Shell Lake Arts Center

Faculty Member: Clay Pufahl

Clay Pufahl is a music educator and freelance musician in the Twin Cities area. Residing in
Minnesota for the last twenty years, Clay moved here upon completing studies at the University
of Wisconsin Eau Claire. He has maintained an active schedule as an educator and woodwind
specialist. Clay has performed in a variety of groups and settings, including the Minnesota Orchestra Pops Series, Jazz MN Orchestra, Wolverines Classic Jazz Orchestra, Guy Lombardo Orchestra, Cedar Avenue Big Band, Twin Cities Latin Jazz Orchestra, Bill Simenson Big Band, Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Five by Design, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Lou Rawls, Franki Valli, Artie Shaw Big Band, Gene Krupa Big Band, The Senders and Soul Tight Committee. Clay has also played for numerous productions at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater,
Minneapolis Children’s Theater, Orpheum, Guthrie and Ordway Theaters.

Additionally, Clay recorded with the saxophone section for Wisconsin based indie rock band Bon Iver’s 2016 Grammy nominated recording “22, A Million”. As an educator, Clay enjoys sharing his passion for woodwinds and music with his students. Currently, Clay is the woodwind and jazz instructor for Breck School in Golden Valley, and previously Totino-Grace High School in Fridley.

When not teaching or performing, Clay enjoys biking, drinking coffee, and spending time with his two sons Henry and Simon, wife Christine, and their Chihuahua, Mocha in St. Louis Park.

Faculty Member: Jeff Gottwig

Jeff Gottwig, a native of the pacific northwest, began his music career on trumpet at eight years of age. In addition to being a student director, his high school experience included concert band, marching band, orchestra, jazz band, and membership in the six-time world champion Santa Clara Vanguard drum and bugle corps.  He entered the U.S. Army in 1974, serving as a trumpet player/soloist with the 9th Infantry Division Band, Fort Lewis, Washington, the 298th Army Band, Berlin, Germany and the U.S. Army Band Europe, Heidelberg, Germany. After leaving the military in 1980 he moved to Minnesota where he studied at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, receiving his Associates degree in jazz history and performance, and the Bachelor of Science degree in music education, graduating with honors, and completed his Masters in Music Education at the University of St. Thomas. Jeff was the Director of Bands at Farmington High School, Minnesota, for 30 years.

As an active musician around the Midwest and Minneapolis/St. Paul area, Jeff works, or has worked, with many of the area’s top groups including: the JazzMn Big Band (www.jazzmn.org), the Minnesota Orchestra, The Cedar Avenue Big Band,  The Fine Line Band,  Mick Sterling, The Wolverines,  The Minnesota Vikings Band,  The Minnesota State Fair Orchestra, The Rupert’s Orchestra, The Sevilles, Synergy, George Faber and the Icons, The Brian Kinney Band, RockIt, The Latin Sounds Orchestra,  Salsa Blanca, Sabor Tropicale and many other performance situations.  His credits as a sideman include Harry Connick Jr.,  Thad Jones,  Steve Allen,  Jon Faddis,  Bobby Shew, Steve Houghton, Bob Hope, B.J.Thomas,  Tony Orlando And Dawn,  The Manhattan Transfer,  Bobby Vinton,  Marlene Ricci,  The Four Tops,  Otis Day,  The Marvelettes,  Al Wilson,  Sam And Dave,  Steve Lawrence And Eydie Gorme,  Dionne Warwick,  Burt Bacarach, The Glen Miller Orchestra, The Temptations, Little Anthony and The Imperials,  Isaac Hayes,  Doc Severinson,  Ray Charles and has recorded with Janet Jackson. 

Faculty Member: Pete James Johnson

Pete James Johnson is a drummer, composer and educator in the Twin Cities – most often seen playing Jazz and improvised music but is at home in a variety of musical worlds. He performs with local artists such as the Zacc Harris Group, Bryan Nichols, Javier Santiago, Omar Abdulkarim, Dosh, Michael Cain, Chris Bates’ Red 5, Will Kjeer, Barbara Cohen, Andrew Walesch, Nooky Jones, Adam Meckler, Aaron Hedenstrom, JazzMN Orchestra, Twin Cities Latin Jazz Orchestra, and Adam Bohanan. Additionally Pete has also played with international artists such as the Bob Mintzer Big Band, Alan Broadbent, Russ Ferrante, Alex Hahn, Alan Pasqua, Bob Sheppard, and 20-time Grammy-Winning producer, Al Schmitt.

As an educator Pete has taught at The College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University, The University of Minnesota Morris, Hamline University, University of Southern California, and has served as a clinician and guest artist at Jazz Festivals around the Midwest. Pete’s primary instructors were Peter Erskine (Weather Report, Steely Dan), Ndugu Chancler (Miles Davis, Michael Jackson), Bill platt (Cincinnati Symphony) Ambrose Akinmusire and National Medal of Arts recipient Morten Lauridson.

As a composer/arranger, Pete primarily composes for television, film and media. He has composed music for the 2020 and 2022 Olympic Games, NBC, FOX, Peacock, Amazon Prime, Netflix, MTV, USA, E!, national advertisements and European films. 

Faculty Member: Chris White

Originally from Toronto, Chris White has gained recognition through his albums Young at Heart and Tributaries. At home in a host of genres and settings, he has made his name as a go-to freelance pianist, arranger and accompanist in the Chicago area. His performance credits include the Chicago Jazz Festival, The Jazz Showcase, The Green Mill, Winter’s Jazz Club, Cliff Bell’s, Catalina Jazz Club (Los Angeles), Feinstein’s/54 Below (NYC) among others. He is also performed overseas in Japan and Thailand.

Chris is an in-demand educator, teaching piano, theory and ensembles at Lake Forest College, North Park University and North Central College. He earned his Master’s in Jazz Studies at Indiana University’s prestigious Jacobs School of Music, studying with the renowned educator David Baker, and went on to complete his DMA in Jazz Performance at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has studied piano with Barry Harris, Joanne Brackeen and Hal Galper, and performed with Miguel Zenón, Ira Sullivan, Jamey Aebersold, Oliver Nelson, Jr. and many more.  He has been teaching at the Shell Lake Arts Center for close to 30 years.

Faculty Member: Chris Olson

Christopher Olson has performed as a solo artist, in duos with many of the finest singers and instrumentalists in the Twin Cities, and with a variety of ensembles in Minnesota and Wisconsin for over 30 years. Notable Jazz groups include JazzMN Orchestra, The Freier Department, Explosion Big Band, and the trio, Framework. Chris has shared the stage with many Jazz greats, including Ingrid Jensen, Tierney Sutton, Gretchen Parlato, and Maria Schneider. Chris has taught at several Universities and Community Colleges in the midwest, including 5 schools within the UW System. 2024 will be his 21st year teaching at the Shell Lake Arts Center. Learn more at www.chrisolsonmusic.com

Faculty Member: Dawson Redenious

Dawson Redenius is a nationally touring trumpeter, composer, bandleader, and educator, as well as a dedicated advocate for American culture. Performing professionally since the age of 14, he has navigated a diverse range of musical landscapes, shaping his distinct voice as both a performer and composer. With deep reverence for the jazz tradition, Redenius unites the past and present to forecast the future. Through his dynamic performances, original compositions, and commitment to music education, he continues to inspire audiences and musicians alike.

Faculty Member: Ethan Freier / Trombone

Faculty Member: Jake Shockman / Saxophone