About Me

I am an arts consultant and singer who lives for making creative projects happen. I geek out on organization and systems, approach all of my work through the frame of equity and access, and believe in the uniqueness of every relationship.

GROWING UP. I grew up in Green Bay, WI where I was surrounded by music and took part in all things Krider Pharmacy, our family business. Picture a little Laura helping her Dad set up his keyboards for a wedding gig, prepping blister packs behind the pharmacy counter, visiting her Mom’s classroom to help decorate for the school year, and putting on neighborhood musicals with her siblings. Community service, education, artistic expression, and work ethic have clearly been core to my development. I moved to the Twin Cities approaching my teen years, and haven’t left since. I’m grateful to have continued my growth here— a city that values creativity and communities full of richness and diverse lived experiences.

HONING MY SKILLS. I taught music briefly after receiving my Bachelor of Music in Vocal Music Education at the University of Minnesota- School of Music in 2005, but quickly realized that my passion was administration. I know that’s not common, but to me, it meant contributing to something larger than myself and supporting the magic-makers. I stepped into the Ensemble Coordinator position at my alma mater, and eventually grew into the position of Graduate Student Services Assistant and Public Engagement Coordinator. During that time, I earned a Master of Professional Studies degree in Arts and Cultural Leadership in 2012 and had the privilege of doing capstone projects with VocalEssence and the Board of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.

DEEPENING MY CONNECTION TO CREATIVES. With my graduate degree in hand I decided it was time for me to stretch outside of academia, so I transitioned into what would be the next eight years of my professional life at the American Composers Forum (ACF). During my time at ACF, I served as Director of Operations and Special Projects focusing on youth programs (BandQuest, NextNotes High School Creator Awards, and others), artist services, composer residencies, and internal administration/communications. ACF opened my eyes to the vitality of living artists, connected me to incredible people and ideas, and supported my development as an arts leader and administrator.

MAKING MUSIC. Throughout my entire professional life, I’ve been an active singer and frequently work with living composers. In recent years, I’ve performed with ensembles including Border CrosSing, Lumina Women’s Ensemble, First Readings Project, and The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and others. I was also a founding member and multi-year Alto Section Leader of The Singers: MN Choral Artists for over 15 years. Other singing adventures include the Dale Warland Beethoven Festival Chorale, the MPR Carolers, and Deviated Septet. Other than the obvious transference of music knowledge, I apply what I’ve learned through ensemble singing into so much of my artist support and consulting work— listening, interdependence, flexibility, being sensitive to context, honoring other cultures, and understanding my role in a bigger effort.

TODAY. I now run my Artist Support & Consulting business (check out my Clients page to see all of the incredible artists I get to work with), act as Managing Director of Graphite Publishing, serve on the board of Schubert Club and as the MN Composer Repertoire & Resource Chair for ACDA of MN, make music, watch Arrested Development reruns with friends, spend time with family over Shabbat dinners, and love up on my dog, Mo.  

If you’d like to learn more, check out these recent features of me in Voyage Minnesota and the University of MN’s College of Education and Professional Studies Alumni Profiles.