2003 AMLI Keynote Speaker Bios

Soula Antoniou, President, has been a part of VSA arts for nine years.  Prior to becoming President, Soula was appointed as Executive Director of the International VSA arts Festival (IVSAF) 2004.  She has worked on two previous International VSA arts Festivals - Brussels in 1994 and Los Angeles in 1999.  Prior to this, Soula served as the Vice President of Affiliate Services and was responsible for the administration of services to VSA arts' domestic and international affiliates and collaborating organizations.  She directed all activities of the Affiliate Services department including: formulation of strategic program policies and initiatives, long range planning and development of annual goals for the affiliate network, and serving as ombudsman between affiliates and the home office.

Soula has extensive experience in both organizational management and disabilities issues having previously worked with the Massachusetts Office on Disability as Business Manager and as Assistant Director for Finance and Administration.  She completed graduate coursework in organizational management at Harvard University, and holds a Bachelor of Arts (cum laude) from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Gail Burke has been on the Minnesota State Arts Board staff since February 1979.  She has served in a variety of positions before moving into her current position as Executive Aide/Human Resources Manager in July 1981. In this position she manages several areas, including serving as the agency's ADA/504 Coordinator, Personnel Officer, Affirmative Action Officer, and Training Coordinator. In the role of ADA/504 Coordinator, she has presented at workshops and conferences both locally and nationally, including the Regional Symposium on the Arts and Accessibility and the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies' annual conference. She has taken numerous classes, workshops and seminars on ADA, personnel management, and office systems in the course of her career with the State of Minnesota. Burke was previously employed as a bookkeeper at Midwest Jobbers Terminal and a supervisor at the Minnesota Department of Public Safety in Saint Paul.

Ben Cameron (Executive Director) joined the TCG staff June 1998.  Prior to this appointment, he had been active in corporate philanthropy, first as Senior Program Officer at the Dayton Hudson Foundation and subsequently as Manager of Community Relations at Target Stores in Minneapolis, MN.  In this position, he supervised a $51 million national giving program which focused on grant giving, cause marketing and volunteerism at the community level.  From 1988 through 1992, he worked for the National Endowment for the Arts, serving as director of the theatre program from 1990 through 1992.  His experience working in not-for-profit professional theatre includes three years as Associate Artistic Director at Indiana Repertory Theatre (1981-1984); Literary Manager for PlayMakers Repertory Company in Chapel Hill, NC (1984-1986); and a host of freelance assignments at Baltimore's Center Stage and Yale Repertory Theatre, among others.  He has taught theatre at the Yale School of Drama, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.  He has published many articles on theatre, including a monthly editorial column in American Theatre, and authored a chapter on The Philanthropist for Christopher Hampton: A Casebook, edited by Robert Gross.  He received an MFA in dramaturgy from the Yale School of Drama in 1981, where he was the first recipient of the Kenneth Tynan Prize, and a BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a John Motley Morehead scholar.  In 2001, he was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from DePaul University in Chicago.

Craig Dunn, has been the Executive Director of VSA arts of Minnesota since 1992.  Prior to that, he served for five years on the organization's Board of Directors with three of those years as its President.  Some of Craig's experiences with VSA arts have included hosting the national Native American VSA festival in 1997, serving on the board committee that looked at the corporate name change in 1998 and attending VSA international festivals in 1989, 1994 and in 1999.  He has provided accessibility assistance to over 50 arts organizations throughout Minnesota and has presented at Arts Midwest's Regional ADA Conference in Milwaukee in 1999.  He has worked extensively with the Minnesota State Arts Board to ensure that people with disabilities have full access to the wealth of arts experiences provided by the state's performing, exhibiting and presenting arts organizations.  In addition to his work with VSA arts, he serves as a board member of Minnesota Alliance for Arts Education, and Minnesota Citizens for the Arts.  He has been the director of a choir of 58 adults with cognitive disabilities for the past 16 years.  His training is as a music educator and music therapist (University of Kansas, 1978) and he served in that capacity for 14 years in school settings in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Lolly Lijewski is the Advocacy Group Manager at The Metropolitan Center For Independent Living in St. Paul where she oversees three of MCIL's four core services; Advocacy, Information and Referral Services, and Peer Support Services.  She has been an advocate for people with disabilities for over 20 years.  Her experience with different aspects of disability public policy is diverse.  She currently serves on The Minneapolis Advisory Committee On People With Disabilities, and the Regional Social Security Work Incentives Advisory Group, to assist in implementation of the 1999 Ticket To Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act.  She also serves on the Northwest Airlines Customers with Disabilities Advisory Board, The Transit Access Advisory Committee (TAAC) to the Metropolitan Council, and The Community Advisory Committee on the Light Rail Hiawatha Corridor.  She chairs the Minnesota Consortium For Citizens With Disabilities (MNCCD's) Housing Advocacy Committee, and serves on MNCCD's Transit Committee, its Work Incentives Committee as well as the Consortium's Media Committee.  She serves on the Board of Directors for Courage Center, a nationally renowned rehabilitation center.   In addition she serves on the Department Of Human Services Disability Health Options Advisory Committee.

