As the Founder and Artistic & Executive Director of Lakes Area Music Festival (LAMF), Scott has built something extraordinary in the Brainerd Lakes Area. What began as a grassroots summer concert series has evolved under his leadership into a nationally recognized organization with year-round programming, attracting world-class artists from across the country—and enthusiastic audiences from all walks of life.

Scott’s vision for LAMF has always gone beyond performance. It’s about connection. Under his direction, the festival has become a cultural cornerstone of the Brainerd Lakes Area, offering high-caliber music and arts education to audiences of all ages. Through outreach, accessibility, and innovation, Scott has made the arts approachable, affordable, and essential for the community.

His dedication to the Brainerd Lakes Area is rooted in his own story. As a Brainerd High School graduate, Scott went on to study cello performance at the Eastman School of Music and performed around the world. But he never lost sight of his hometown. He returned not just to visit, but to invest—in people, programs, and potential.

LAMF is now more than a festival; it’s an engine for economic impact, and a creative hub for emerging talent. It has created seasonal and full-time jobs, drawn in tourism, and offered countless educational and community partnerships. At the center of it all, Scott is a conductor of collaboration, vision, and momentum.

His influence extends beyond LAMF as well. Scott serves on the board of directors for several state and regional organizations advocating for the arts, and his work has helped strengthen Minnesota’s reputation as a leader in cultural innovation. He’s also a frequent speaker and collaborator, sharing insights about nonprofit leadership, rural arts development, and community building through creativity.

Scott’s story is a testament to what happens when you come home with purpose. He took a big idea and built a sustainable, inclusive, and thriving organization that continues to enrich the lives of thousands. And through it all, he remains deeply grounded in service, humility, and an unshakable belief in the arts as a force for good.