Staff

Meet the Staff of Southeast Minnesota's Premier Youth Choirs

 

Michael Culloton, Artistic & Managing Director
Concert Choir

Mr. Culloton earned his undergraduate degree in choral music from Concordia College (MN) where he studied under Dr. René Clausen. He earned a master’s degree in choral conducting from the University of Arizona where he studied with Maurice Skones. He has served as a visiting instructor at Luther College (IA), conductor of the Winona High School Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, and interim and associate conductor of the National Lutheran Choir. Currently, he is also Artistic Director of Choral Arts Ensemble of Rochester, a semi-professional 40-voice adult choir. Mr. Culloton is co-editor of the Matthew and Michael Culloton Choral Series (Santa Barbara Music Publishing, Inc.). In 2006 he was named the MN-ACDA Outstanding Young Choral Director and was also honored with the ACDA/VocalEssence Creative Programming Award. This is his eighth season with Honors Choirs.

 

Marissa Brengman
Lyric Singers

Ms. Brengman grew up in Rochester and earned her degree in music at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where she sang in four of their choirs, including Nordic Choir under Dr. Craig Arnold.  Today, she is an alto in Choral Arts Ensemble and a cantor at the Church of St. John the Evangelist.  She has directed school and church choirs and taught voice and piano.  This is her first season with Honors Choirs, and she is eager to share her passion for singing with the young women in this new choir.

 

 

Jon Strommen Campbell
Chorale

Mr. Strommen Campbell received his bachelor’s degree from Luther College (IA) where he majored in music with an emphasis in vocal performance and composition and sang in the Nordic Choir under Weston Noble. He earned a Master of Sacred Music degree from Luther Seminary in St. Paul where he studied choral conducting with Anton Armstrong, Bob Scholz and Paul Westmeyer. He has directed choirs in Minnesota, Iowa, and Oregon and currently serves as Cantor at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Rochester. This is his seventh season as conductor of the Chorale.

 

 

 

Bill Nelson
Treble Choir

Mr. Nelson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in vocal and instrumental music from Luther College (IA) where he studied with Weston Noble and was a member of the Nordic Choir and the Concert Band. He spent six years as the middle school and high school choir director at Kingsland Public Schools and has been a member of the Choral Arts Ensemble of Rochester as both a singer and section leader. Currently, Mr. Nelson is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with Think Mutual Bank in Rochester and also directs the Zion Lutheran Church Senior Choir in Stewartville. This is his tenth season as conductor of the Treble Choir.

 

 

Amy Nelson
Children's Chorus

Ms. Nelson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in vocal music from Luther College (IA) where she sang in the Nordic Choir under the direction of Weston Noble. She taught music in Rochester at St. Pius X School for four years and has taught group music and private voice lessons. Ms. Nelson has also sung in the Choral Arts Ensemble of Rochester, and this is her ninth season as the Children’s Chorus conductor.

 

 

 

Korrie Johnson
Music Instructor

Ms. Johnson teaches “Discovering Music with Honors Choirs” classes that we offer at the Rochester Boys & Girls Club free of charge to its members.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in vocal music education from Minnesota State University, Mankato, where she sang in the Chamber Singers and Concert Choir under the direction of Dr. David Dickau.  She has taught music for middle and high school students in the Rochester Public School district and continues to teach private voice lessons.  She is also in her second year of singing with Choral Arts Ensemble of Rochester, and this is her second season teaching for Honors Choirs.

 

Pianists

Laurie Priniski, pianist for both the Treble Choir and Concert Choir, has played for the Honors Choirs organization since 1998. She is also the pianist for the Choral Arts Ensemble.  Ms. Priniski received her Bachelor of Music Performance degree from Northern Michigan University and is a member of the Music Teachers National Association and the National Flute Association. She has extensive experience as a church musician, performs regularly as a pianist, organist, and flutist, and enjoys teaching private piano and flute lessons in her Rochester home studio.

Glenna Muir, pianist for both the Children’s Chorus and Chorale, has worked in theaters, local music organizations, school musicals, and more. Ms. Muir earned her bachelor’s degree in music education from Simpson College in Iowa and is a member of the Music Teachers National Association . Ms. Muir has taught piano at Hoffman-Madsen Studios (where she herself trained) for twenty-one years, and this is her eighth season with Honors Choirs.

Cindy Breederland, pianist for the Lyric Singers, holds a bachelor of music degree from Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan and is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music through the National Music Teacher’s Association.  Ms. Breederland has served as a church musician for many years and also enjoys teaching piano and accompanying high school choirs and soloists.  She previously accompanied for the Children’s Choir and is thrilled to be back with the Honors Choirs organization.

 

Administrative Staff

Debra Bauch, Finances
Karen Danielson, Public Relations, Tours, & Education
Jayne Rothschild, Development
Mary Wille, Concert Production & Music Library
Jackie James, Administrative Assistant