She is a graduate of The College of Saint Catherine with a Bachelors in Social Work, and a second major in Radio and TV production.  She is pursuing a Masters degree in Public Affairs with a focus in non-profit management at The Humphrey Institute.  Her interests include; reading, traveling, music, taking long walks with her dog, trying new restaurants, and spending quality time with good friends.

Kathleen Maloney Executive Director of the Minnesota Alliance for Arts in Education, has a long history in public policy and arts administration.  Before joining the Alliance, she served 10 years as managing director of Intermedia Arts, a community-based, 
multidisciplinary art center, and helped form Zenon Dance Company in Minneapolis.  She formerly taught art and English in secondary school and adult jazz dance classes.  To keep up with the demands of nonprofit management, she practices Kundalini Yoga.

Jon Skaalen has served as the Access to Theatre Program Coordinator for VSA arts of Minnesota for nearly four years. He works with theatres and other performance organizations, as well as with persons with hearing and vision disabilities, Audio Describers and Theatrical Interpreters to promote and publicize accessible performances. For VSA, he also works with arts festivals for adults with developmental disabilities, visual arts exhibits, a Disabled Artists Group and other projects. As a volunteer, he serves as secretary of the Minnesota Association of Community Theatres, helping to coordinate statewide meetings, biennial state play festivals, and networking efforts such as a weekly e-mailed newsletter and website that publicizes auditions, jobs, performances and other theatre news. He serves as Access Coordinator for the Minnesota Fringe Festival.  In past lives he was communications manager for a large Minnesota disability advocacy organization and was editor of a weekly newspaper.





2003 AMLI Speaker and Presenter Bios


Britta Beeck is passionate about using her skills and experiences to create attractive, user-friendly and accessible web sites. A web designer by profession, she is furthering her education at the University of Minnesota, studying accessible web design. Ms. Beeck has an associate's degree in web design from Hennepin Technical College.  In 2002, she worked as a web design intern at Webtasia Design, Minneapolis, where she did web design for VSA arts of Minnesota.  Ms. Beeck is committed to creating outstanding web sites, and welcomes new challenges.  She is proficient on Mac and PC platforms, and works with HTML, JavaScript, Dreamweaver, FrontPage, Flash, Photoshop, ImageReady, Illustrator, Director, Premiere, QuarkXPress, Acrobat, Excel, Word and Power Point.  Among her other skills, Ms. Beeck is bilingual, speaking and writing in both English and German.  

Rick Cardenas is an active member of the Minnesota disability rights movement, and has helped bridge the gap between people with developmental disabilities and larger rights struggles.  He is brilliant at helping us make connections between civil rights, disability rights, and self-advocacy.  Co-Director of Advocating Change Together, Inc. (ACT) since 1998, he has helped groups on local, state, and national levels organize around issues, building power and leadership as they go.

Martin English has served as the Executive Director for Accessible Arts since March of 2000.  He directs all arts programming, facilitates advocacy efforts, oversees all aspects of fiscal management and supervises Accessible Arts staff and consultants.  From 1997 to 2000, Martin served as the Executive Director for FilmFest Kansas City and the KAN Film Festival.  His experience includes managing not-for-profit organizations, fund raising, grant writing and promoting the arts.  With an MFA in Acting/Directing from the University of Missouri at Kansas City, he has extensive experience in theatre including the creation and performance of many workshops in Kansas and Missouri schools.  Martin has maintained a long-term relationship with Young Audiences and Arts Partners of Kansas City to ensure artist residencies in the schools.  Martin has also directed and produced several training video projects for corporate and non-profit clients.

