Artistic Staff 

Kathy Saltzman Romey, Artistic Director
In May 1995, Conductor Kathy Saltzman Romey was named the Minnesota Chorale's fifth artistic director, after serving as associate artistic director of the Minnesota Chorale from 1990 to 1994 and as acting director during the 1994-95 season. She has prepared the Chorale for performances with both the Minnesota Orchestra and The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra under the baton of such conductors as Edo de Waart, Eduardo Mata, Roger Norrington, Christopher Hogwood, Hugh Wolff, John Harbison, Helmuth Rilling, Bobby McFerrin, Eiji Oue, and Robert Shaw. She also developed and coordinates Bridges, the Chorale's nationally recognized performance outreach program.
            Romey graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from the University of Oregon. She continued her studies in Frankfurt, Germany under internationally known Bach scholar and conductor Helmuth Rilling, receiving an artistic degree in choral conducting from the Frankfurt State Conservatory of Music in 1984. During her five years in Germany, she assisted Dr. Rilling at the Memorial Church in Stuttgart, was a member of Rilling's professional choir, the Gaechinger Kantorei, and worked on the staff of the International Bach Academy.
            Romey has been a staff member of the Oregon Bach Festival since 1984, currently serving as preparation conductor of the 54-voice professional chorus for festival performances and recordings. In 1998, she prepared the Bach Festival Chorus for the premiere performance of Krzysztof Penderecki's Credo. She later served as choir master for the International Bach Academy Chorus in Krakow, Poland, where she prepared Penderecki's Credo for its European premiere. In the fall of 1999, she again joined the staff of the International Bach Academy to prepare the Brahms German Requiem for a European tour. In June 2000, she traveled to Puerto Rico to assist Dr. Rilling in the preparation of Bach's Mass in B minor at the Casals Festival.
            Romey joined the conducting faculty at the University of Minnesota in the fall of 1992, where she directs the Concert Choir, Men's Chorus, and Women's Chorus. From 1985-1992, she was director of choral activities at Macalester College, conducting the Macalester Concert Choir and the Macalester Festival Chorale. She is active regionally and nationally as a guest conductor and clinician at music conferences and festivals.
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Patrice Arasim, Minneapolis Youth Chorus Founding Conductor
Patrice Arasim taught at Field School in South Minneapolis for 24 of her 31 years with the Minneapolis Public Schools. She created a virtual conservatory of music at Field School, where she also founded the Field Madrigal Singers, a children's choir which performs at civic events, fundraisers, and professional conferences. Pat earned a B.F.A. from Michigan State University and gained certification in Kodály and Orff music pedagogy from the University of Saint Thomas. She has previously served on many arts boards, including the Minnesota Humanities Commission and the Minneapolis Arts Commission. Pat is the director of the Basilica Children's Choir and the Cherub Choir, and is a section leader for the Cathedral Choir as well as a member of the Chamber Singers.
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Barbara Brooks, Chorale Accompanist and Artistic Advisor
Barbara Brooks is an active vocal coach and music director in the Twin Cities area. She has worked with various opera companies including Canadian Opera, Minnesota Opera, New Orleans Opera, Opera Banff, Berkshire Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Kentucky Opera, as well as the University of Minnesota Opera and University of North Texas Opera programs. She has served as a vocal coach for the Minnesota Opera's Resident Artist program and currently is on the music staff of the Wesley Balk Institute. She has also collaborated as music director in the highly imaginative productions of Mozart's operas at Theatre de la Jeune Lune in Minneapolis. She holds a master's degree in piano performance from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
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Walter Tambor, Minneapolis Youth Chorus Accompanist and Assistant Conductor
Mr. Tambor currently serves as Director of Contemporary and World Music at the Basilica of Saint Mary. Before coming to Minneapolis in 2004, Walter was a faculty member/accompanist at the nationally recognized Chicago Children's Choir Academy, an interracial and multicultural choral music education organization promoting musical excellence for children grades 4-8; and DePaul University Community Music Division, where he provided private piano instruction to mostly African-American and Hispanic foster children ages 8-12, mentoring children and promoting increased confidence and self-worth through weekly lessons and periodic performance opportunities. A highly sought after accompanist, vocal coach, and musical director, Walter was also Assistant Organist/Choral Director at Saint Clement Church in Chicago. Mr. Tambor is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and DePaul University.
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