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Timotha Lanae (Ladies of Jazz Song writer and MN Artists for Youth in the Arts creator)
Timotha received a Bachelors of Science from the University of MN in Education, and is the creator of MN Artists for Youth in the Arts. She was inspired to write Ladies of Jazz as a way to support and raise funds for youth arts programs that encourage self discovery. For her role in Respect: A musical Journey of Women, Lanae was named outstanding actress in a musical by the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Timotha has traveled the world to perform for U.S troops, and was a Hollywood finalist in American Idol 6. She is currently working on her 2nd album and an original stage production, both titled, RED.
Gwen Matthews (Ladies of Jazz Vocal Arranger)
Gwen has performed at the famed Montreal Jazz Festival and the Fleur de France Festival in Paris and many fesitivals throughout Europe with the Denis Colin Trio. She recieved a Minnesota Music Award for Best Cover Band with the Rupert’s Orchestra and shared a Minnesota Black Music Award with Debbie Duncan and Bruce Henry for Best Jazz vocal group. She has worked with acclaimed producers Skip Scarborough, Phillip Bailey, Norman Connors, Ronnie Laws, Kennie Rogers, and Stevie Wonder. Gwen is proudest of her production “Uniting for You“, a CD which features over 40 of Minnesota’s finest musicians and vocalists on which she co-wrote the song “For You“, with the legendary Skip Scarborough and Jarrod Anderson. The “Uniting for You“ project was launched to raise money for the AID’s pandemic in Africa.
Debbie Duncan
Debbie may be considered the upper Midwest's "best-kept-musical secret", but she has become a local legend and treasure in her home of Minneapolis. Debbie has sung with Bobby Watson and Horizon, Roy Hargrove, Bobby Lyle, Jack McDuff, John Hendricks, Mark Murphy, Chicago's legendary Von Freeman, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Rececca Paris. Debbie performed at the Du Maurier Jazz Festival, and various other jazz venues in Vancouver, B.C. The 1995 CD release and holiday concert, performed at the renowned Guthrie Theater "proved that she just keeps getting better", Bret Robson, Star-Tribune Music Review. Her CD "Live at the Dakota" has and still is drawing much deserved attention nationally. She is also the featured vocalist on Adi Yeshaya's big band CD Nice one for Boo. She recently released a wonderful new CD "travelin' at the Speed of Love".
Thomasina Petrus
Thomasina is an African-American actress, singer, dancer, and entrepreneur. Her first professional performance was in 1987 in the Penumbra Theatre production of "Black Nativity”. She self studied voice and theater with many musicians and artist in the Minneapolis and St. Paul area as her mentors. Petrus has also performed in an annual “Daughters of Africa” show for more than 15 years. Petrus has also drawn spotlights in such shows as "Two Queens One Castle" and "Diva Daughters DuPree": She knows how to take something small and make it bigger and tastier. She has starred in and produced two productions of Lanie Robertson's "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill," a biographical revue featuring the music of jazz and blues legend Billie Holiday. Thomasina is the owner of Thomasina’s Cashew Brittle, which can be found in Kowalski’s.
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