Michael Charron - Dean, School of the Arts: Charron earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre and English with a secondary education license from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. He continued his education by obtaining a Master of Fine Arts degree in theatre from the University of Minnesota. Charron was a faculty member at Concordia University in Saint Paul, MN from 1983 - 2007. During his years at Concordia, he became a tenured professor of theatre arts, as well as Chair and Artistic Director of the Department of Theatre. Charron has extensive experience as a director, playwright, actor and leader within the arts community. Additionally, he served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2004 - 2006. While a student at Saint Mary's, Charron was an active participant in Theatre Department productions. Furthermore, he was involved in Winona Community Theatre and The Ballet School [MCA].

Tammy Schmidt - Director of Dance: Schmidt holds a B.F.A. in ballet from Texas Christian University and an M.F.A in dance from the University of Oklahoma. As director of dance, Schmidt leads and teaches in the dance division of MCA as well as the dance minor program at Saint Mary's University. Additionally, she serves as artistic director for MCA's Dance Repertory Company.  Schmidt has restaged and choreographed several full-length ballets for the company including: Cinderella, Paquita, The Nutcracker, and Excerpts from Swan Lake. She has previously taught at Viterbo University, Winona State University, the La Crosse Dance Centre, the University of Oklahoma, North Houston Ballet, Backstage Dance Theatre, and a performing arts middle school in Austin, Texas. Her performing career includes work with Ballet Dallas, Houston Ballet, Ballet Austin, Milwaukee Ballet, and Oklahoma Festival Ballet.

Christine Martin - Managing Director and Adjunct Faculty: Martin has been a faculty member at the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts since 1994 and has been the managing director for the last nine years. She also teaches dance for the Saint Mary's University Department of Theatre Arts, Viterbo University, and has taught at Winona State University. Martin's performing career includes work with the Minneapolis-based tap company, Keane Sense of Rhythm at: The Minneapolis and Thunder Bay, Canada Fringe Festivals, the Minneapolis and Chicago Human Rhythm Projects, and Choreographers Evening at the Walker Arts Center. She has choreographed a variety of original works for the conservatory's Dance Repertory Company and has choreographed for theatrical productions such as Cabaret, Gypsy, Little Shop of Horrors, Showtune, and The Wizard of Oz. She has studied under Lane Alexander, Sam Weber, Lynn Dally, Diane Walker, Gus Giordano, Savion Glover, Billy Siegenfeld, Mia Michaels, Ted Levy, and Idella Reed, among others. Martin is a graduate of Saint Mary's University with a B.A. in public relations. E-mail Christine.

Jennifer Severson - Administrative Assistant and Adjunct Faculty: Severson began her dance training as a young child in La Crosse, Wisconsin, studying ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop and modern dance. She went on to study modern dance at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities in 2000 and attended the Miami Dance Festival in 2002. Severson continued her studies at Viterbo University, choreographing in three student showcases in 2003, 2004 and 2005; while teaching jazz at La Crosse Dance Centre. In the spring of 2005, Severson graduated cum laude from Viterbo University with a B.A. in English, and minor emphases in dance and graphic design. She has choreographed numerous musicals throughout the past 9 years for Wisconsin and Minnesota high schools, along with Home and Community Options' annual summer musical in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Severson attended the American College Dance Festival in 2007 and 2008; The PULSE workshop in Minneapolis in the spring of 2008; and the Chicago Human Rhythm Project in the summer of 2008, where she studied with Ted Levy, Sam Weber, Jason Samuels Smith and Billy Siegenfeld. Currently, Severson serves as adjunct faculty at Viterbo University, Winona State Univerity, Saint Mary's Univrsity, La Crosse Dance Centre and the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts. She is the new administrative assistant to the managing director at Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts.

Lindsy O'Shea- Youth Choir Director: O'Shea holds a Masters of Arts in Instruction and a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Music Performance from Saint Mary's University. She has been involved with choral music, as a singer or director, for 15 years. O'Shea previously taught choral and general music in the Rochester and Faribault Public Schools. Additionally, she worked with the choirs of Blue Lake Fine Arts camp and with the Michigan State University Children's Choir. She is currently adjunct faculty with Saint Mary's University, directing the Women's Choir and teaching private voice lessons. She also sings with the LaCrosse Chamber Chorale.

