Dakota Andersen is a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, educator, arranger, and songwriter based in Minneapolis.  Most recently, he graduated from the University of North Texas (UNT) with a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies.  While at UNT, Andersen directed one of the vocal jazz ensembles, co-taught a jazz voice class, and maintained a small private studio of jazz voice majors.  Additionally, he sang with the university’s first ever Latin Jazz Combo, as the featured vocalist with the Three O’Clock Lab Band, and with UNT’s premiere vocal jazz ensemble, Jazz Singers.  Past collaborations with jazz artists include Kurt Elling, Sinne Eeg, Darmon Meader, Laila Biali, Miguel Zenón, Myra Melford, Carl Allen, and the One O’Clock Lab Band.

Although his interests lie primarily in jazz, Andersen is also a classically trained vocalist.  He has sung as a soloist with the Northern Iowa Bach Cantata series, played the role of Bartley in Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Riders to the Sea, and served as a staff singer for various churches and choruses in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.  

Dakota is originally from Fairfield, Iowa and earned his undergraduate degree in music education from the University of Northern Iowa.  He currently teaches choir in the Twin Cities area, and in his free time, enjoys exploring the many lakes Minnesota has to offer.