Joanna Lin

Founder & 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.

Katie Ralston

President & Treasurer

Katie Ralston serves as the Manager of Education In​itiatives 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.

Jane Linde Capistran

Secretary

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.

 Jeff Thomas

Board 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.

Verlene Stotts

Board 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.

Diane Hartman

Board 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.

Dr. Tiana Grisé

Board 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.

Alexander Smith

Concordia College Representative ​

 Alex Smith is a freshman violin performance major at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN and is the  assistant principal second violinist in the Concordia Orchestra. As an active chamber musician, he has been an active performer in the Dakota Chamber Music Festival at Minot State University and Concordia's North Star Chamber Music Festival. In high school, Alex was involved in the Fargo Moorhead Area Youth Symphony, Concordia Honors Orchestra, and the Honor Performance Series' Carnegie Hall program. Why he loves music? “all of these unique parts create something so beautiful when put together.”

Evren Akyuz

North Dakota State University Representative ​