Kantorei Singers
Kantorei draws its singers from state and national universities' finest choral alumni, and most are professional musicians or have degrees in vocal music.
Singers' names link to brief biographies, below.
Kantorei Board of Directors
- Raj Chaphalkar – President
- Kimberly Kuhl – Vice President
- Tyler Forsythe – Secretary
- Maggie Akhavan – Treasurer
- Tom Vacek – Singer Liason
- Molly Rowan – Board Member
- Nathan Rowan – Board Member
- George Maurer – Board Member
- James Haas – Ticket Manager
Kantorei Singers' Brief Biographies
Maggie Akhavan, Alto Section Co-Leader,
joined Kantorei in 1994. She is from Ridgewood, NJ, and has a B.A. in Classical Civilization from Randolph-Macon Woman's College. She owns the Worship Arts Company, and has been married for 31 years to a graphic arts/web design guru. She has three daughters who share her love of music.
Adam ten Bensel Frase, bass,
started singing in choirs at age 6. From 2005-07, he studied at the Boston Conservatory, pursuing a bachelor's degree in vocal performance and transferred to University of Minnesota Duluth for the last 3 years of his study. Adam lives at the Student's Co-op in Dinkytown and delivers Jimmy John's on his bike.
Michelle Blaeser, Alto Section Co-Leader,
is a founding member of Kantorei. She is from Robbinsdale, MN, and has a B.A. from the College of Saint Benedict, and an M.D. from the University of MN Medical School. She is currently a physician (dermatology) at Park Nicollet Clinic, and enjoys running, horseback riding, gardening, theatre, concerts, and spending time with her husband Ed, children Emma and Max, cats Nero and C.J., and bird named "Birdbrain."
Bill Blatzheim, bass,
joined Kantorei in 2008. He is from Apple Valley, MN, and has a B.A. in Vocal/Classroom Music Ed from Saint John's University. He is currently Interim Assistant Vocal Music Director at Apple Valley High School, and directs the AVHS "JazzSingers." He enjoys arranging music, and is an active jazz piano and vocal solo performer.
Aric Braaten, bass,
is from Sunburg Minnesota and graduated from Saint John's University in 2010 with a B.A. in music, with a concentration in vocal performance. He is currently working in the social services, and in his free time enjoys guitar, singing, fishing, science, reading, video games, and sports.
Raj Chaphalkar, tenor,
joined Kantorei in 2008. He is from Lansing, MI, and holds a B.A. in vocal music from Saint John's University. He is an alumnus of the National Catholic Youth Choir and works in the development office at Saint John's University.
Marlene Dingmann, soprano,
joined Kantorei in 1997. She is from Cold Spring, MN, and has a B.A. from the College of Saint Benedict, and an M.A. from St. Mary's University. She is an elementary music specialist with the Sartell-St. Stephen School District, and enjoys hunting, fishing, and volunteering with her dogs at Assumption Nursing home in Cold Spring and the St. Cloud Hospital. She is married and has four Golden Retrievers who are named after jazz musicians.
Adam Eckhardt, tenor
joined Kantorei this season. He is from Clarkfield, MN, and has a B.A. in Business Management and Communication Studies from Gustavus Adolphus College. He is currently employed at The Sonic Management Group in Minneapolis. In his free time, Adam enjoys spending time with friends and family, biking on the green way, playing tennis, fishing and spending as much time at the cabin as possible.
Jessica Edwards, soprano,
joined Kantorei in 2000. She is from Hoople, ND, and has a Physics degree from Gustavus Adolphus College, and an Electrical Engineering degree from the University of MN. She is currently working as an Electrical Engineer, and enjoys spending time with her husband, chickens, and ducks. Jessica is the "farm-fresh" egg supplier to Kantorei.
Mathew Ferche, tenor,
took last season off from singing in Kantorei while he served as a clerk for the Minnesota Court of Appeals. In that time, he also married his wife Emily and passed the bar exam. He taught high school choir before becoming a lawyer.
Tyler Forsythe, bass,
joined Kantorei this season. He is from Becker, MN, and holds a degree in Music from Luther College. After spending several years teaching high school choir in Arizona, Tyler is currently a student in the Master of Sacred Music program at Luther Seminary and St. Olaf College. In addition to Minnesota's great choral music offerings, Tyler is excited to again experience four seasons.
Karen Frericks, alto,
joined Kantorei in 1989 – one year after the founding. She is from New Ulm, MN, and has a B.A. in Music and English from the College of Saint Benedict. She is currently a chapter planner for SMTA, enjoys reading, and claims to be addicted to several computer games. Karen is the proud aunt of four nieces and two nephews — all with great voices!
Vern Hamberg, tenor,
joined Kantorei in 2000. He is from South St. Paul, MN, and has a B.A. in Music and Mathematics from the University of MN. He is currently a Software Architect at RJS Software Systems in Burnsville. Vern enjoys reading, crossword puzzles, music, and spending time with his children, Paul and Ruth, and his wise cat, Smoky.
