Meet the team

Omar Abdulkarim is an acclaimed trumpeter, composer, and recording artist whose sound bridges jazz tradition with a modern global perspective. A graduate of the New School for Jazz & Contemporary Music in New York, Omar has toured across Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean, performing in world-renowned venues from Birdland Jazz Club, Blue Note, to Chicago’s Orchestra Hall. His artistry has led him to share the stage and record with icons such as Lauren Hill, Roy Hargrove, Method Man, KRS-One, and Nicholas Payton. Now based in Minnesota, Omar is a fixture at The Dakota and the Twin Cities Jazz Festival.

Julia Forcella is a frequent performer and voice instructor based in the Twin Cities area. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Minnesota where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Race & Ethnic Studies. After completing two years of AmeriCorps service, she earned a Master of Music in Music Theatre and Advanced Certificate in Vocal Pedagogy from New York University. She also served as an Adjunct Instructor of Voice at NYU and received additional training in Meisner Technique. Julia has performed across many stages in New York City and across the Greater Twin Cities area. Julia most recently performed the role of “Anna” in the critically-acclaimed regional premiere of Disney’s Frozen at the Children’s Theatre Company. Other local credits include History Theatre, Theatre Elision, Sidekick Theatre, Artistry Theatre, Open Window Theatre, Lakeshore Players Theatre, Stages Theatre Company, Off Broadway Musical Theatre, The Chameleon Theatre Circle, and The Phoenix Theatre.

In addition to her performing career, Julia serves on the voice faculty at Carleton College.

Kavyesh Kaviraj imbues his life and stories into his music, carefully weaving all of his influences into a boundary-breaking modern jazz outfit. He is a well-known pianist, composer, and arranger, frequently collaborating with some of the finest musicians in the Twin Cities and beyond.

Born in Oman to Indian parents, his musical journey began at age two, rooted in both South Indian Carnatic and North Indian Hindustani traditions, as well as classical piano. After moving to India and subsequently the Twin Cities, he established himself as a sought-after collaborator in jazz, hip-hop, R&B, and funk circles. He has performed alongside international artists such as Wynton Marsalis and David Sanchez, and several local legends like Babatunde Lea, Debbie Duncan and Bruce Henry.

David Feily is a genre-blending force and has become one of the Twin Cities’ most in-demand guitarists, touring/session musicians, and educators. His collaborative spirit has led him to work with many artists such as LA Buckner, Minneapolis String Project, BZ3 Organ Trio, and Rhythm Street Movement. He is also known for backing up artists such as Steve Cole, The Steeles, Lucia Sarmiento, Bryan White, Jaki Blue, Chuck Lazerus, and Bruce Henry – to name a few. Drawing from jazz, funk, R&B, rock, and world influences, David’s playing is as emotive as it is technically masterful. His style is very much about blending skill with creativity. Whether he’s laying down syncopated grooves or exploring adventurous improvisations, his performances are both electrifying and thoughtful. Having earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Performance and Liturgical Music from the University of St. Thomas, David has spent over 15 years as a music educator, composer/songwriter with an expertise in acoustic and electric guitar, electric bass and trumpet.

Bowen (Peter) Liu is a passionate and accomplished pianist whose performances have captivated audiences across the globe. He earned his Master of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Iowa, where he is currently completing his Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) under the mentorship of Dr. Ksenia Nosikova.

A prizewinner of numerous national and international competitions, Peter’s honors include the 2024 Music International Grand Prix, the Schubert Club Competition, and the Iowa and Minnesota Music Teachers Association Competitions. As winner of the University of Iowa’s Concerto-Aria Competition, he performed Prokofiev’s Second Piano Concerto with the university orchestra.

Peter has performed widely in the United States,Europe, Brazil, and China, with recent appearances at Grinnell College, the University of Northwestern–St. Paul, and his Carnegie Hall debut performing works by Scriabin. Dedicated to both performance and pedagogy, he continues to inspire audiences and students through his artistry and teaching.

Jason McGlone is a Midwest-based musician, producer, and audio engineer specializing in mixing and mastering. With more than 20 years of experience in top recording studios around the world, he brings a deep blend of technical expertise and musicality to every project. Jason’s studio work includes collaborations with Lady Gaga, Whitney Houston, Prince, Dirty Loops, Cory Henry, Stokley, Cory Wong, and The Minnesota Orchestra, among many others. His composition work has been featured in campaigns for Pepsi, Target, Dunkin’ Donuts, and The Onion News Network.

Alongside his production work, Jason is a passionate educator. He focuses on giving students real-world studio experiences and helping them grow into confident, thoughtful musicians and engineers. His classes emphasize the rapidly evolving nature of the audio industry, preparing students to step into any creative space with skill, intention, and efficiency.

Jason holds a B.A. in Percussion Performance and a B.M. in Music Production from McNally Smith College of Music.

Arthur “L.A.” Buckner’s deep infatuation with music began at an early age. At age 3 he would practically go an entire church service without looking away from the drums. His father took notice and shortly thereafter purchased his first drum kit. L.A. Buckner is a performing musician, teaching artist, and producer from the Northside of Minneapolis. He holds a Master’s degree in Percussion Performance from McNally Smith College of Music, and is an accomplished teaching artist in the Twin Cities and greater Metro area. Currently, LA serves as co-host for the two-time Webby award winning PBS music education YouTube series “Sound Field”.

In 2020, LA took iTunes by storm with the release of his project BiG HOMiE, which reached the #1 Jazz position within 24 hours of its release.

LA was named 2024 Music Educator of the Year by the Minnesota Music Education Association.

His artistry is full of energy, excitement, culture and excellence.

Christopher Rochester, Music Education Director intersects learning, culture, and systems change to strengthen educational ecosystems and supports long-term community impact. An award-winning educator, composer, and cultural strategist, Christopher brings national leadership experience across nonprofit, higher education, and community-based learning. He is the founder of the Global Music Initiative, a nationally recognized model for reimagining music education as a tool for belonging, leadership development, and social connection, and currently serves as President of the Minnesota Music Educators Association. Christopher holds a PhD in Music Composition from the University of Minnesota and is widely known for bridging theory and practice to help institutions learn, adapt, and invest more effectively over time.