PERFORMERS

JUAN LI is a pianist who enjoys a busy career in the United States and abroad. A native of China, Li holds a Ph.D. of musical arts from the University of Minnesota. She has soloed with Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, City Orchestra and Bethel University Orchestra, Brentwood Symphony, Notre Dame Symphony and Auburn Symphony. Also a dedicated chamber musician, Li attended the Aspen Music Festival as one of two fellowship recipients, and the Pacific Music Festival in Japan as one of eight pianists out of eighty-eight pianists selected from around the world. She has collaborated and performed with some of the most distinguished artists in the world. Currently, Li is on the piano faculty at Bethel University.

CHRISTOPHER YAEGER is an artist who has played a variety of roles in dance and theater since the 1970s. As an independent teaching artist, he works in schools and performs on stages across the globe. Yaeger is a performing member of Dance Revels Moving History, the Ethnic Dance Theatre and the Klompendansers of Minnesota. Yaeger is thrilled to be offering audiences a sample of the rich heritage found in American dance and music.

 AMY SALLOWAY is an actor, writer and storyteller who is the creator of the award-winning solo productions Does This Monologue Make Me Look Fat?, So Kiss Me Already, Herschel Gertz! and Circumference, all of which have gone on to tour all over the U.S. and Canada. Salloway has performed her work on MPR’s In the Loop and CBC radio, and as part of the popular Twin Cities monologue collective Rockstar Storytellers. She’s also been an instructor and playwright for Interact Center for the Arts where she served as lead writer for two company-developed musicals.

KARI MOSEL received her B.F.A. in Dance from the University of Minnesota. Since graduating, Mosel has danced professionally for Shapiro and Smith Dance, Stuart Pimsler Dance & Theater, Time Track Productions, Kat D and the Paneer Project, Marciano Silva dos Santos, Jim Lieberthal and apprentice for Zenon Dance. She is currently choreographing for the University of Wisconsin River Fall’s Dance Program. 

SUSAN BUDIG spends time every day writing and reading poetry.  She teaches poetry in Community Education as well as other locations.  She has been honored by the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis for her work in poetry.  Budig freelances for local newspapers writing as a music journalist and also as a feature writer.

BOB PONTIOUS is a pianist/arranger and has worked in the Twin Cities for many years playing in various nightclubs, ballrooms, festivals and fairs with different groups and show bands. Bob is director of contemporary music at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in New Brighton, Minnesota. Bob currently plays in the R& B Band Soul Tight Committee, and produces musical shows with Paul Thompson of Old Friend Productions.