2022-2023 Guest Artistic Directors
Steven Eckblad, Fall Concert
Brad Miller, Christmas with St. Ben’s and St. John’s
Aaron Carpenter, Winter Concert
Strings:
Laura Dahl, Violin, Concertmaster
Kristen Bauer, Violin
Dianne Brady, Violin
David Haugen, Violin
Carmela Thiele, Violin
Josh Paavola, Violin
Barb Swanson, Violin
Rachel Tisdale, Violin
Jeanie Schoephoerster, Violin
Tamara Bottge, Violin
Laura Wolfram, Violin
Shigeyuki Yachi, Violin
Jim Johnson, Violin/Viola
Rhonda Johnson, Violin/Viola
Cristina Seaborn, Violin/Viola
Kate Hansen, Viola
John Johnson, Viola
Jana Kelly, Viola
Carlin Mayhew (Stiles), Viola
Melissa Prescott, Viola
Carter Scheele, Viola
Noah Braun, Cello
Monique Haugen, Cello
Bryant Julstrom, Cello
Jennie Kalpin, Cello
Tina Lamberts, Cello
Thea Stockinger, Cello
Fr. William Skudlarek, OSB, Cello
Patrick Dinndorf, Bass
David Lorenz, Bass
Winds/Brass/Percussion:
Kris Boyle, Flute/Piccolo
Elizabeth Eickhoff, Flute
Carolyn Yaggie Heinen, Flute
Mikayla Graeme, Oboe
Rachel Koehler, Oboe
Caroline Schmitter, Oboe/English Horn
Rachel Tessier, Oboe
Shigeyuki Yachi, Oboe
Tom Gaetz, Clarinet
Katie Johnson, Clarinet
Adrian DeVos, Bassoon
Maia Hamann, Bassoon
Bruce Thornton, Bassoon
Mary Beth Kulander, multiple Winds
Tony Hutar, Trumpet
Tom Pattock, Trumpet
John Plantenberg, Trumpet
Richard Witteman, Trumpet
Sean Jacobson, Trumpet
Susan Bjorstrom, French horn
Vicki Davis, French horn
Terri Deming, French horn
Tim Johnson, French horn
David Gouker, French horn
Van Battle, Trombone
Brian Campbell, Trombone
Larry Mariette, Trombone
Wayne Kuehl, Tuba
Edward Wendt, Tuba/Percussion
John Creasy, Timpani/Percussion
Matt Kiminski, Timpani/Percussion
Josiah Torvik, Timpani/Percussion
Jerry Lederer, Piano
Founding Artistic Director – Dr. Axel Theimer
Dr. Axel Theimer (born March 10, 1946) is a conductor, composer, singer, author and Professor Emeritus of Music at the College of Saint Benedict / Saint John’s University (CSB/SJU) in Minnesota. After a teaching career of 52 years at St. John’s and St. Ben’s he retired in the spring of 2021. He is founder and past director of the professional a cappella choir Kantorei (Minneapolis / Saint Paul), co-founder and past director of the National Catholic Youth Choir and founder/artistic director of the Amadeus Chamber Symphony. At CSB/SJU, he conducted the SJU Men’s Chorus, founded the CSB/SJU Chamber Choir as well as the All College Choir and taught voice, vocal pedagogy, diction and choral conducting/techniques. He served on the faculty and as executive director of the VoiceCare Network until the summer of 2021. He is an acknowledged expert on healthy vocal production for solo and choral singing, and the effect of conducting gesture on vocalists and instrumentalists. His choirs are known and praised for their particularly warm, natural, expressive and efficient sound.
