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| Ninety voices strong, the Minnesota Center Chorale’s first season was launched in 1973 at a full house performance of the Christmas portion of Handel’s Messiah at the Benedicta Arts Center. The first concert was a collaboration with the CSB-SJU Symhony Orchestra. For three decades since then, it has been in continuous operation. Under the baton of founder, Philip Welter, followed by Dr. J. Michele Edward and Jody Martinson, the Minnesota Center Chorale has provided audiences in the region with hundreds of concerts.
| Minnesota Center Chorale Conductors and Directors |  | Jody Martinson, Minnesota Center Chorale Director 2009 - Present, brings her love of choral singing to Minnesota Center Chorale (MCC) as its new director beginning with the 2009-2010 season. Jody is a conductor, singer and voice teacher who sang with Minnesota Center Chorale under the direction of Phil Welter and in ensembles led by Axel Theimer and Lee Nelson. She has taught choirs at the high school level and currently directs the Adult, Children and Handbell Choirs at Church of the Holy Spirit in St. Cloud, where she also serves as cantor and accompanist. She has directed several Catholic Diocesan festival liturgies and will co-direct a large choral festival in October 2009 at the Cathedral of St. Mary. Jody has studied with vocal teachers Carolyn Finley, Hugh Givens, Marcie Hagen and Eileen Farrell and has appeared in several recitals and as a soloist for MCC and other area ensembles. Her theatrical roles include, “Mother” in Amahl and the Night Visitors, “Laurie” in Oklahoma, “Sr. Leo” in Nunsense, and “Sandy” in Grease. She has been a private voice teacher since 1997, teaching at Central Lakes College, Central Minnesota School of Music, and Al’s Music, and now teaches voice and piano in a home studio. Jody received her B.A. in Music Education and Vocal Performance from the College of St. Benedict and an M.M. in Choral Conducting from St. Cloud State University. Her professional memberships include American Choral Directors Association, National Association of Teachers of Singing, National Pastoral Musicians and American Guild of English Handbell Ringers. |
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 | J. Michele Edwards, Minnesota Center Chorale Director 2004-2009, professor of music at Macalester College in St. Paul from 1974 until her retirement in 2001, has significant experience with repertoire ranging from medieval chant to large, contemporary choral-orchestral works. She was founder/conductor of Harmonia Mundi, a professional double woodwind quintet and piano ensemble for over 20 years and music director for Calliope Women’s Chorus from 2000-2006. She has seven years experience as the conductor of the Macalester Festival Chorale, a group about the size of the MCC.
Throughout her career, she has programmed everything from the standard, canonic works to the more innovative. She has an active, academic life of numerous and significant publications, and she has broad experience working with excellent musicians and musical groups. Her professional history speaks to an intensity of effort as well as a sensitivity to the importance of relationship and interaction within a community of musicians. |
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| Philip Welter founded the Minnesota Center Chorale in 1973 and served as its Music Director until 2004. Mr Welter earned his undergraduate degree at Saint John's University, Collegeville, and his advanced degree in theory and musicology at the University of Notre Dame. He has also studied at Eastern Michigan University, St. Cloud State University and Bemidji State University. Mr Welter was associate professor of music at the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph. He conducted the Campus Singers, taught music theory and directed the college's opera workshop program. He has been active in area theaters, and directed for The Troupe Theatre, County Stearns Theatrical Company (St. Cloud) and Theatre L'Homme Dieu (Alexandria). In 1980, Mr. Welter was a co-founder of the Quite Light Opera Company and was its manager and music director. He also frequently adjudicated for public school vocal and instrumental contests and festivals. Mr Welter was a member of the St. Cloud District 742 School Board of Education and was Executive Director of the St. Cloud Allied Arts Fund. |
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