Board and Staff

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Sanders Ellingson is an FMAYS alumni who played under Mr. Cole and Mrs. Capistran through his middle and high school years. He lives in Fargo with his wife Sarah and works as an engineer at Amity Technology, manufacturing sugar beet harvesting implements. Sanders has long played the violin, has recently played in the Bemidji Symphony, and continues to play several weddings each year with his sibling-comprised quartet. Outside of FMAYS, Sanders is very actively involved in the Western Minnesota Steam Thresher’s reunion where he serves on the Long-Range Planning Committee and volunteers many hours each year for the historical preservation of antique equipment. Sanders is excited about the future of FMAYS and the opportunities it provides area student musicians.

Composer Kyle Vanderburg (b. 1986) grew up in southeast Missouri where the Ozark foothills meet the Mississippi River valley. Raised on southern gospel and American hymnody, his music tries to walk the line between eliciting nostalgia and devising innovative sonic worlds. His electronic works often play with familiar sounds in new contexts; his acoustic works feature memorable melodies and a very fluid sense of time.

Vanderburg's music has been heard abroad at conferences and festivals including the International Computer Music Conference, the Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States, the Symposium on Acoustic Ecology, the North American Saxophone Alliance, ClarinetFest, and at other events across Europe, Australia, and the Americas.

He holds degrees from Drury University (BA) and the University of Oklahoma (MM, DMA), and has studied under composers Carlyle Sharpe, Marvin Lamb, Konstantinos Karathanasis, and Roland Barrett. He'd be delighted if you checked out KyleVanderburg.com to learn more.

An FMAYS alumnus and parent, Becca has seen firsthand how involvement in FMAYS challenges students, fosters their growth, and creates well-rounded community members. After growing up in Moorhead, she earned a Bachelor of Music Therapy Degree from UW-Eau Claire. Becca currently sings with The Master Chorale of Fargo-Moorhead and works as an academic interventionist. She loves to be outdoors, create and listen to music, and spend time with her husband, kids, and friends. 

Alex Rydell is an FMAYS Alumni and has served two separate times on the board. He has been a funeral director at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home in Fargo since 2007, and is active in the Fargo-Moorhead communities. He continues to play violin at various local churches, and plays fiddle in the Irish band, Poitin (pah-CHEEN). Alex is married to his wife, Rebecca, and they have three children between the two of them, Brady, Ruby, and Henley. Alex is committed to the FMAYS organization and helping FMAYS students to succeed.

Aaron Beseler is an FMAYS parent and has been involved in music most of his life.  He is passionate about youth having opportunities in music and sees FMAYS as a wonderful outlet in the community to help them evolve musically and connect with other young musicians.  He and his wife met in music ensembles at NDSU and both have remained involved with the alumni band there.  Beyond music, his interests include fantasy literature, movies, playing video games with his daughter, and any chance he gets to play a game of pinochle.

Sherry Linnerooth's career has spanned thirty-two years of dedicated service to music educators and students through her work at Eckroth Music, and an additional thirty years as a music educator. She currently serves as Regional Manager for Eckroth Music in the state of North Dakota. Her teaching career has included educating students in Bozeman, MT Public Schools, Montana State University in Bozeman and Minnesota State University-Moorhead. She continues to teach French Horn to private students and is a member of Phi Beta Mu. Sherry is a graduate of Concordia College. As a horn player she has performed with the Fargo-Moorhead and Grand Forks Symphonies in ND and the Bozeman, Helena, Butte and Billings Symphonies in Montana. Sherry has also performed with the Montana Ballet Company and Intermountain Opera Company Orchestra. Sherry taught horn for twenty-five years at the Flathead Lake Music Camp and was a member of the Bozeman ParForce Ensemble. She has been a soloist with choirs and bands in Montana and has presented clinics and educational classes on horn playing and teaching. Sherry also served five years as Executive Director for the Bozeman Symphony before returning to her home state of North Dakota. Sherry and her husband, Scott have two grown children and two grandchildren. When not teaching and working with music educators and students Sherry can be found hanging out with her family, dog Gustav and enjoying lake time on Lake Melissa.

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Laura Kellogg is the Executive Director of FMAYS. She is also the Director of the NDSU Music Academy and teaches flute at NDSU and MSUM. In the summers, she is the Personnel Manager and flutist of the Ohio Light Opera. She has played in the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra, the Fargo-Moorhead Opera, and with other orchestras in Indiana and Michigan. 

Laura graduated with a doctorate in flute performance from the University of Oklahoma. She holds a master’s degree from Wright State University and a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University, both in music performance. 

In her free time, Laura enjoys yoga, hiking, reading, watching scary movies, and hanging out with her cats Pandora, Aphrodite, and Apollo.

Please visit her website for more information: www.laurakelloggflutist.com

Tyler Vastag is an FMAYS parent and spouse to an FMAYS alumnus. He enjoys seeing the students’ growth and listening to high quality music performed under excellent directors. Tyler is excited about FMAYS’ future and its commitment to ensuring young musicians have an opportunity to challenge themselves and grow. Tyler is a financial technology consultant who works with clients throughout the Americas. He enjoys spending time with spouse, Becca, their two children, friends, and spending time outdoors.