Staff
ARTISTIC STAFF
Artistic Director Elizabeth Shepley, who directs the Concert Choir and Con Brio, has a Master’s degree in music education from the University of St. Thomas with an emphasis in Kodaly, a Bachelor’s degree in music education from Concordia College in Moorhead, and holds certifications in Orff-Schulwerk and Kodaly methodologies. Ms. Shepley was instrumental in developing the House of Hope Presbyterian Church Choir School in St. Paul and served as its director for over a decade. In addition, she taught music education in both public and private schools, has chaired inner city music programs in Minneapolis and St. Paul, has served as President of the Twin City Choristers Guild, and has led conferences and festival choirs nationwide. In addition to her position with the Northfield Youth Choirs, Ms. Shepley serves as the Director of Children’s Choirs at Bethel Lutheran Church in Northfield and is on the adjunct faculty at Luther Seminary as the instructor of children’s choral techniques.
Anton Armstrong, principal director of the Troubadours, is the Harry R. and Thora H. Tosdal Professor of Music at St. Olaf College, conductor of the St. Olaf Choir and conductor of the Youth Choral Academy of the Oregon Bach Festival. He edits a multicultural choral series for Earthsongs Publications and is active as choral clinician and festival conductor throughout North America, the Caribbean, Scandinavia, Europe, and the Pacific Rim. Dr. Armstrong, a graduate of St. Olaf College, earned advanced degrees at the University of Illinois and Michigan State University. He is the winner of the 2005 Robert Foster Cherry Award for Great Teaching.
Rachel Howe Lucius, director of Poco a Poco and the Treble Choir, is an Elementary Music Specialist at Rahn Elementary in school district #191 (Burnsville, Eagan and Savage). She is also an early childhood music teacher on staff at the East Metro Music Academy, teaching children ages 12 months to 5 years. Ms. Lucius holds a degree from St. Olaf College in Vocal Music Education, where she sang in the St. Olaf Choir under the direction of Anton Armstrong. She sings as a Soprano in The Singers, Minnesota Choral Artists and has also sung in Magnum Chorum and VocalEssence. Rachel is currently a graduate student working on her Master of Arts in Music Education with a combined concentration in Kodaly and Orff from the University of St. Thomas.
Karen Lutgen, who directs the Junior Singers and Chorale, teaches choral music at McGuire Middle School in Lakeville, Minn. She has a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Music Education from St. Olaf College, where she sang in the St. Olaf Choir under the direction of Dr. Anton Armstrong. Ms. Lutgen has sung as a soprano in the Minneapolis-based groups VocalEssence and Kantorei and currently sings with Magnum Chorum. She recently began working on her Master of Arts degree in Choral Music Education at St. Thomas University.
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Operations Manager Wendy Sivanich joined the NYC staff in the fall of 2005. Originally hired as a bookkeeper, Wendy’s role in managing the organization has steadily grown to her current position as operations manager. With a degree in accounting from the University of St. Thomas, Wendy manages all operational and financial aspects of the organization and has brought the NYC to a new level administratively.
Communications Manager Amy Boxrud has nearly twenty years of experience in the field of writing, editing and communications. In addition to handling the marketing, advertising and communications for the choirs, she oversees NYC’s after school program for grades 1-4. A graduate of St. Olaf College with a life-long love of choral singing, Amy joined the Northfield Youth Choirs staff in the fall of 2004.