Laura Griebel has worked in the field of employment and training with people with disabilities for over 10 years. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Social Wok from St. Edward's University in Austin and a Master's Degree in Special Education from the University of Texas at Austin.  Laura currently works as the Youth Services Program Manager at Goodwill Industries of Central Texas.  She also teaches a course on Disability Culture at St. Edward's University and serves as Board Chair of VSA arts of Texas. Laura has participated in a performance troupe called Actual Lives for over 3 years. Actual Lives is a theatrical group made up of adults with disabilities who perform autobiographical writing about living with disability. 



Janice Hastings joined the VSA arts Home Office Staff on June 13, 2003 as Director of Education and Affiliate Services.  She spent the last 10 years working with VSA arts of New Hampshire, first as Director of Education Services under a New Hampshire Department of Education grant dedicated to promoting the arts as a tool for inclusion, then as Executive Director for seven years.  Her experience includes teaching independent living skills in alternative residential high school, and design and implementation of arts and vocational initiatives for youth ages 13 to 18.  Janice disseminated federal JTPA funds for 42 summer youth employment projects throughout the state with the New Hampshire Job Training Council.  She has worked since 1998 to develop VSA arts sister projects in Nicaragua and Guatemala to promote literacy through the arts and inclusion of children with disabilities in public schools.  Most importantly she is an artist who is obsessed with making books of all kinds and can swim a 100 backstroke in 1:45 seconds.

Celia Hughes, Executive Director of VSA arts of Texas, has over 26 years of experience working in the arts as producer, artist and manager.  She lived and worked as an arts administrator for ten years in New York City before moving to Austin, where she has served as board member, advisor, consultant and trainer to nonprofit arts and service organizations, both large and small.  Celia has worked with people with disabilities for over 20 years.  Skills include:  arts management, strategic planning, marketing and publicity, grant writing, ADA compliance and cultural competency.  Training Certifications include:  Technologies of Participation and Group Facilitation, Institute of Cultural Affairs; Trustee Leadership Development, Lilly Foundation; Cultural Competency, National Resource Center for Youth Development; Peer Mediation for Artists, Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts.  Celia has a BA in Speech Pathology and an MA in Public Affairs from the L.B.J. School of Public Affairs, U.T. Austin.

Bonnie S. Kaplan (Cultural Access Director) is responsible for VSA arts of Massachusetts' access programs, oversees Boston ARTreach, the ADA Mini Grants and the National Cultural Access Institute.  She provides technical assistance to program participants on universal program design and development of inclusive audiences especially serving people who are Deaf or hard of hearing.  In addition, she contributes to the AccessExpressed! Editorial Board and has a significant role in the upcoming AccessExpressed! New England:  A Cultural Resources Directory publication, slated for early 2002 release.  She holds a BA from Northeastern University.  Ms. Kaplan presents workshops in Disability Awareness, ADA for Cultural Organizations and Communications Access.  In addition to presenting at the Cultural Access Institute in Cambridge, she has presented at Institutes in Florida, Ohio, Kansas City and Baltimore.  Bonnie enjoys partaking in diversity programs offered at elementary schools and lectures at Emerson College's arts management classes.  Bonnie is a member of the Museum of Fine Arts, The Wang Center, American History Textile Museum and Wheelock Family Theatre Access Advisory Boards.



