ABOUT US

A man and woman smiling at each other, standing outdoors near a brick and wooden fence.

THE NOBLES

The Nobles are a premier acoustic folk-pop duo that brings a sophisticated, "unplugged" touch to the songs that have defined generations. With a combined 30+ years of professional performing experience, Raymond and Kayla have moved beyond the traditional boundaries of a duo, blending technical mastery with an intuitive musical chemistry that only comes from sharing the stage with your soul-mate.

DECADES OF ARTISTRY,
One Unforgettable Sound

  • The Nobles don’t just play songs; they reimagine them. Their repertoire is a curated journey through music history, spanning:

    • Classic Hits: Reinterpreted gems from the 60s and 70s.

    • Modern Anthems: Acoustic reimagining of today’s folk and pop chart-toppers.

    • Genre-Defying Range: From soulful blues and classic rock to lighthearted pop, all delivered with their signature organic warmth.

  • Beyond the duo, the members of The Nobles are respected leaders within the musical community. Their diverse professional background informs every performance:

    • Worship Leadership: As leaders of contemporary worship bands, they bring a sense of passion and purpose to their arrangements.

    • Musical Theater: With experience directing and coaching musical theater, they understand the power of storytelling, stagecraft, and vocal precision.

    • Classical Training: With roots in classical music training, they possess a level of technical precision and musical depth rarely found in acoustic acts.

    "Whether we are leading a congregation or performing a high-energy pop set, our focus remains the same: connecting with the audience through the universal language of a great melody."

  • From soulful blues and classic rock to lighthearted pop, all delivered with their signature organic warmth.

  • Whether it’s an intimate private event, a corporate gala, or a local festival, The Nobles provide a polished, professional atmosphere. Their ability to read a room—shifting from quiet, atmospheric background music to engaging, foot-tapping hits—makes them one of the most versatile acoustic acts performing today.

    • Authority: Mentioning the 30+ years of experience immediately builds trust with event bookers.

    • Versatility: Highlighting your theater and worship backgrounds shows that you are disciplined, reliable, and capable of handling various vocal styles.

    • Broad Appeal: Emphasizing "hits across the decades" ensures you appeal to a multi-generational audience.

A young woman with wavy brown hair, wearing a plaid shirt, black top, distressed blue jeans, and tan ankle boots, is standing outdoors against a background of brick and wooden panels. She is holding a vintage-style mandolin and smiling at the camera.

OUR EXPERIENCE

MEET KAYLA NOBLE

Kayla Noble is a versatile multi-instrumentalist, passionate music educator, and the female half of the acoustic folk-pop duo, The Nobles. Believing firmly that music is for everyone and that anyone can create it, Kayla has dedicated her career to fostering a lifelong love of music in others—whether they grow up to be a concertmaster or an appreciative listener in the audience.

For the past 14 years, Kayla has served as the Music Specialist at Lincoln Elementary School in Alexandria. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education with a minor in Theatre Arts from Concordia College (Moorhead, MN) and a Master of Music in Music Education from North Dakota State University, where she also earned her Orff Schulwerk certification. Alongside her school leadership, Kayla brings this extensive expertise to her studio, offering premier private voice and piano lessons to students of all ages.

Deeply rooted in the regional arts community, Kayla has a profound love for vocal music and musical theater. She has directed choirs of all ages, vocal-coached high school All-State ensembles, and performed as a soloist with the Central Lakes Symphony Orchestra (CLSO) and the Long Prairie Community Orchestra. A mainstay in local theater, she spent 12 years as the vocal coach for Alexandria Area High School musicals and has directed, vocal-directed, and conducted pit orchestras for the Andria Theatre and Wild Gem Theatre Co. Audiences may also recognize her from the stage, where she starred as Sophie in Mamma Mia! and Cinderella in Into the Woods. She currently sings with the Runestone Chorale and is launching a new children’s chorus in collaboration with the ensemble.

Kayla’s musical journey began early, playing guitar and singing in church worship bands. Her passion for ministry continued through college and evolved into leadership; she served as the Contemporary Worship Band Director at Calvary Lutheran Church for five years, currently holds the same position at First United Congregational Church of Christ, and regularly leads the First Lutheran Worship Band. In The Nobles, she showcases her diverse musicality on keys, mandolin, vocals, and percussion.

