Transept Christmas: Divine Mystery Artist Roster

SOPRANO 

Ashley Ballou-Bonnema
Bethany Battafarano*
Natalie Campbell*
Kaela DeJong
Maren Engel
Ellie Wensmann

ALTO 

Kiley Coyne
Fabiana Gonzalez*
Mataya Larsgaard
Cindy Moeller
Alia Robison
Michael Skarke*
Mandi Steele
Molly Stueckrath

TENOR 

Greg Billion
Timothy J. Campbell*
Roy Heilman*
Andrew Kane*
Andrew Schuiteman
Spencer Smith
Max Whitehead

Ashley Ballou-Bonnema, soprano

Ashley Ballou-Bonnema is professional musician, maintaining a private voice studio of twenty-five students while serving as the executive director and founder of the nonprofit organization, Breathe Bravely - an organization dedicated to giving voice to cystic fibrosis. She is a passionate advocate for the cystic fibrosis community both locally and nationally. After graduating with her masters degree in vocal performance from the University of South Dakota, Ashley was inspired to bring both her life as a musician and an individual with CF together in Breathe Bravely’s flagship program, sINgSPIRE. An innovative approach to combating CF through the art of singing, sIngSPIRE pairs individuals with CF from all over the world with private voice instructors - taking part in ten weeks of private voice lessons via video call. Ashley is grateful for the opportunity to share her life, hoping that through her own story others might know the beauty alive within every breath they are gifted and the power of their unique voice. Ashley and her husband, Mark, along with their two dogs are lucky to call Sioux Falls home.

Bethany Battafarano, soprano

Bethany Battafarano, soprano, finds her niche in early, choral, and contemporary classical music. She has sung with The Rose Ensemble, The Mirandola Ensemble, Minnesota Chorale, Apollo Master Chorale, Oratory Bach Ensemble, and First Readings Project. With The Rose Ensemble, Battafarano celebrated the release of her first CD, “Christmas in Baroque Malta.” Upcoming solo performances include György Kurtág's "Kafka Fragments” with 113 Composers Collective. In 2017, Battafarano co-founded the professional chamber choir Border CrosSing, for which she sings and is Deputy Director. Battafarano is co-founder of chamber treble ensemble Artemis, which performs contemporary classical music and experimental improvisation. Artemis recently completed a commission by French artist Laure Prouvost, the Walker Art Center, and Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center in New York. Battafarano holds a BA in Music, Anthropology, and Psychology from Macalester College. She is currently pursuing MA Musicology and MM Voice degrees at the University of Oregon.

GREG BILLION, tenor

Greg is a Sioux Falls native, sacred music enthusiast, and hobby choral musician. Over the years, he has been active in various choral groups at the Cathedral of St. Joseph. He sang for four years with the University of St. Thomas Chamber Singers under the direction of Dr. Angela Broeker. At St. Thomas, he performed as a soloist in Handel's Messiah and Mozart's Coronation Mass in C. Having recently moved back to the midwest from CA, Greg currently resides in St. Paul, MN, where he teaches high school philosophy, theology, geometry, biology, and astronomy at Chesterton Academy. In addition to his teaching duties at Chesterton, he enjoys leading a student chant/polyphony schola and coordinating music for daily liturgies. He is thrilled to be back in his hometown to perform with Transept!

Natalie Campbell, soprano

Natalie Campbell, soprano, lives in Sioux Falls, SD, where she teaches voice at Augustana University and the University of Sioux Falls. Recent solo performances include the role of Adina in Donizetti’s L’elixir d’amore, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Fauré’s Requiem, Mozart’s Coronation Mass, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, Haydn’s Missa brevis, and a mid-west premiere of Shawn Kirchner’s Songs of Ascent. She has performed with several professional ensembles including Cantare Houston, Mercury Baroque, The Rose Ensemble and the Grammy-nominated South Dakota Chorale. This past summer she attended the prestigious American Bach Soloists Academy in San Francisco where she performed as a soloist in Bach's Mass in B Minor. Natalie holds a B.M. from Houghton College in New York, and an M.M. in voice from the University of South Dakota.

Timothy J. Campbell, Tenor
transept founder & artistic director

Timothy J. Campbell is Assistant Professor of Music at the University of South Dakota where he conducts the Concert Choir, Men's and Women's Chorus, and teaches courses in choral literature, applied voice, and sight-singing. He previously served on the faculty of West Virginia University. He has also served as associate director for Men's Consort Houston and the CORO Vocal Artists, and as director of the St. Luke's Early Music Ensemble (TX). Campbell's conducting mentors include Bruce Chamberlain, Elizabeth Schauer, Kathy Romey, Matthew Mehaffey, P. Bradley Logan, and Paul Brandvik. As a singer (tenor), Campbell has performed with numerous professional ensembles around the country, including the Grammy® award-winning ensemble Conspirare, The Rose Ensemble, The Singers, VocalEssence, Tucson Chamber Artists, Houston Chamber Choir, Cantare Houston, and the South Dakota Chorale. Campbell holds degrees from Bemidji State University (B.S.), the University of Minnesota (M.M.), and the University of Arizona (D.M.A)..

KILEY COYNE, alto

Following one year as the assistant band director at WHS, Kiley Coyne is in her second year as the Director of Bands at Washington High School. Previously, she was the Elementary General Music/Instrumental teacher (K-12) in the Parker School District. At Washington, Mrs. Coyne is responsible for the education and performance preparation of the Warrior Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Varsity Band, Pep Band, Jazz II, and the woodwind chamber ensemble. She holds a Masters of Music degree in Instrumental Conducting from the University of South Dakota and also earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the University of South Dakota with a major in music education. She lives in central Sioux Falls with her husband, Sean, three poodles, and newborn son, Oliver.