Philip M. Kragnes, M.S., works as an adaptive technology specialist for the University of Minnesota Academic & Distributed Computing Services and Disability Services.  His Master of Science degree is from the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, Experimental Psychology: Human Memory, Learning, and Cognition.  His training was in Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis; Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence, Human Information Processing; Development of Thought and Language; Analysis of Personality Research and Theory; Memory and Amnesia.  His thesis was on "Differential Effects of Quasi-random Feedback on Implicit and Explicit Learning."  Mr. Kragnes' bachelor's degree was in Cognitive Psychology, from Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA.  
In his current position, Mr. Kragnes uses adaptive technology to make sure university students, staff and faculty with disabilities have access to computers and information.  He provides training and support for adaptive technology, evaluates and procures new adaptive products and technologies, develops and implements university policies regarding computer and information access and acts as a consultant to university and non-university groups, organizations and individuals regarding adaptive technology, Web site accessibility and related issues.  In addition, he serves as webmaster for the University of Minnesota Disability Services and Computer Accommodations Program Web sites.
Mr. Kragnes' volunteer experience matches his academic and professional achievements.  He is currently president of Minnesota Guide Dog Users, is webmaster for the American Council of the Blind of Minnesota, serves as vice chair on the Governor's Council on Technology for People with Disabilities, and is a public speaker for Vision Loss Resources, Minneapolis, MN.

Gail Larson shares the spirit of the self-advocacy movement by co-presenting self-advocacy workshops with Rick Cardenas (ACT staff).  Her recent gigs have included speaking to students at the University of Minnesota and presenting training to service providers.  Gail cares about housing and employment issues for people with disabilities and is an active board member and volunteer at Advocating Change Together.

Damon McLeese, has been working in the nonprofit sector for over 20 years. Damon has worked with the Colorado Easter Seals Society, the Colorado Special Olympics and is currently the Executive Director of VSA arts of Colorado. Prior to coming to VSA arts Damon ran a Volunteer Center for the City of Aurora, Colorado. This Volunteer Center was one of only two municipal based Volunteer Centers in the country. The Volunteer Center was recognized by the Points of Light Foundation. In addition to working with VSA arts Colorado, Damon teaches Nonprofit Management Courses at Regis University and Metropolitan State College in Denver. 

Ginny Miller has more than seventeen years of experience working in the nonprofit arts world and has been executive director of VSA arts of Kentucky since 1992.  She served as program/education director at the Capitol Arts Alliance in Bowling Green, Kentucky before coming to VSA arts.  Ginny has consulted with various VSA arts affiliate boards to assist with organizational and board development.  She currently serves on the VSA arts Advisory Council and is a past chair of that group.  Prior to her career in arts administration, Ginny taught in the public school system in Kentucky before returning to school to pursue her love of the performing arts.  She initiated and organized the now thriving dance program at Western Kentucky University.  Additionally, she assisted in the grass roots development of a preparatory program in the arts for young people in the community.  Ginny has choreographed for various schools and local theatres in south central Kentucky and has been active in her local community theatre.

Stephanie Moore, Director of Artist Services, joined VSA in 1992 and has served as Director for the VSA arts Gallery in addition to her present position.  Her accomplishments include the computerization and development of the Artists Registry, curatorial effort for over eighteen exhibitions, and the production of VSA arts largest international exhibition of artists with disabilities during the Art & Soul festival.  Prior to coming to VSA arts, she served as Assistant to the Director for Sawhill French masterpieces under a curator for the Louvre in Paris, France.  Moore has a BA in art management and the art of underrepresented cultures from George Washington University.  Moore completed an online exhibit of her Masters project at:  www.vsarts.org/gallery/exhibits/disability/

Carol Robinson is a self-advocacy leader who has joined with others to fight for the removal of barriers to full participation in society.  Carol is a member of Advocating Change Together, Co-Chair for the Remembering With Dignity project and has a strong voice in the self-advocacy movement.  Carol shows us through example how to share power and work together for social change.

Kippy Rudy is the Development Director of Maine Island Trails Association, a stewardship organization whose mission is to promote thoughtful and low impact recreational use of the Maine Islands.  Ms. Rudy has also served as VSA arts of Maine's Board President since April 2002, and has been a professional fundraiser in Portland for more than a decade.  Ms. Rudy holds a bachelors degree in art from Drew University, located in Madison, New Jersey. 

