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 Listed Alphabetically Maria Benson – Pianist/Vocalist Maria Benson has been playing the piano for dance for the last 18 years . She says, "Accompanying has helped me to really become a pianist. It has also made me a much better artist and musician." Maria has always loved dance and dancing. She is now working on the art of singing and songwriting and is thrilled to be able to perform her songs live and for dance in L'affire de Ballet!!! Eric Christopher - Instrumentalist A Minnesota State Arts Board Grant recipient and multi-instrumentalist, Eric Christopher has worked in the midwest and around the country, performing, recording and/or touring with dozens of bluegrass, Americana and country acts including The High 48s. Eric is a well respected fiddle instructor, as well as being the co-founder, songwriter, engineer, and producer of the band The Minor Planets, with Dana Thompson. Eric will join CCDE and perform for Jesse Peterson's choreography in L'affaire de Ballet. Laura De St. Croix – Violist Laura De St. Croix has attend the University of Minnesota since Fall 2008. She is a student of the College of Liberal Arts. She completed her Master of Music in viola performance in May 2011. She is excited to continue her studies, as she began pursuing her DMA during the fall of 2011. Laura played the Viola in Ballet Amore. Tari Karbula – Opera Singer Tari Karbula earned a BS with a double major in Choral/General Music Education from the University of Wisconsin – LaCrosse. She then earned an MFA with a double major in Vocal Performance & Opera Theatre direction from the University of Iowa – Iowa City. While earning her degree she also held a teacher assistantship in both the voice department and the Iowa Opera Theatre department. Tari was also an “artist in residence” while at the UI where she traveled to area schools & introduce students to the world of opera. She is no stranger to the world of dance as she worked in the UI costume shop building costumes for both main stage opera and dance productions. She is thrilled to be involved in such a special project with such talented dancers. Tari moved to the Twin Cities metro area in 1995 and has worked with opera companies and community theatres throughout the metro area as well as in Wisconsin and Iowa. She is an active, leading member of the choir at Prince of Peace church in Brooklyn Park and teaches private voice lessons. In her spare time she loves spending time with her three grandsons. Tari will join CCDE in L'affiare de Ballet to sing three beautiful pieces of opera music.  Riley Thomas Weber – CellistOriginally from Fargo, North Dakota, Riley received his primary ballet training under Marnee Brant at the Brant School of Dance Arts, and spent three years performing at Trollwood Performing Arts School where he studied ballet and musical theatre. He has performed in North Dakota, California, Florida, Chicago, and in the 2008 Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. Riley Moved to the Twin Cities in 2008 on a cello scholarship and is currently pursuing a double Bachelor's Degree in Dance and Music at the University of Minnesota. Riley teaches ballet at The Mankato Ballet Company and South Metro Dance Academy. Riley danced professionally with Ballet Minnesota for two seasons where he performed in Andrew Rist's Beethoven's 6th Symphony, Grieg's Piano Concerto in A Minor, The Classic Nutcracker and Don Quixote. Riley performed for Saint Paul City Ballet where he danced Raymonda and in works by Ted Sothern and Gregory Drotar. Riley is an original company member of CCDE and both danced and played the cello for CCDE in Ballet Amore.  Dana Thompson - Vocalist Dana has received the City Pages’ Best Female Vocalist award, and is a founding member of The Strawdogs, Hot Head Fiasco, Marina Glass, The Minor Planets, as well as fronting her own band, Dana Thompson and the North Coast. She has enjoyed touring the US and Europe in support of her critically-acclaimed first solo record, Ox. Currently, Dana is performing with The Minor Planets in which she is the co-band leader with Eric Christopher. In addition, she is a voice over and jingle artist. Dana will join CCDE and perform for Jesse Peterson's choreography in L'affaire de Ballet. Kevin Werner Hohlstein - Pianist Before moving to the Twin Cities, Kevin completed a BA in Music at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire and while in school had the opportunity to work with the Eau Claire Children’s Theater and Fanny Hill Dinner Theater. Calling the Twin Cities home since 1995, he has worked as a performer with Cardinal Theatricals – The Wild Party ; Chanhassen Dinner Theatres – State Fair, Good News, and Charlie in Brigadoon;Ashland Productions;Jarvis Mundi Productions – Praying Backwards; Season’s Players – Jerry Bloomberry/Grandma’s Christmas Invitation and the Minnesota Opera – The Grapes of Wrath, Masked Ball, The Italian Girl in Algiers, Romeo and Juliet and The Adventures of Pinocchio. He has also directed for New Breath Productions, co-directed productions for Ashland Productions, wrote and directed for Minnesota PerformDance and Unity Christ Church and has also worked with many companies across the Twin Cities metro and in western Wisconsin as choreographer and music director. He also teaches voice out of his home studio and is also proud to be a founding member of the Twin Cities Cabaret Artists Network (TCCAN). Kevin will join CCDE in L'affiare de Ballet to play the piano for three beautiful pieces of opera music. |
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