Dan Chouinard ('86)
Dan Chouinard graduated from SJU in 1986, majoring in music and French. Chouinard is a musician who plays the piano and accordion. He is also multilingual and can speak English, French, and Italian.
Chouinard gave many performances while at SJU, ranging from student concerts to rallies. At Homecoming 1982, Chouinard won the Talent Show Contest. On March 25, 1982, Chouinard was in a student recital along with Peter Kirchner on cello. Chouinard worked at the KSJR station as an intern in 1984. On October 12, 1984, Chouinard performed at the Variety Show again.
Chouinard received the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce Tri-College Outstanding Student Award for the 1984-1985 academic year. The award was established in the academic year 1983-1984 and was designed to honor top students at CSB+SJU and St. Cloud State University. Qualified students were those in the top two percent of their class academically, held leadership positions, and served the community. Chouinard qualified as he performed for charity concerts at SJU and St. Cloud Area. He was also an officer of the French and Music clubs.
Chouinard’s senior recital took place on March 20, 1986. A few days later on March 26th, Chouinard performed at a rally. The rally was held at SJU to protest Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) on campus. As part of the protest, a stage was set up and performances occurred from 4:00-6:00 pm.
Chouinard performed the most off-campus while at SJU when he went on a study abroad program to Aix-en-Provence. There he played every Thursday night at Le Blue Note. He played renditions of ragtime, American pop, and jazz.
In November 1990, Chouinard became a house pianist for the restaurant Spazzo Café in St. Paul. Spazzo Café was owned by fellow Johnnie, E. Tom Johnson (’73). Chouinard would also play with other jazz singers in the Twin Cities on the weekends. In 1993, K.R. Kasling, associate professor of music at CSB+SJU held a residency at the Chautauqua Institution in New York. While there he directed the annual church music workshop and had Chouinard play gospel and jazz piano for a special evening of sacred song.
In 1994, Chouinard created an autobiographical music series, “The Singer’s Voice", broadcast live of KJZZ-FM, the Twin Cities jazz station. Chouinard used this show to play music with musicians and to interview them. The following year, he was nominated for Artist of the Year by the Minnesota Music Academy this year.
Axel Theimer, a long-time professor of music at CSB+SJU was featured on “The Singer’s Voice” on December 13, 1998. Many alumni attended this live show at the Dakota, and they arranged for charity donations to support St. Joseph’s Home for Children. “The Singer’s Voice” ran for six years and Chouinard played with over 200 vocalists.
February 6, 1999, Chouinard played at the Twin Cities “Sweetheart” program at the Dakota. Chouinard returned to campus on March 16, 2001, for a Pastiche performance accompanying faculty member Vicky Mountain. He also played the accordion while Bruce Thornton played the clarinet on a Klezmer Medley. On March 10, 2004, CSB hosted the first of Minnesota Public Radio’s (MPR) new series of programs titled “A Literary View.” Bill Holm presented his writing and musings, while Dan Chouinard accompanied him on the piano.
Chouinard has been on Minnesota Public Radio’s “A Prairie Home Companion” many times. He was also credited in the movie, Prairie Home Companion (2006), as he provided piano accompaniment for Lindsay Lohan, Meryl Streep, and Lily Tomlin when they were rehearsing. In 2007, he played weekly at Minneapolis’ St. Joan of Arc Church.
Some of his projects include “Café Europa” and “Mambo Italiano.” These projects were inspired by his 2002 trip around Europe with a bike, tent, and an accordion. “Café Europa” is an introspective piece of musical storytelling and “Mambo Italiano” is about Italian influence in American music.
On November 1, 2014, there was a performance of the play, Steerage Song by Theater Latte Da at SJU. This musical is about immigrants coming to America with hope and music. It was created by Chouinard and Peter Rothstein (SJU ’88).
Note: There were discrepancies regarding the year Dan Chouinard graduated, but he was listed as a senior in The Saints yearbook in 1986.