Our Team 2022
The members of our faculty are professional composers and performers working in many genres and lead highly hyphenated creative lives. During Composers Institute, they each offer:
- theory & repertoire sessions employ music theories and practices in all genres
- one-on-one tutorial lessons support and inspire composers
- perform & record composers' music
- advocate & advise individual composers' development and projects
Kim Sherman, Junior Composer Institute Guest Composer
Kim D. Sherman composes for the theater, opera, concert and film. Her music has been described as “rhapsodic and lush” as well as “craggy and leap-about.” She embraces lyricism and dissonance as equal partners in conveying dramatic musical landscapes.
Ms. Sherman studied piano and composition at Lawrence University. After earning her degree, she continued her studies in composition and orchestration with Thea Musgrave. Her career started in Minneapolis, where she was awarded two Kudos Awards for her work in the theatre. That led her to New York, where her music has been heard in venues from tiny lofts in lower Manhattan to the great stages of Broadway. She has enjoyed residencies at The MacDowell Colony and The Banff Centre. Sherman is currently composer-in-residence with Still Waters In A Storm. Current projects “under construction” are an opera, a song cycle, and a second volume of piano solos.
Ms. Sherman studied piano and composition at Lawrence University. After earning her degree, she continued her studies in composition and orchestration with Thea Musgrave. Her career started in Minneapolis, where she was awarded two Kudos Awards for her work in the theatre. That led her to New York, where her music has been heard in venues from tiny lofts in lower Manhattan to the great stages of Broadway. She has enjoyed residencies at The MacDowell Colony and The Banff Centre. Sherman is currently composer-in-residence with Still Waters In A Storm. Current projects “under construction” are an opera, a song cycle, and a second volume of piano solos.
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Dr. Sarah Miller, in-person
CRAZY IDEAS INSTITUTE DIRECTOR, JUNIOR COMPOSERS INSTITUTE, PIANO, COMPOSER 
Dr. Sarah Miller, NCTM, has been teaching composition, theory and piano at MacPhail Center for Music since 1997 after receiving her Ph.D. in music composition from Michigan State University. She has been teaching at Junior Composers Institute since 2011. Find more information about Sarah. here. Email her here.
Eric Radloff, in-person
JUNIOR COMPOSERS INSTITUTE GUITAR, DRUMS, KEYBOARD, SINGER/SONGWRITER, PRODUCER 
A native Minnesotan and a Junior Composers alumnus, Eric now hails from Los Angeles, CA, where he makes his living as a teacher, songwriter, and musician. He blends traditional principles with modern trends and tools to create a unique compositional voice. One of his noms de plume is okudaxij. Email him here.
Casey Palbicki, in-person
FILM/GAMING MUSIC STUDIO MUSICIAN-COMPOSER, PRODUCER, RECORDIST, MUSIC TECH 
Dr. Casey Palbicki joins our faculty for the first time this year but we are looking forward to working with him for years to come. He serves on the faculty of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls where he is building a film and commercial music program, teaches theory-composition, as well as online instruction at Baker University in Michigan. Find more information about Casey here.
Yue Lor, online
COMPOSERS ONLINE INSTITUTE, JUNIOR COMPOSERS INSTITUTE RECORDIST, COMPOSER, MUSIC TECH, MUSIC BUSINESS LAWYER 
Yue Lor (J.D.) is a Junior Composers alumnus living in the Twin Cities. Yue holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Theory and Composition from Concordia College (Moorhead) as well as a Juris Doctor degree from the Mitchell-Hamline School of Law. Yue is an active composer of both concert and library music. Here is more information about him.
Becca Baker, in-person
JUNIOR COMPOSERS INSTITUTE & FILM/GAMING MUSIC STUDIO COUNSELOR COMPOSER, LATE-NIGHT LOUNGE HOST & PRODUCER 
Rebecca Baker, originally from Colorado Springs, currently attends Utah State University as a Bachelor of the Arts (BA) Major with an Emphasis in Composition. She is studying composition with Dr. Kevin Olson, and piano with Dr. Cahill Smith. Becca is also pursuing two minors in Piano Pedagogy and Entrepreneurship to supplement her degree. Email her here.
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Sharon Kaplan, in-person
CRAZY IDEAS INSTITUTE PIANO, COMPOSER 
Sharon has had an active teacher for sixty years and is a leader in composition pedagogy in her own piano studio as well as initiating music theory standards in Minnesota, regional and national level. She considers herself to be teacher of the individual person using the medium of music. She is a published composer and maintains her own company at Weopleland Publishing.
Jordyn Davis, in-person
JUNIOR COMPOSERS INSTITUTE & FILM/GAME MUSIC INSTITUTE, BASS, SONGWRITER, VOCALIST, COMPOSER, PRODUCER 
Jordyn Davis is from Inkster MI and In May 2019 became the first African-American woman to receive a Bachelor's in Music Composition and the first to receive both a Bachelor's Degree in Music Composition and Jazz Studies from Michigan State University, concurrently. She has composed & arranged over 20 works for film, various contemporary classical chamber ensembles, symphony orchestra, wind ensemble and jazz ensembles including her octet and big band. Find more information about Jordyn here. Email her here.
Mary Kate Hines, in-person
JUNIOR COMPOSERS INSTITUTE & FILM/GAMING MUSIC STUDIO PRODUCER COMPOSER, INSTRUMENTAL DIRECTOR 
Junior Composers Alumna Mary Kate Hines graduated from Wartburg College in the spring of 2019 with a Bachelor of Music Education (BME) degree. Since graduation, Mary Kate has successfully completed her first year of teaching 5th- through 12th-grade band at Newman Catholic Schools in Mason City, Iowa. Her experiences as a composer forms the foundation for her teaching philosophy, as Mary Kate actively seeks to bring out the musical creativity in each of her students. Email her here.
Randall Davidson, in-person
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, JUNIOR COMPOSERS INSTITUTE & FILM/GAMING MUSIC STUDIO CELLO, COMPOSER, PRODUCER 
One of the earliest faculty members for Composers Institute, he serves as Executive Director. Randall is active as cellist, composer, producer, teacher and publishes his own music. His influential teachers have been Alf Houkom, Olivier Messiaen, Paul Fetler, Eric Stokes and Dominick Argento. Find more information about him here. Email him here. Phone: 612.741.8671
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