Instructor Bios
Loren Kranz
Loren has been an instructor with Major Chords for Minors for nearly 8 years, teaching drums, piano & guitar. Music has been a driving force in his life since joining the percussion section in junior high band class. After high school, he pursued a music degree, majoring in Jazz Studies at Wayne State University in Detroit, while also developing a penchant for songwriting and performing outside of academia. A number of sideman gigs with various artists took him around the country, eventually performing in 46 states (and Canada!). When Loren returned home to the Saginaw area he formed his own band, Barbarossa Brothers, and now maintains a busy schedule playing all over the state. A native of Freeland, MI, Loren lives there with his wife and their adorable Husky/Basset Hound mix, Stella Blue.
Bradley Donley
Brad has been an instructor with Major Chords for Minors since 2016, teaching drums, guitar, and running the performance ensemble program. Brad grew up around several musicians in his family, and developed a passion for jazz music in his high school’s steel drum band. After high school Brad became a luthier (building and repairing stringed instruments) and attended Mott Community College and University of Michigan Flint to study Jazz Composition. He played as a studio musician on several albums, and worked as a music instructor in Flint and Grand Blanc before moving to Saginaw in 2015. Brad is happy to continue his work at a music instructor and enjoys seeing the next generation of musicians developing at Major Chords for Minors.
Hillary Huebler
Hillary graduated from the Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy in 2009 with an emphasis in voice and keyboard. She is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music with a BA in vocal performance. She has been active in the Saginaw arts community, participating in shows with Pit and Balcony Theatre (such as the Wizard of Oz), Muzyka! (a local folk/gospel/bluegrass group), and soloed with the Saginaw Choral Society, Saginaw Eddy Band, Bijou Orchestra, and the Saginaw Bay Symphony. Her senior year of high school she performed a play with the Detroit Theatre for Dramatic Arts at the Kennedy Center during Inauguration week. Besides vocal music, Hillary has studied piano, organ, voice, choral conducting, and composition, and also plays fiddle, ukulele, flute, penny whistles, mandolin, harp, trumpet, and is versed in a variety of music styles. Her compositions have won several awards. Hillary is currently the music minister at First Congregational Church, and is a part-time instructor at Major Chords for Minors.
Staff Bios
Studio Manager
Sarah Bates
Sarah is a life-long music enthusiast and a hands-on supporter of local arts and culture. As a Saginaw native who spent about a decade living elsewhere, Sarah returned to the region with a greater appreciation of “home” and the unique things our city has to offer. Among various job roles in management and service industry, Sarah has spent much of her time supporting and volunteering at arts venues, humanitarian programs, or fundraising events such as Pit & Balcony Community Theatre, Habitat for Humanity, Saginaw Harvest Table, Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge, and Camp Happy Days. Sarah merges her job skills in management and her volunteer skills supporting arts and humanitarian organizations in her work at Major Chords for Minors, including scheduling, communications with families, coordinating volunteers, and supervising operations at the studio.
Executive Director
Lisa Purchase Kelly
Major Chords for Minors new executive director, Lisa Purchase Kelly, comes from a background of stage management and community involvement. She has spent the past 25 years working backstage and helping run local community theaters and arts events, and she most recently co-owned and managed a critically-acclaimed restaurant in downtown Saginaw, using her business as a platform to create stellar community events. She has also been working with teens and families for three decades as a substitute teacher in Saginaw Public Schools and as a social worker. A Saginaw native, Lisa enjoys scuba diving, climbing, caving, backpacking, ballroom dancing, and travel. Lisa lives in Saginaw and is pleased to continue her service toward building her community.
Finance Manager
Steven L. Meyers
Steve Meyers brings nearly 30 years of experience within the music industry to Major Chords for Minors. This experience includes work in many aspects of the music world including but not limited to music instruction, performance, retail management, music store and lesson studio ownership. Steve owns a small business in Saginaw and has a deep passion for music and the arts.
Board Bios
Dr. Bessie Marikis Bone
Bessie graduated from the University of Michigan with her Doctor of Pharmacy and has held leadership roles in clinical, hospital, and industry settings. In addition to pharmacy practice, she has certification in human resource management with a focus on organizational/leadership development and learning. Dr. Bone also serves on the Interlochen Arts Academy Community Outreach Committee and actively volunteers within the community. With a daughter studying professional music, she witnessed first-hand the skills a child learns through the discipline and commitment required in music education. Dr. Bone is grateful for the opportunity to support the mission of Major Chords for Minors -“Building better children through music.”
Scott Bryant
Scott has been with Saginaw Bay Underwriters (SBU) for 17 years and in the insurance industry for 22 years. He is a principal of the company and currently acts as a Vice President and business risk advisor. Prior to joining the insurance industry Scott worked for Garb-ko 7-Eleven for many years eventually working as the Director of Corporate Store Operations for the State of Michigan. Scott is a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) and provides risk management services to businesses and other organizations. Scott joined Major Chords for Minors on the board in 2019 and currently serves as board chair. Hobbies include reading, watching hockey, trail riding, and spending time with his wife of 32 years.
Cameron Massey
Cameron joined the board in 2024, after attending events for MCFM and
finding inspiration from the organization’s mission and impact for local young musicians. With a background in marketing and design, Cameron founded Water Street Marketing, a full service digital advertising company with an emphasis on local and underserved business owners, with Arika Massey where he served as COO and later CEO. Since 2022, Cameron is the Executive Director of Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra and Saginaw Bay Youth Orchestra. Cameron has also provided pro bono design work and has served on committees for Old Town Saginaw Art Fair and Art Fair Saginaw.
Arika Massey
Arika is a Saginaw native who joined the Board at Major Chords for Minors in 2024. She is a Media Executive at WNEMTV5 News, and is the Communications Manager for the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra, in addition to being a freelance marketing professional. She loves the MCFM mission, and believes empowering music — especially through our youngest musicians, — is so incredibly important to this community. She has also served on the Riverside Saginaw Film Festival board of directors as a member-at-large.