Stacie Handahl, soprano,
joined Kantorei in 2009. She is from St. Cloud, MN, and has a B.A. in International Management with an emphasis in Spanish from Gustavus Adolphus College. She currently is employed at the General Mills World Headquarters in Golden Valley. In her free time, Stacie enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, traveling, any outdoor activities, and going up north to the cabin.
Dee Hein, alto
joined Kantorei this season. She grew up near Niagara Falls, NY, but has called St. Paul "home" for over 15 years. She has a B.A. from Cornell University, an MBA from Northwestern University, and works for U.S. Bank as a Treasury Management sales consultant. She sings with several local choirs, and enjoys bicycling, and hiking with her husband, Wilfried, and two dogs.
John Kelly, Bass Section Leader,
is a founding member of Kantorei. He is from Simsbury, CT, and has a B.A. in Music from Saint John's University, and an MD from the University of MN Medical School. He is currently a pediatrician. John enjoys music, travel, reading, waterskiing, and dining out.
Mary Kremer, alto,
joined Kantorei in 1991. She is from St. Cloud, MN, and holds a BS in Physical Therapy from the College of Saint Benedict and the Mayo School of Health Related Sciences, and a Masters in Manual Therapy from the Scollandets Institute. She is currently a Physical Therapist at the Institute for Athletic Medicine.
Kim Kuhl, soprano,
joined Kantorei in 2007. She grew up in Kearney, Nebraska, and has a BA in Music from the College of Saint Benedict in vocal performance. She studies private voice with George Smith and has performed Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, the title role in Princess Ida, and Billy Jo Casta in Oedipus Tex. Kuhl has performed with the Rochester Aria Group and participated in many vocal competitions, becoming a National Finalist in the MTNA Young Artist competition, and winning the grand prize at the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra Young Performers Competition. She is currently a Rating Veterans Service Representative with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Lynn LeMoine, soprano,
joined Kantorei in 1996. She is from Cross Plains, WI, and has degrees in German and Vocal Performance from Lawrence University, and an M.M. in Vocal Performance from Kansas State University. She is currently a Law Student at Hamline University School of Law (expected graduation May 2011). She enjoys camping, watching football (the Packers), and spending time with her husband Jeff, three daughters (Katrina, Mariah, Lydia), and cat named Sam. Lynn and Jeff's garage is the Oktoberfest capital of the Twin Cities.
Maureen Long, alto,
holds a bachelor of music degree from Simpson College, and an M.A. in counseling and family psychology from the University of St. Thomas. She currently works at the Technological Leadership Institute at the University of Minnesota, and enjoys reading, travel, and British sitcoms.
Susanna Mennicke, soprano
lives in Saint Paul and is finishing her second Bachelor's degree in music at Concordia University. When not studying, she works at the Lundstrum Center for the Performing Arts as the registrar. In her free time, Susanna enjoys swimming, laughing at bad movies with her friends, cooking with her family, and singing trios with her sisters.
Chris Milani, Tenor Section Leader,
joined Kantorei in 2004. He is from Hibbing, MN, and has a Bachelor and Master of Civil Engineering degree from the University of MN. He is currently a Structural Engineer with MBJ Consulting Structural Engineers, Inc. He spends much of his free time decorating his new house. Chris is an accomplished concert pianist, and enjoys playing with his cat, Pippin.
Evan Morud, tenor
joined Kantorei this season. He has been singing for all his life. He graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College and works at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. Besides singing with Kantorei, he also sings in the shower choir, in the car, and especially at Karaoke. His other interests include tennis, DVR, and working on a 2022 Olympic bid for Curling.
John O'Brien, tenor,
joined Kantorei in 2004. He is from Worthington, MN, and has a B.A. from Augustana College, an M. Phil. from Trinity College in Dublin, and a Ph.D from the University of Minnesota. He serves as president of North Hennepin Community College and enjoys spending time with his spouse, Kathryn, and children, Nathan, Alex, and Thessaly.
Matt Olson, bass,
joined Kantorei this season. He is from Mankato, MN, and has a B.A. in Financial Economics and a Minor in Music from Gustavus Adolphus College. He is currently employed at Accretive Health in Minneapolis. In his free time, Matt enjoys playing golf, skiing, and hanging out with friends and family.
Anne Pierce, soprano,
joined Kantorei in 2007. She is from Apple Valley, MN, and holds a Vocal Performance degree from The College of Saint Benedict. She is currently working as a full-time Medicare Sales Specialist at Blue Cross Blue Shield in Eagan. Recently, she was married to her husband Wade and is now enjoying a life without the stress of planning a wedding! In her free time, Anne enjoys traveling, playing sports, and spending time with friends and family.
Katie Pearson, soprano,
joined Kantorei in 2002. She is from Duluth, MN, and has a B.A. in Music Education from Gustavus Adolphus College, and an M.A. in Vocal Music Education from the University of St. Thomas. She is Choral Director at Friendly Hills Middle School and enjoys outdoor camping, hiking, and running with her Border Collie, Daisy, and farm mutt, Lucky.
Maryanne Poliseno, Soprano Section Leader,
joined Kantorei in 1988 (a founding member). She is originally from Little Falls, MN, and has a B.A. in music with an emphasis in piano performance from the College of Saint Benedict. She is currently a Municipal Bond Trader at Wells Fargo, and enjoys traveling, gardening, reading, yoga, and spending time with friends over a good glass of wine.
