Dr. Jeffrey Madison

Hailed for his dramatic diversity, baritone and stage director, Jeffrey Madison has performed and directed a varied repertoire from grand opera and operetta to musical comedy. Dr. Madison has performed leading roles with companies including The Minnesota Opera, Minnesota Orchestra, Colorado Symphony, Jacksonville Symphony, Seattle Opera Young Artists, Chautauqua Opera, Western Plains Opera, Fargo-Moorhead Opera, and an appearance at Carnegie Hall with the Minnesota Orchestra. Locally, Dr. Madison has performed with the Lyric Opera of the North, Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra, Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra, and the Duluth Playhouse.

Dr. Madison’s directing credits include productions with Lyric Opera of the North, Duluth Playhouse, UW-Superior, Big Top Chautauqua, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, and Bethel University.

Dr. Madison has served on the music faculty at LSC for 3 years where he teaches Applied Voice and World Music. He also serves in the music department at UW-Superior and has taught for the U of M Twin Cities, Saint Scholastica, UMD, and Bethel University. Dr. Madison holds music degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

Dr. Madison especially enjoys working with beginning music students and loves the hard-working student community at LSC!

Calland Metts, M.M.

Calland Metts is a member of the music Faculty at Lake Superior College as well as Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College and Bemidji State University. Mr. Metts teaches such courses as History of Rock and Roll, Music Appreciation, Concert Choir as well as private voice, piano and brass applied lessons. At LSC Cal has served as Faculty advisor for both Choir club and Band club.

As a performer Mr. Metts has performed a wide variety of genres of music and theater. From Tenor soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the Utah Symphony to Emile Debeque in South Pacific with Courtland Repertory Theater in upstate New York. Local Audiences may have seen Cal perform with the Duluth Superior Symphony or onstage at the Duluth Playhouse.

Cal also serves as co general artistic director of Lyric Opera of the North with his wife Sarah Lawrence. Roles with LOON include appearances in The Barber of Seville, Don Giovanni and Amahl and the Night Visitors where he got to perform along side his Daughter Giulia.

Mr. Metts earned a Bachelor of Arts in music from Otterbein University and a Master of Music in Opera performance from Northwestern University.

Cal also enjoys partnering with designer Ann Gumpper in Lyric Opera of the North’s Scenic design and build shop.

John Ondich-Batson, M.M.

John Ondich-Batson is a violist/violinist with a B.A from St. Olaf College as well as a M.M. in orchestral conducting from UMD. John is currently pursuing conducting opportunities with community organizations in the Twin Cities as well as maintaining various violin/viola teaching studios including here at Lake Superior College. John is an active violist/assistant director in the Civic Orchestra of Minneapolis as well as a violist/personnel manager for the Wayzata Symphony Orchestra.

John’s teaching style not only focuses on the mechanics of playing the violin/viola, but also musicianship, music theory comprehension, and music history.

John Farrell

John Farrell has been music faculty at Lake Superior College for 20 years. His guitar teaching style is rooted in a belief that a strong foundation in chord and scale theory combines with good technique and rhythm set up the student to succeed in any style of music. Experienced in styles ranging from pop, rock, blues, jazz, country, the student can choose what musical style they are interested in. John Farrell studied Jazz studies at UMD and was the first person to graduate from Music Tech (later renamed as McNally Smith Institute) two-year program.

John believes that the students stylistic interests and goals are paramount to development of the player and enjoyment of the instrument. He teaches all styles and all levels from beginner to advanced. He especially enjoys teaching improvisation and creative aspects of music.