NO COVER

 

 

 

DAN SCHWARTZ:

Starting at the very beginning, his dad's interest in The Grand Ole Opry and his mom's fondness for American Bandstand immersed Dan Schwartz in a wide variety of great music. This influence resonates in the range of music he composes, records and performs today.

Dan is also passionate about teaching music to young children. He guides over 70 students per week through his teaching studios, St Stephen Young Musicians Program and Twin Cities Young Guitarist Program, which he founded in 2008.

As a co-leader and performer, his music also brings compelling energy to corporate training events with Uncommon Seminars, LLC. 

Other Credits and Recordings:

  • Peter Mayer: Third Street (Blue Boat, 2014), session musician
  • Masters Certificate in Orff Schulwerk, University of St Thomas (2013)
  • The Neighborhood Trio: The Neighborhood Trio (Peacefire Productions, 2011), principal recording
  • New Roots Duo: Next Stop singles (Peacefire Productions, 2010), principal recording
  • Leandra Peak: Honeysuckle Vine (Uncle Gus Music, 2010), session musician
  • Peter Mayer: Heaven Below (Blue Boat, 2010), session musician
  • Lifescapes - Relaxing Guitar, produced by Billy McLaughlin (Compass Productions, 2009), compilation recording
  • Neal Hagberg: It's Not as Simple as It Seems (Uncle Gus Music, 2008) producer, engineer
  • Roots Run Deep voted "Best folk/roots album of the year" by Mpls. St Paul Magazine

 

 

 

 

ELGIN FOSTER:

Over the years, Elgin has performed in local coffee houses; restaurants; Mall of America, Minneapolis - Saint Paul Airport, wine tastings; Bed and Breakfasts; weddings; house concerts; church services and open-mic nights with the Minnesota Guitar Society. Elgin also was awarded a certificate of special congressional recognition from congressman John Kline for his service to the community through benefit concerts to help the homeless, cancer victims and programs for single moms. Elgin has shared the stage with some of the artists who continue to inspire him including: Dean Magraw, Dan Schwartz, Ben Woolman, Dylan Mckinstry, Dan Neale, Tim Sparks, Greg Herriges, Steve Lehto and John Wright.

 

 

 

 

GREG HERRIGES:

Guitarist, bouzoukist, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and composer Greg Herriges creates an eclectic mix of original and traditional "whirled music," with a unique approach honed by his studies of Asian and other international styles. A virtuoso performer and award-winning composer, his music and writing have found international recognition. Greg Herriges is: a recipient of composer/performing artist fellowships and grants from the Bush and McKnight Foundations and the Metro Regional Arts Council; a soundtrack artist and music director for film and theater; and author of seven (and counting) internationally published music books. Performing is his lifeblood; he gets equal fulfillment playing with cross-cultural ensembles or letting one guitar play him.

As a music director and accompanist, Herriges creates soundtrack music, sound design, and live accompaniment for theater and visual media. Recent film and TV projects include the Archibald Bush Foundation's Enduring Visions Fellows Documentary, Teresa Konechne's film Woven from the Land, Twin Cities Public Television's Incommons Introduction, Capture MN, and many independent / non-profit documentary films. His music is used regularly on TPT's MN Original program. He provides live Indian music for Children's Stories from India by actor/director/storyteller Zaraawar Mistry of Dreamland Arts.  He composed, arranged, and recorded original and traditional (Russian) soundtrack music for Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard.  He created live and recorded music for In the Heart of the Beast Theatre's Beneath the Surface and Are You Thirsty?, electronics for N/A and Shota and the Star Quilt, and traditional Middle Eastern themes as part of the music team for The Hebrew Lesson. He was music director and primary composer for the 2010-2013 Minneapolis Mayday Ceremonies, leading a brass/string/percussion ensemble to accompany this yearly renewal event that draws nearly 50,000 people. 

A full range of Greg's atmospheric and action music can be heard at his MNartists.org gallery.

Also an author/arranger of music instructional books and multimedia, Greg 's book/CDs, World Guitar and Guitar Explorer(published by Hal Leonard), explore the stringed traditions of the world with inventive approaches on the guitar. His authoring credits also include many books in the Guitar Songs for Dummies series and contributions to Guitar Edgemagazine. He has had his fingers in countless other Hal Leonard books and DVDs as an editor and producer. (See thepublications page for details.)