Joe Polta, bass,
joined Kantorei in 1989, one year after the founding. He is from Willmar, MN, and has a B.A. from Saint John's University. He is currently a legal professional at UnitedHealth Group - Ovations. He enjoys baking bread by hand, and he is an avid bike commuter, riding his bike to work year-round. He is a retired Scoutmaster (32 young men became Eagle Scouts during his term), and he enjoys spending time with wife Karen, and teen-aged sons Dan and Tom.
Nathan Eliot Rowan, tenor
joined Kantorei this season. He has been involved in many musical projects over the last decade and has been singing his entire life. He plays guitar, bass, and mandola and enjoys composition and collaboration. He currently plays with Talking Tree, Bella Ruse, Cardboard Dreams, and Jake Rowan Band. Nathan also has a passion for working with people with special needs. He currently is employed with Intermediate District 287 and St. David's Center for Child Development. He lives in Northeast Minneapolis with his wife and dog, and he enjoys Indian food.
John Sauer, bass,
joined Kantorei in 1993. He is from St. Cloud, MN, and has degrees from Saint John's University, Pontifical North American College in Rome, Italy, Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, and Pontifical Athenaeum of St. Anselm in Rome. He is currently Pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Owatonna, and Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Litomysl. Fr. John enjoys cooking, singing, and travel.
Julie Scott, alto,
joined Kantorei in 2003. She is from Northfield, MN, and has a B.S. from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. She is currently a mom and a part-time student at Century College. Julie enjoys reading, watching for wildlife in her backyard, keeping her kids entertained, and experimenting with unique hair colors. She is married to Jim and has two children (Annika and Mia), and two dogs (Bully and Buster).
Ann Skemp-Cook, alto,
is a founding member of Kantorei. She is from LaCrescent, MN, and has a B.A. from the College of Saint Benedict, a Teaching Certificate from Augsburg College, and an M.Ed. from Hamline University. She is currently a Language Arts teacher at Hopkins High School, and enjoys running, reading, skiing, helping her family build a cabin, and spending time with husband Tom, step-daughter Stella, and their Lab/Retriever, Angus.
Phil Solyntjes, tenor,
graduated with a B.M. in vocal performance from the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2010. Phil was a semi-finalist in the 2007 NATS state competition. He was also the 1st place recipient of the 2008 MFMC scholarship in the man's voice category, was named a 2008 Matinee Musicale scholarship winner, and was a finalist in the Schubert Club scholarship competition in 2009.
Mike Steiner, bass,
joined Kantorei in 2005. He holds a BA in Choral Music from Michigan State University, an MA in Choral Music Ed from the University of Montana, and a BFA in Furniture Design from the Kendall School of Design. Mike is a retired a choral director, now teaching string bass to young musicians. He is currently a self-employed personal organizer, landscaper and handyman. He is married to Barbara, a long-time piano teacher and a son, Sean, also a singer.
Mary Tadich, alto,
joined Kantorei in 1989. She grew up in Bloomington, MN, graduated from the College of Saint Benedict with a B.A. in English & German, and taught English at the high school level. She and her spouse, Michael Bauer, are the parents of four children, three born during 'the Kantorei years.'
Justin Theodotou, bass,
joined Kantorei this season. He holds a B.A. in communication from Saint John's University and sang under the direction of Dr. Theimer at Saint John's from 2003-2007. Justin works in public relations and spends his free time volunteering at his church, losing sleep over Vikings football, and running 5Ks. He grew up in Minnetonka, MN, but currently resides in St. Paul, much to the chagrin of his mother who chides him for "moving to that other city." A lifelong singer, Justin is excited to once again be singing professionally.
Tom Vacek, bass,
joined Kantorei in 2009. A 2006 graduate of Saint John's University, he is now working toward a PhD in computer science at the University of Minnesota after flunking out of a philosophy graduate program. Though presently he doesn't have time for hobbies, someday he will enjoy sailing and being outdoors as much as possible during his free summers.
Jim Vogel, tenor,
joined Kantorei in 2007. He has been employed by the State of Minnesota for over 30 years, where he is currently a Training Coordinator. He has sung in the Holy Spirit Church choir for over 30 years, the Diocesan Choir of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, and is on the Board of Directors of The Chameleon Theatre Circle located in Burnsville. He is married to Jenifer Wagner.
Heidi Wolak-Faber, soprano,
joined Kantorei in 1998. She is from Staples, MN, and holds a B.A. in Communication from the College of Saint Benedict, and a Master of Science degree in Speech Language Pathology from Minnesota State University Mankato. She enjoys traveling with her family, reading, nature walks and visiting new places. Heidi is married to Todd Faber and is the happy mom of three energetic little boys.
Marie Youngkrantz, soprano,
is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, TC with a bachelor's degree in Music Therapy. She grew up on a farm near Lake Lillian, MN, and currently resides in Burnsville. Marie works for Augustana Regent at Burnsville, working specifically with residents in the Memory Care Suites. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends and watching football every Sunday.