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STRINGS

Randy Sabien photo

Randy Sabien
Randy.Sabien@mcnallysmith.edu
Department Head, Strings
Faculty Member Since: 2009
Primary Department: Strings


Professional Experience: Randy Sabien founded and chaired the jazz string department at Berklee College of Music, where he also performed with, and produced albums for, folk musician Jim Post (of the 1960s group Friend & Lover).  Randy Sabien is one of those rare string musicians to be hailed as both a violinist and a fiddler.  Sabien has been a frequent guest on “A Prairie Home Companion” and “Austin City Limits” and has toured the world playing in different styles and with many of music’s great stars.  Randy is also a highly-regarded educator and author of instructional texts.

Closeup of Michelle Kinney playing the cello

Michelle Kinney
Michelle.Kinney@mcnallysmith.edu
Faculty Member Since: 2010
Primary Department: Strings
Formal Education:BA from Northwestern University in Cello Performance and Composition, and an MA from New York University in Performance Studies


Professional Experience: Cellist and composer Michelle Kinney is currently the Musician in Residence in the University of Minnesota Dance Program in Minneapolis, MN. Michelle holds a BA from Northwestern University in Cello Performance and Composition, and an MA from New York University in Performance Studies.

As a composer she has received awards and grants from The Bush Foundation, The Jerome Foundation, McKnight Foundation, NEA/Rockefeller, Harvestworks/Studio Pass, and the American Composers Forum. Michelle co-founded the music label Sugarfoot Music, which recently released "Touch It", featuring some of Michelle's compositions with her cello-focused project, Jelloslave.

Michelle has composed for dance, theater and film throughout her career in both The Twin Cities and New York City, where she lived for 13 years. She continues to perform frequently, and has led several of her own ensembles.

Michelle has recorded, performed and toured throughout Europe and the United States with some of the most respected innovators in new music today. Henry Threadgill, Butch Morris, Myra Melford, Leroy Jenkins, Shi-Zheng Chen, John Zorn, Bun-Ching Lamb, Brandon Ross and Steven Bernstein are among the artists calling on Michelle’s contributions as a cellist.

She has also worked extensively in pop music, including many recordings and appearances live and on TV (Tonight Show, David Letterman, VH1 Storytellers) with artists such as Natalie Merchant, Sheryl Crow, Lou Reed, John Cale, Hal Wilner and Richie Havens.
 
    Michelle Kinney
    Cellist and composer Michelle Kinney is currently the Musician in Residence in the University of Minnesota Dance Program in Minneapolis, MN.
  • Michelle Kinney
    • Randy Sabien
    Department Head, Strings
    Sabien has been a frequent guest on “A Prairie Home Companion” and “Austin City Limits” and has toured the world playing in different styles and with many of music’s great stars.
  • Randy Sabien
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