Steve Schmidt has served as General Manager of Rochester Civic Music since 1989. He provided the staff leadership for RCM's program diversification efforts that have resulted in Civic Music as it is today.  He has worked in arts administration since 1973.  Among the professional honors Mr. Schmidt has garnered are a VSA arts Jaehny Award conferred because of his "exemplary achievement in the intersection of people with disabilities and the arts" and the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council's Arts Administrator of the Year Award. He has also been awarded two Management Achievement Awards by the Association of College, University and Community Arts Administrators (now the Association of Performing Arts Presenters), a Texas Municipal League Arts Award, two El Paso Arts Alliance Friend of the Arts awards, and a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship.  Mr. Schmidt currently serves as President of VSA arts of Minnesota and is a member of the Minnesota State Arts Board's Strategic Audience Development Initiative Task Force.  He is a past Chair of the Minnesota Presenters Network and continues to serve as that organization's Fiscal Agent. He has also been a member of several Minnesota State Arts Board Advisory Panels, the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council Advisory Panel, and Rochester Area Council for the Arts Board of Directors.  Mr. Schmidt earned a Master of Arts degree in Community Arts Management from the University of Illinois at Springfield and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and Theatre/Communication Arts from Kalamazoo College and has studied at the Universit de Caen in France.  

Daniel Schmitt, Executive Director of VSA arts of Washington, has a BA in Music History and Theory from Hiram College, Hiram, Ohio.  VSAAW has grown for eight years with Dan overseeing the acquisition of a new office, a gallery, studio space, and the growth of the organization from one part time staff employee to five employees and hundreds of volunteers.  While keeping alive the Artists in Residence and festival programs, Dan has been instrumental in developing new arts education initiatives as well as a Cultural Access Program which recently won support from the NEA, with a Challenge America grant.  No Boundaries, a traveling exhibit of works by Northwest artists with disabilities, was started about a year before Dan joined VSAAW.  Since he became Executive Director in 1995, No Boundaries has toured to all five of the states from which artists are called.

Amy Wagner is Director of Board Recruitment and Volunteer Services for MAP for Nonprofits.  Last year, MAP helped more than 100 organizations recruit new board members and trained 350 volunteers on the roles and responsibilities of board members.  Amy has presented at a number of local and national conferences including the 2001 National Center for Nonprofit Boards (now BoardSource) conference.  Prior to joining MAP, Amy was a consultant at Accenture (formerly Andersen Consulting), an internal project manager for Andersen Windows, and a training manager at a software-consulting firm.  In addition, she gained experience in volunteer management through her work at the Madison AIDS Support Network.  Amy graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin - Madison with degrees in Business and International Relations.  
Amy is an active member of the Corporate Volunteerism Council - Twin Cities (CVC) and the Minnesota Association of Volunteer Administrators (MAVA).  She currently serves as secretary on the board of IFP - Minneapolis/St. Paul, a nonprofit that supports and promotes media artists.

Charles J. Washburn has worked for VSA arts of Massachusetts since 1987 and has served as Executive Director since 2000.  He holds his BA in History and Education from Fairfield University and a CSS in Management and Administration from Harvard University.  As a credentialed teacher, he taught kindergarten and early primary students.  He was director of an urban art center and festival known as Summer's World in Worcester, Massachusetts, and is one of the founders of First Night Worcester.  Charlie has also worked in human services on improvement of community-based programs.  He served the Massachusetts Advocates for the Arts Sciences and Humanities, the State's art's lobby, as President and was one of its founders.  He was a member of the Massachusetts Arts Curriculum Framework Committee and Chair of the Massachusetts Department of Education's Arts In Education Advisory Council.  He served as Chair of the VSA National Advisory Council and as a member of the Board of Directors of VSA arts.  Charlie supervises VSAM's arts in education programs, promoting the use of the arts to improve instruction and learning and to promote inclusion of students with disabilities with their non-disabled peers.  In 1977 VSAM's education programs received the Commonwealth Award.  Charlie has an aptitude for collaboration.  Through forging enduring partnerships with cultural organizations and facilities, VSA arts of Massachusetts promotes access to museums, concert halls, historic sites, sports arenas, parks, movie theaters and other community cultural venues.  Along with VSA arts of Massachusetts' President and Founder, Maida S. Abrams, Charlie developed a state project that became the National Cultural Access Initiative.

David Webster has been the Director of VSA arts of Maine (formerly Very Special Arts Maine) since 1985.  In addition to a background in theater and counseling, Mr. Webster has a Masters in Education in Organization and Management, with a concentration in Facilitation of Inclusive Arts Programming, from Antioch New England Graduate Program. 