Avin Honecker-Sherman - Adjunct Faculty: Honecker-Sherman is a graduate from Winona State University with a B.A. in Professional Studies: Dance and Movement Studies. She has performed with the Conservatory's Dance Repertory Company as well as performing for WSU, the University of Minnesota, Ballet Arts City Children's Nutcracker Project, American College Dance Festivals, Sam Costas "10,000 Dances" Company, Sweets of May Irish Dance, Children's Dance Theatre, and many other community performances. She is a graduate of Perpich Center for Arts Education where she has also been a guest teacher. Her teaching experience includes ballet, modern, jazz, tap, clogging, improvisation, swing, and Irish dance. She is also a certified Pilates instructor and Personal Fitness Trainer, skilled in kickboxing, land and water aerobics, and weight training.

Rachel Moore-Adjunct Faculty: Biography coming soon.

Jessica Draskoci-Johnson - Adjunct Faculty: Draskoci-Johnson began studying dance at the age of five. She has studied Classical ballet, pointe, rhythm tap, jazz and hip hop. As a member of MCA's Dance Repertory Company, she has performed a variety of contemporary and classical roles, including Rat King and Spanish Chocolate from The Nutcracker, and one of the wicked stepsisters in Cinderella. Draskoci-Johnson has also taken part in many dance workshops, including the Chicago Human Rhythm Project, where she had the opportunity to take class with Idella Reed and Lane Alexander. Additional master teachers include Billy Siegenfeld, James Sewell, Kasper, choreographer for the hit TV show So You Think You Can Dance?, and others. She has attended the American College Dance Festivals where she partcipated in both adjudicated performances and classes. Draskoci-Johnson is currently a Pre-Nursing student at Winona State University.

Erin Gollnik - Adjunct Faculty: Gollnik began studying ballet at age seven. She later studied tap, jazz, and modern in addition to her ballet training. Gollnik has attended various summer workshops, including Great River Festival of the Arts Summer Intensive, the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point Summer Dance Intensive, and Chicago National Association of Dance Masters, where she studied on scholarship. She has also studied dance at Viterbo University. In addition to her teaching responsibilities at MCA, Gollnik is also a ballet and certified Pilates instructor for the La Crosse Dance Centre.

Jacqueline Vietor - Adjunct Faculty: Vietor began training in dance at the age of three and spent eight years as a student at the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts. She has been very involved in MCA’s Dance Repertory Company, performing such Classical roles as the Dew Drop Fairy, Chinese, and Ballerina Doll in The Nutcracker, a soloist in Paquita, and a swan in Excerpts from Swan Lake. She has attended summer intensive programs at MCA and Colorado Ballet. Vietor is currently studying at Minnesota State College – Southeast Technical.

Caitlin Kaman-Adjunct Faculty: Kaman started dancing at age 6. Later, she joined a pre-professional studio, Performing Arts of Spring Grove, and danced there for 6 years before graduating high school, moving to Winona and taking classes at the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts. Through PASG she was able to take classes at The Ruth Page Center in Chicago, as well as from Jean Paul Comelin, Rolando Yanes from The Milwaukee Ballet, and Sam Pergande from the Joffery Ballet. She danced for the Illinois Youth Dance Theater under the direction of Alice Keaggy Brinkmann formerly of the Milwaukee Ballet where she danced various roles in The Nutcracker, an original production of Joan of Arc, The Little Mermaid, and Swan Lake. She has also performed with MCA’s Dance Repertory Company in The Nutcracker and in a variety of contemporary concerts. Before becoming as instructor at MCA, Kamen participated in MCA’s assistant teaching apprenticeship program for two years. Currently, Kaman is a junior at Winona State University majoring in medical technology and minoring in dance. As a dance minor at WSU, Kaman performs in annual WSU productions as well as participates in the American College Dance Festival.

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