native Montanan, and received her D.M.A. in Flute Performance at James Madison University. She also holds a Master in Music degree from the University of Montana.
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Peter NelsonMinnesota State University Moorhead Representative
Peter is a cellist and third-year student at Minnesota State University Moorhead majoring in instrumental music education. He has performed as principal cellist of the NDSU Symphony Orchestra and the MSUM String Ensemble, double bassist of the MSUM Wind Ensemble, and a vocalist with the MSUM University Choir. He is currently president of MSUM’s chapter of the National Association for Music Educators. Peter teaches at Horizon Middle School's Summer Orchestra Camp and has interned at the Upper Midwest String Camp at the College of St. Benedict.
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Evren AkyuzNorth Dakota State University Representative
Evren is a bassoonist and first-year student at NDSU majoring in music performance and mechanical engineering. He is currently a bassoonist with the NDSU Wind Symphony and NDSU woodwind quintet. He also plays saxophone in the NDSU Jazz Lab Band. He has performed as principal bassoonist in the FM Area Youth Symphony and Davies High School Wind Ensemble and Full Orchestra. During high school he participated in the UND honor band and was selected to the NDMEA All-State Ensembles all 4 years.
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