2003 AMLI Performer Bios


Joseph Baird underwent surgery after being misdiagnosed with cancer at eighteen months of age. He was medically treated with radiation which resulted in paraplegia (paralyzed from the waist down), as well as radiation sickness.  He also had a car train accident enroute to a performance in 1989 in which he received extensive injuries.  After exhaustive rehabilitation and several years of hard work he has returned to his art and again can be seen performing.

Joseph Baird has been a professional singer, songwriter, acoustic guitarist, performing, and recording artist since 1986.  As a solo performer he has toured, performing and speaking on diversity, throughout the United States of America.  He has presented programs on college campuses all over the U.S.  He has opened shows for renowned musician and performer Shawn Philips and RCA recording and performing artist Michael Johnson of "Bluer Than Blue," "That's That" and "Give Me Wings" fame.  Michael performed accompanying guitar on Joseph's CD "Lost and Found."
    
Joseph Baird has to his credits many live performances on college campuses since 1986.  He has also been an active performer for special groups, communities and to promote the better understanding and inclusion of people with disabilities when ever possible.  He has been an advocate, speaking out for the rights of all people and the rights of people with disabilities.
Stephanie Dawn "....The hit of the evening was 18-year old singer Stephanie Dawn.....Watch out for this amazing young woman...." 
from Ovation News (Ovation: The Arts Network-The New York Times) following a performance at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., March 1999 
Stephanie Dawn, 23, was singing before she was one, and performed her first church solo by age three. By age nine she was singing solo concerts across the U.S. and had recorded her first album.  Her 10th CD was released in 2002.  Since Jan. 2000 Stephanie and her stepfather Dann Thornton have been performing concerts full-time, with more than 470 concerts across the U.S in the past 3+ years.  With a current repertoire of more than 250 songs, Stephanie performs in a variety of styles, including jazz, pop, Broadway, classical, and gospel.  Her performances have taken her to concert halls, schools, universities, churches, and campus' across the nation. 

Career Highlights: 
--Solo performance at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. as a national winner in the 1995 Panasonic Young Soloists Award, sponsored by VSA and Panasonic.
--Solo performance at the Kennedy Center in 1999 at the VSA/Panasonic Young Soloists Anniversary Concert.
--Solo performances at the 1995 and 1999 Panasonic Kid Witness News National New Vision Awards Ceremonies at the Newark Museum.
--Solo performance at the National Museum for Women In the Arts in Washington, D.C. at a dinner honoring Jean Kennedy Smith, the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland and founder of VSA.
--Grand Prize Winner in the Artist Division of Embassy Music's 1996 Ultimate Talent Search in Nashville. 
--National television appearances on NBC and the Family Channel as a finalist and female-category winner in the 1995 National New Artist Search on "The 700 Club". Selected from more than 2000 entries, Stephanie was by far the youngest  performer (and the only non-adult) ever to be considered for the competition  finals. 
--Solo performance at the culminating concert of a week-long program on National Public Radio called "Beyond Affliction", sponsored by VSA and MPR, and held at the Fitzgerald Theater in Minneapolis. 
--Featured soloist at the 2003 VSA National Convention in Minneapolis. 
--Member and featured soloist in the 1996 Minnesota All-State Choir performance at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis. 
--Vocal soloist in the premier performance of a set of songs composed by James Thornton with the Minot State University Wind Ensemble in 1994. 
--Vocal soloist with the International Brass Quintet at the International Music Camp in 1995. 
--Regularly featured vocal soloist since age 12 with the Bemidji Jazz Quartet and Bemidji State University Jazz Ensemble I. 
Kevin Kling has become well known to NPR listeners thanks to his regular storytelling contributions to NPR's All Things Considered. A recurring voice on the program since the early 1990s, Kling released his third CD collection of his public radio commentaries, Wonderlure, in February 2003. Other recordings include Stories: Off the Shallow End and Home & Away.  A performer and playwright, Kling has performed his one-person play 21A (based on a South Minneapolis bus route) in Sweden; Louisville, KY; off Broadway in New York City; in Sydney and Perth, Australia; Edinburgh, Scotland; and the Czech Republic. His autobiographical play, Home and Away, has been seen at the Seattle Rep, The Goodman Theater, Jungle Theater, The Spoleto Festival, and the HBO Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, CO, among other venues. His adaptation of the much-loved children's book Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse continues to be produced in theaters across the US and abroad. Other plays include Lloyd's Prayer, Mississippi Panorama, Gulliver: A Swift Journey, The 7 Dwarfs and The Education of Walter Kauffmann.

