Biographies
Dr. David Knutson – Director of Bands
Dr. David Knutson is currently serving his eighteenth year as the Director of Bands at Sheridan College where he directs the jazz band and college/community concert band (which he founded in 1990). He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of South Dakota at Vermillion in 1975, and his Master of Music (1982) and Doctor of Musical Arts (1992) from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Prior to teaching at Sheridan College, Dr. Knutson held teaching positions as band director at Pender High School in Nebraska and as the instructor of high brass and assistant band director for the University of South Dakota. He also served for two years as a graduate teaching assistant for trumpet at the University of Illinois.
Dr. Knutson served numerous times as an adjudicator for solo and ensemble festivals in Illinois, South Dakota, Montana and Wyoming; in addition, he served as a judge at marching band competitions in Wyoming and South Dakota. His conducting experiences include the University of Illinois Trumpet Ensemble, numerous bands and the brass choir at the University of South Dakota, and junior and senior high honor bands in Wyoming and South Dakota. He presented numerous solo trumpet recitals at both the University of South Dakota and University of Illinois as well as in Sheridan. He was a featured soloist with the University of South Dakota symphonic band on a number of occasions, and was also a featured soloist with the Shrine to Music Golden Age Band, the Sheridan High School and Sheridan Junior High bands and the Gillette Campbell County High School band.
Dr. Christian Erickson – Part-time Music Instructor
Christian Erickson is a part-time instructor at Sheridan College where he teaches music theory, piano, and rock music history. He holds degrees in theory and composition from the University of Wyoming, the University of Nebraska, and the University of Colorado.
Dr. Erickson devotes his time outside of the classroom to a variety of freelance activities including completing commissions for original work, arrangement and orchestration projects, and engraving services. In 2007 he began a self-publishing venture called Shiba Garden Press. His work has been recognized both regionally and nationally, most recently by a Wyoming Arts Council fellowship.
Gene Sager, M.M.; M.A. – Instructor of Voice and Director of Choral Music
Gene Sager is instructor of voice, choral music and theater at Sheridan College. He received his M.M. in Voice Performance, B.M. in Vocal Performance and a B.A. in Education, all from the University of Michigan. Recently Gene completed his M.A. in Theatre Production and Design from Southern Oregon University.
Prior to coming to Sheridan College, Gene work as a professional actor in New York City and Los Angeles. With 17 years of vested service in the Actor Equity Association as an actor, Gene has worked under the following AEA contracts: Production, Special Production, Guest Artist, LORT, Dinner Theater, and Resident Summer Stock. Gene made his professional debut with the American Shakespeare Theater in Twelfth Night with Lynn Redgrave. Among his favorite roles were Mr. Upson in Mame with Juliet Prowse, and Marcellus in The Music Man with John Davidson. During his seventeen years in New York City, he appeared on Broadway in Singin’ in the Rain, performed with regional opera companies and on cruise ships. More importantly, while in New York, he met, fell in love with and married his comedy partner Lillian Graff Sager.
In 1998 Gene and Lillian move to Sheridan and founded the “No Frills Theater Company” at Sheridan College. Together over the past 10 years they have directed and produced You Know I Can’t Hear You When The Water Is Running, Barefoot in the Park, Trial by Jury, Private Wars, Graceland, Lonestar, Laundry and Bourbon, Antigone, Harvey, American Dream, and You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, and an original children’s theater piece, The Dwarf Pine Tree. In the spring of 2008 the “No Frills Theater Company” will be producing a Festival of One Act Plays by Wyoming writer.
For the last five years the “No Frills Theater Company” productions have all been entered into the Kennedy Center/American College Theater Festival. Previous productions have received numerous Irene Ryan Acting nominations for cast members.
Gene has twice presented vocal workshops at State Conventions for the Wyoming Music Educators and has traveled throughout Wyoming and Montana presenting vocal/choral workshops and clinics. In 2008 Gene received an Excellence in Education award from (NISOD) the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development.
Lillian Sager – Co-Director of the No Frills Theater Company
Lillian Graff -Sager, co-director of the No Frills Theater Company, comes to Sheridan with over twenty years of professional acting experience. Highlights include leading roles in the Desert Song, Pajama Game for the New York City Opera: in the national tour of The Robber Bridegroom with John Goodman and Barry Bostwick and the Pre Broadway production of Two In to One with Tony Randall and Millicent Martin. Lillian has appeared in numerous national commercials selling everything from Chevy’s to fruit juice. Lillian’s directing credits include Mornings at Seven for the Sheridan Civic Theater Guild, Greater Tuna, Barefoot in the Park.
Laundry and Bourbon, Lone Star, The American Dream, PVT. WARS, Graceland, Antigone, Harvey, The Dwarf Pine Tree and is currently in production for the No Frills Theater spring debut of “A Festival of Three One Acts” all penned by Wyoming authors. In addition to her theater credits Lillian has been involved with the nationally acclaimed Sheridan College Speech Team for ten years and is presently head coach. Lillian received her B.A. in Drama from the University of California at San Francisco and M.A. in Theater Production and Design from Southern Oregon University at Ashland Oregon.