Dakota Andersen is a vocalist, songwriter, arranger, and educator based in Minneapolis. A newcomer to the Twin Cities, he is quickly becoming established in the jazz scene with performances at Crooners Supper Club, the Hook and Ladder, Volstead’s Emporium, and Resource. Before his move to Minnesota, Andersen graduated from the University of North Texas with a master’s degree in vocal jazz studies. While at UNT, he directed one of four vocal jazz ensembles, taught classes on vocal jazz style, 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. He also performed frequently at local venues in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, such as the Balcony Club, the Kitchen Cafe, Steve’s Wine Bar, Hearsay Arlington, and Mercury Chophouse. Past collaborations include Kurt Elling, Sinne Eeg, Darmon Meader, Laila Biali, Miguel Zenón, Myra Melford, Carl Allen, and the One O’Clock Lab Band. His original composition and newest arrangement for vocal jazz ensemble, “Turn That Frown Upside Down,” is now published and available for purchase on vocal jazz arranger Kerry Marsh’s website, kerrymarsh.com.

In addition to his work in vocal jazz, Andersen is also an active choral singer in the Twin Cities. He is a contracted vocalist with the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers under the direction of Philip Brunelle as well as with the Minnesota Chorale under the direction of Kathy Saltzman Romey. During the day, he works as a Mentoring Program Associate for BestPrep, a local nonprofit that provides educational programs for students with the goal of bridging the gap between classroom learning and workplace skills. Dakota is originally from Fairfield, Iowa and earned his undergraduate degree in choral music education from the University of Northern Iowa.