Kling is a member of the Playwrights' Center in Minneapolis. In August 2001, he was involved in a serious motorcycle accident that left him with extensive injuries to his face, his right hand and shoulder.  Throughout the numerous surgeries involved in his recovery, Kling has continued to write. In 2003 he is working on several plays and compiling a book of his stories.  Kling has hopped freight trains, joined a circus, been to Mardi Gras, and eaten things before knowing what they were. He loves Mary Ludington, their dogs, and motorcycles, in that order. He grew up in Osseo, MN, and graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1979 with a B. A. in theatre.

Rebecca Kragnes was born in Northwestern Iowa where her family farmed and where at the age of three she began picking out a few of her mom's piano chords and later playing piano/organ duets with her grandmother. Rebecca spent most of her childhood at the state school for the blind but returned home to start junior high school. She took piano lessons, played clarinet in band, sang in choir, participated in church music, and was keyboardist for a rock band called "The BLITZ" and for a vocal trio of herself and two sisters.

Rebecca began composing piano pieces at an early age, but they didn't fit any of the genres she knew until she was introduced to the New Age music of Mannheim Steamroller and David Lanz. She discovered her musical niche. However, uncertain about the prospects of a career in music, in college she minored in music and majored in psychology. 1996 was a very good year for her -- she received her Master's degree in community counseling from Mankato State University, she married Phil Kragnes, and, after being afraid of dogs for years, started using her first Seeing Eye dog(r), "Tanner."

After two years of searching for that elusive job in counseling, Rebecca met one of her inspirations - pianist David Lanz. He critiqued a tape of her original compositions, helped fund her recording sessions for her first CD, and has been generous with his time and advice on "Golden", "Joyful Noel" and her latest CD, "Surrender."

Rebecca plays piano for her church, volunteers to speak on blindness and related topics for schools and organizations, and serves on the board of the Minnesota affiliate of the American Council of the Blind. Rebecca enjoys swimming, reading books on tape and Braille magazines, socializing with friends, working and playing with her current Seeing Eye dog Wynell, listening to music, and especially composing and playing her own work. She hopes her career will continue to grow steadily.
Dann Thornton Originally from ND, Dann is currently piano accompanist and music arranger for Stephanie Dawn.  He comes from a musical family background; his father Don taught music for nearly 40 years in ND; his sister Diane and four brothers Jerry, Jim, Bruce, and Scott maintain active careers in music performance and education in MN, NY, and ND. 
Dann received a B.S. in Composite Music Education from Dickinson State University, and an M.F.A. in Trumpet Performance from the University of Iowa.  He was Instructor of High Brass, Theory, and Jazz Studies at Bemidji State University (MN) from 1987-1995, taught trumpet and jazz piano at the University of Iowa, and at the International Music Camp.   
On trumpet Dann has performed and soloed with the 1974 and 1976 IMC European Tour Bands, at the Kennedy Center, the 1991 International Trumpet Guild Convention, at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, with the Thornton Brass Quartet, and on Minnesota Public Radio.   
On piano Dann has performed on NBC, the Family Channel, and at the Kennedy Center and National Museum for Women In the Arts with Stephanie Dawn; with the Bemidji Jazz Quartet on MPR; the Thornton Jazz Quartet on MPR, at the Minnesota Music Educators Association Convention, the Dakota Arts Council, Minot and Bemidji State Universities,  with the Minot Symphony Orchestra, and on numerous concerts and CD recordings for other artists.  In 1999 the Thornton Jazz Quartet recorded their first CD, "Child's Play", featuring all original compositions by Dann and his brothers Bruce and Scott.

In addition to accompanying, arranging, and recording all the instrumental music for concerts and recordings with his step-daughter Stephanie Dawn, Dann arranges music and records for many other artists.    


2003 AMLI Speaker Bios		Page 3 of 13

