Dr. Jennifer Fagre-Golya is musical stewardess whose work spans performance, teaching, composition, arranging, musicology, and music preparation. She holds a Ph.D. in Music Composition from UCLA and has built a career that bridges many aspects of the musical profession while remaining rooted in performance and collaboration. Jennifer serves as Concertmaster of the Mesabi Symphony Orchestra and performs regularly throughout several ensembles in Minnesota as an orchestral, chamber, and freelance musician. In addition to performing, she works with ensembles and organizations on arranging, score preparation, and music projects ranging from educational programs to large-scale concert productions. A passionate advocate for chamber music education, Jennifer enjoys helping students develop the listening, communication, and leadership skills that make chamber music such a powerful musical experience. As Quartet Project Coordinator, she works to create meaningful opportunities for young musicians to challenge themselves, connect with their peers, and discover the joy of making music together.
Paul Bagley (Coach)
Dr. Paul Bagley teaches violin and viola at Anne Arundel Community College, the Annapolis Symphony Academy, and Broadneck High School. He concertizes extensively around the greater D.C./Baltimore area, most notably serving as associate principal viola of the Fairfax Symphony and concertmaster of the Naptown Philharmonic. He is also concertmaster of the Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra, the premier ensemble of its kind in the U.S., with which he tours coast to coast and has recorded several albums. In the summers he returns to his hometown of Duluth, MN to play in the Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra and coach for the Quartet Project. He earned degrees in violin performance from the University of Wisconsin-Superior (BM), the University of Wisconsin-Madison (MM), and the University of Maryland-College Park (DMA), where he studied with Dr. Erin Aldridge, Tyrone Greive, and David Salness, respectively. He lives in Arnold, MD with his wife and fellow violinist, Kristin Bakkegard, and their one-year-old daughter, and enjoys learning aerial silks in his tiny amount of free time.
Kevin Hoeschen (Coach)
Kevin received his degrees in Musicology and Music Education from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. While at the University, Kevin studied viola with Gaetano Molieri, John Tartaglia and Salvatore Venittelli. He studied ethnomusicology under the guidance of Dr. Alan Kagan and conducted fieldwork in Ghana, West Africa and in the Upper Midwest, specializing in Norwegian immigrant music. His study of Norwegian music led to a Fulbright grant to study at the University of Trondheim, Norway, where he also performed with the Trondheim Chamber Orchestra.
As a music educator, Kevin served as orchestra director in the Ashland Public Schools from 1978 to 1988 and in the Superior Public Schools from 1988 to 2008. After retiring from public school teaching in 2008, Kevin guest conducted the orchestras at the University of Wisconsin, Superior and at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. In 2016, he returned to public school teaching, serving as the orchestra director at Ordean East Middle School until 2022.
At UWS, Kevin taught viola and courses in world music from 1988 until 2020. He has been a violist in the Duluth Superior Symphony since 1978, serving as Principal Viola since 1982. In 1990 he appeared as soloist with the DSSO, performing the Mozart Sinfonia Concertante together with DSSO concertmaster Diane Balko. From 1988 to 2019, Kevin conducted the DSSO Youth Symphony and he currently serves as a co-conductor of the DSSO Sinfonia. Kevin has also served as Principal Viola in the Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra and the Lyric Opera of the North (LOON).
Kevin presently serves on the faculty of the University of Minnesota, Duluth, where he teaches violin and viola lessons. He and his wife, Carol have been happy to call Duluth their home since 1988, They have two wonderful children, Mary (married to Mike) and Karl (married to Kate), and two delightful grandsons, Eddie and Louie!
Tami Nelson (Coach)
Tami L. Nelson, graduated with a Bachelor’s of Music Education and a Master’s in Music Performance and Pedagogy from George Mason University, in Fairfax, VA. At 8 years old, Tami played the Accordion and then at 14, added the Viola. A car accident at 19 caused an injury, which forced Tami to stop playing instruments. Tami later joined the Air Force as a Food Service Airman, got married and continued on as an Air Force spouse, and raised two children with tours in Turkey, Germany, and 9 states in the US. She started playing viola again at age 31, and at 39, Tami completed her Bachelor’s of Music and started teaching public school orchestra. She has taught orchestra in Manassas, Virginia, as well as in Faribault, MN, before moving to Duluth, where she teaches at Ordean East Middle School. Tami’s favorite pastime is playing, learning, and sharing music! Most of her friends were forged from music events, and music brings so much energy and passion to her life.
Tim Tilberg (Coach)
Tim Tilberg is a technology and music hobbyist and professional. While his career is centered in software development, he studied cello at the John S. Duss Music Conservatory, and is now principal cellist of the Mesabi Symphony Orchestra, and occasionally plays in other regional orchestras in northern Minnesota, weddings, and other events. In addition to orchestral instruments, he is fluent in digital music production, mixing and mastering, and has taught electronic dance music production technique through Ableton Live.
Tim has a strong emotional connection to the dramatic story telling that music provides. Thanks to the soundtracks, he weeps at movies and video games. Most recently, after hearing the third movement of Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence, he felt compelled to set it in motion and demanded a duel. He founded the Brawlin’ with Tchaikovsky String Sextet to bring this to life. On a moody stage, six thoroughly temporary- tattooed string musicians surrounded a table where people of all ages participated in (probably) the world’s first arm wrestling tournament set to the dramatic whimsy of orchestral chamber music.
Tim is passionate about inspiring others to be curious and excited for music. He’s participated in and coordinated music outreach programs for kids, inspired adults to start learning new instruments, and loves giving people the opportunity to feel the music.
