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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 community engagement 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 and is principal chorus master of the 54-voice professional Festival Choir, which she prepares for annual Festival concerts, commissions, and recording projects. American and world premiere performances presented at the Oregon Bach Festival include major choral works by Tan Dun, Arvo Pärt, Krzysztof Penderecki, Sven David Sandström, and Mozart reconstructions by Robert Levin. Romey has assisted with ten recordings, including the Oregon Bach Festival’s 2001 Grammy Award–winning CD of Penderecki’s Credo under the direction of Helmuth Rilling, and the 2008 Grammy-nominated CD of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony conducted by Osmo Vänskä with the Minnesota Orchestra and Minnesota Chorale. |
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Since 1992, Romey has been a member of the faculty at the University of Minnesota, where she serves as director of choral activities and oversees the graduate program in choral conducting and conducts choirs. 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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Barbara Brooks, Chorale Accompanist and Artistic Advisor
Barbara 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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Jerry Rubino, Conductor, Voices of Experience; Staff conductor, special projects
Jerry is known throughout the U.S. for his work as a conductor, pianist, choral clinician, and arranger. He worked for twenty-three seasons with the Dale Warland Singers, as associate conductor, director of special projects and music education, pianist, singer and arranger. Rubino's conducting and teaching credits include honors choirs in Australia, Taiwan, Hawaii, and Europe; the Los Angeles Master Chorale and the California State Summer Arts Workshops; and Northwestern, Augsburg and Carleton colleges in Minnesota. His music editing credits include extensive work with Hal Leonard Corp. and Oxford University Press. An active member of the American Choral Directors Association, Chorus America, and ASCAP, he serves as Minister of Music at Spirit of Hope United Methodist Church in Golden Valley. Rubino holds degrees in piano, music education, and conducting from Temple University and the University of Minnesota. |
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Nicole Lambrecht, Director of Youth Choirs
Nicole is Assistant Professor of Music at Bethel University where she directs the SSAA choir, Lucia Chorum, and teaches private voice and music education courses. Nicole is Artistic Director and Conductor of Minnesota Center Chorale, a community choir in St. Cloud and Conductor of Bella Fiore with Sing Out Loud in Rochester. Prior to this, she taught middle & high school choir for nine years. Nicole also currently serves as the Central District Chair for ACDA-MN and as the Collegiate-Level Vice President for MMEA. Nicole holds a Master of Music with a Conducting Specialization from Colorado State University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in K-12 Choral Music Education from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Nicole has presented choirs at MMEA Midwinter Clinic and at several festivals in MN and ND; she has also been a clinician at the ACDA state conference and section leader for MN All-State Choirs. She is active regionally as a guest conductor and adjudicator at music festivals and conferences. Nicole believes in the power of music in the communities and schools, as well as the importance of music in everyone’s lives. Music is for everyone! There is nothing more beautiful than witnessing the magic music can bring and the connective bond music creates with others and with our inner selves. |