Our Mission

The North Shore Music Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to presenting and supporting musical arts and musicians in northeast Minnesota with a focus on entertainment, education and cultural enrichment.

Our Goals

Be a principal channel for musical arts perfomance and education in Cook County.

Seek accomplished national and international musicians to perform here in northeast Minnesota.

Support professional and amateur musicians, and encourage local and regional musicians.

Promote a variety of musicians and musical styles that offer a variety of musical experiences for people of all ages.

Provide opportunities for personal and interactive participation in music.

Our Objectives

Sponsor and produce a series of concerts, dances and workshops throughout the year.

Generate income to support our mission through a variety of methods, typically through ticket sales, grants, and donations.

Engage in partnerships at every opportunity, e.g. joint ventures with local entities.

Act as a musical arts consultant and a link between musicians and those seeking contact with them.

Use the Arrowhead Center for the Arts (ACA) as the primary venue for NSMA concerts.

Use volunteers effectively in the promotion and production of NSMA activities.

Board of Directors

Chel Anderson, Hovland - Chairperson

Chel is an ecologist with MN DNR. She has been a board member of NSMA since 1989, serving in a number of positions. She has extensive experience serving other non-profits, as well as NSMA.

Wayne Russ, Tofte - Vice Chairperson

Wayne has been a member of NSMA since its inception in 1986, and he was instrumental in assisting with the design and layout of the ACA. He is the driving force behind the annual Bluegrass Masters Weekend, a musician and a wildlife biologist in the Forest Service.

Susan Lappi, Hovland - Treasurer

Susan retired as Vice President of Ecolab Inc. Global Purchasing and moved to Hovland in 2003. She joined the board in 2007 and has other non-profit board experience. Susan enjoys Lake Superior fishing, fiber artistry, gardening, and playing the piano.

Myra Theimer, Grand Marais

Myra is a silvaculturist with the U.S. Forest Service and plays the violin in the band Over the Waterfall. She has been a board member since 2000.

Greg Tofte, Tofte

Greg is a life-long resident of Cook County. He has been a supporter of NSMA for many years and joined the NSMA board in 2006.

Larry Waddell, Lutsen

Larry is the owner of Wild Country Maple Products, a nationally recognized maple syrup operation. He plays guitar and is a member of the band Over the Waterfall in Grand Marais. In addition to serving on the NSMA board (joined in 2005), Larry also volunteers for many youth activities, including coaching youth sports.

Erik Hahn, Grand Marais

Erik and his wife recently moved to Grand Marais, where Erik enjoys raising his three year old son Gus and playing saxophone and piano in his spare time.


Eric Frost, Tofte

Eric Frost is the founder of The Wilderness Classroom Organization, an educational non-profit that has taken him all over the globe. Since 2006, Eric has called the north shore home. He plays guitar throughout the county and teaches Early Childhood Special Education in Grand Marais.

Cindy Gentz, Grand Marais

Cindy is the Water Plan Coordinator for the Cook County Soil and Water Conservation District. Cindy celebrated her one year anniversary of Cook County residency by joining the board this June. She plays the French Horn and enjoys all types of dancing, especially ballroom and salsa.