Born and raised in Minnesota, Kayla grew up in Forest Lake, graduated from Detroit Lakes High School, and met her husband and business partner, Ray, while studying at Concordia. Today, they love operating their music studio and living in Alexandria with their two children, Milo and Etta, their dog, Baby, and two cats, Edgar and Opal. When she isn't teaching or on stage, Kayla enjoys being active, going on adventures, and making music with family and friends.

A man with a beard wearing a black shirt and jeans is holding an acoustic guitar and standing against a brick wall with glass blocks.

MEET RAY NOBLE

Raymond Noble is a dynamic multi-instrumentalist, passionate music educator, and skilled audio engineer. As a performer, educator, and studio co-owner, Ray brings a wealth of diverse musical expertise to the Central Lakes area, working tirelessly to inspire students, elevate live performances, and deliver high-quality audio production services.

Ray has been a cornerstone of music education in Central Minnesota for the past 14 years, teaching in Verndale, Albany, and Parkers Prairie, followed by impactful tenures at GMC Elementary Schools and Discovery Middle School, before stepping into his current role as the Music Specialist at Voyager Elementary School in Alexandria. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Concordia College (Moorhead, MN), where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. At the studio, Ray channels this deep pedagogical background into private instruction, mentoring the next generation of musicians in piano, guitar, bass, and voice.

As a versatile gigging musician, Ray primarily sings and plays acoustic, electric, and bass guitar. He is the bassist for Blonde and the Bohunk, the male half of The Nobles, and a frequent guest performer, having played bass and electric guitar with the band Hat Trick. A mainstay in regional pit orchestras, he played bass for the Andria Theatre's production of Into the Woods, played bass in the Theatre L'Homme Dieu production of From Eva To Eternity, recently played lead guitar for Wild Gem Theatre Co.’s production of Godspell, and will be playing electric guitar in the Minnewaska Showstoppers' production of Anything Goes this summer.

Beyond the stage, Ray is an accomplished conductor and director. He has served as the Choir Director for the CLSO Chorale for two major projects, directed the choir at Calvary Lutheran Church for five years, and vocal-coached the Minnesota All-State Lutheran Choir. His theatrical directing credits include serving as Pit Orchestra Director for Alexandria Area High School and Vocal Director for the Andria Theatre's production of Jungle Book Jr. Ray also shares his musical talents in ministry, performing regularly with the worship bands at First Lutheran Church and First United Congregational Church of Christ.

Behind the scenes, Ray utilizes his sharp technical ear to handle the studio's audio engineering and live production services. He regularly manages live sound, engineering concerts and large-scale projects for the Alexandria Area High School, the CLSO, and various other venues throughout the region.

Originally from Rosemount, MN, Ray met Kayla at Concordia College. Today, they love operating their music studio and raising their family in Alexandria. When he isn't teaching, performing, or dialing in a live mix, Ray loves cooking gourmet meals, playing board games, and hitting the local courses as an avid disc golfer.

A man and woman standing outdoors near a body of water, smiling. The man is holding an acoustic guitar, and the woman is holding a mandolin. The background features a river, trees, and a partly cloudy sky.
Two musicians performing on an outdoor stage: a man playing acoustic guitar and a woman with a mandolin, with a drum set in the background, surrounded by greenery.
Two people, a woman and a man, standing together in front of a sign that reads 'The Nobles Acoustic Folk Program'. The woman has curly brown hair, is wearing a red long-sleeve shirt with the word 'love' on it, and has her arm around the man's waist.
A smiling man and woman stand together on a wooden dock by a body of water, with a blue sky and distant landscape in the background. The man has a beard and is wearing a black striped shirt and black pants, while the woman has curly hair and is weari
A man and a woman smiling and looking at each other, standing close with the man leaning against a brick wall and the woman leaning against wooden siding.
A man and woman standing outdoors against a wooden and brick wall, holding musical instruments: a mandolin and an acoustic guitar.
Group of five people enjoying outdoor event with stage and equipment in background
A live outdoor performance by a music duo called The Nobles, labeled as an acoustic folk pop duo, with two band members on stage. One woman playing keyboard and the other man playing guitar, with microphones and sound equipment in front of them. Audi
A large outdoor gathering where many people are sitting on lawn chairs and standing on a grassy field, with a structure in the background and trees on both sides, under a cloudy sky.
A man and woman taking a selfie at an outdoor concert with a large crowd in the background.