Kaela DeJong, soprano

Kaela DeJong holds a B.M. in Music Education with endorsements in choral and instrumental music from the University of South Dakota. During her collegiate career, Kaela traveled to Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic, performed at the North Central ACDA Conference, and sang with the both the Sioux City and South Dakota Symphonies. Kaela currently performs with Transept in Sioux Falls, SD and Vocal Artists of Iowa in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids, IA. In addition to Kaela’s passion for performing, she finds immense joy in sharing the unique power of music with her students. Kaela is currently the K-12 Vocal Music Director and Musical Director for the Montezuma School District. When Kaela is not working with her students in Montezuma, she is a voice instructor for a program through Breathe Bravely called sINgSPIRE, which combats cystic fibrosis through the art of singing for individuals diagnosed with cystic fibrosis all over the world.

BRETT EISENBEIS, bass

Brett Eisenbeis, baritone, a native of Freeman, SD has lived in Sioux Falls for the past four years and works as a Senior IT Project Manager at Sanford Health. Prior to moving to Sioux Falls, he attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN where he sang under Christopher Aspaas, John Ferguson, and Anton Armstrong. He serves on the boards of the Sioux Falls Children's Choir and the Swiss Choral Society (based in Freeman) and sings in Vespers services at the Cathedral of St. Joseph.

Maren Engel, soprano

Soprano, Maren Engel, has a vast resumé of musical involvement beginning from her early years in Tulsa, OK. Whether it is singing with Transept, the Grammy nominated South Dakota Chorale,The Good Night Theatre Collective, or cultivating a love for making music in her students, Maren is a staple in the Sioux Falls music community and has traveled worldwide sharing her voice. Maren works as Director of Operation and teaches voice with a local non-profit called Breathe Bravely, which supports individuals living with cystic fibrosis by means of voice lessons and music therapy. She holds a B.A. in music and classics from Augustana University.

FABIANA GONZÁLEZ, MEZZO-SOPRANO

Puerto Rican mezzo-soprano Fabiana González is quickly gaining attention throughout the United States and Europe for her “superb combination of tonal warmth and rhetorical directness” (San Francisco Chronicle). She received a Bachelor’s Degree from the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico and a Master´s Degree in Early Music at Yale University under the tutelage of James Taylor. She is currently completing a Doctorate of Musical Arts Degree at the University of North Texas where she has worked closely with vocal pedagogy expert Stephen Austin. She resides in San Juan, Puerto Rico where she teaches voice and vocal pedagogy at the San Juan Children’s Choir and at University of Puerto Rico. She has sung under the baton of Masaaki Suzuki, Andrew Megill, Dale Warland, Simon Halsey, James O'Donell, Simon Carrington, James Richman, Richard Sparks, and Paul Leenhouts. She has performed with many vocal ensembles including Orfeón San Juan Bautista, Yale Schola Cantorum, UNT Collegium Singers, Dallas Bach Society, Fantasmi Ensemble, the Thriteen Choir, Choral Pickup, The Rose Ensemble, and the South Dakota Chorale.

Brian Hanegan, saxophone

Dr. Brian Hanegan is the Director of Jazz Studies and Assistant Professor of Music at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD. He began his professional career on Carnival Cruise Lines as a multiple-woodwind artist in a seven-piece show orchestra. With Carnival, Hanegan performed nightly alongside musicians from all over the world and served as musical director of the Carnival Elation in 2012. Prior to his appointment at Augustana, Hanegan served on the faculties at Morningside College (Sioux City, IA) and the International Music Camp (North Dakota-Manitoba border).  He has performed with the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra and the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra and is actively performing across the Midwest with his band Goodroad and several other jazz projects.  Hanegan is an Aaron Drake Mouthpieces Performing Artist.  

Roy Heilman, Tenor

Tenor Roy Heilman frequently sings in a broad spectrum of styles from the Renaissance to the present, but has primarily made a name for himself as tenor soloist in the music of the Baroque and Classical eras. In March of 2017, he was tenor soloist in a rare performance of Carl Heinrich Graun’s Der Tod Jesu, with Lyra Baroque Orchestra and guest conductor Simon Carrington. Other recent performances include Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610, Britten’s St. Nicolas and Cantata Misericordium, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, and J.S. Bach’s Easter Oratorio, St. Matthew Passion, St. John Passion, and Mass in B-minor. Roy received his musical training from Gustavus Adolphus College, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Music with Honors in Performance, and from The New England Conservatory of Music, with a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance. He lives in Minnesota with his wife and two children, where he is usually caught up in musical or outdoor pursuits.

Joseph Hubbard, bass

Joseph Hubbard, bass, With recent professional engagements at Virginia Opera, Opera Southwest, Beth Morrison Projects, Aldeburgh Festival (UK), and Aspen Music Festival, Mr. Hubbard has performed over two dozen operatic roles, ranging from early 17th century to new premieres. His concert soloist credits include the Art Institute of Chicago, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Morgan Library and Museum, Beth Morrison Projects, Duke University, Dartmouth College, Newberry Consort, Schola Antiqua of Chicago, Music at Marsh Chapel Boston, Mountainside Baroque, Ars Lyrica Houston, Madison Early Music Festival, Boston Early Music Festival, and the Grammy-nominated South Dakota Chorale, with whom he also serves as Artistic Advisor. Mr. Hubbard holds B.Mus and M.Mus degrees from the University of North Texas and Northwestern University, and a Certificate from the Opera Institute at Boston University.

Andrew Kane, baritone

Baritone Andrew Kane is pleased to sing in his third project with Transept. Andrew has been singing professionally based in the Twin Cities since 2008. Focusing from the outset on early music, he has been a member of the Mirandola Ensemble since 2011, and has performed with the Rose Ensemble, Minnesota Bach Society, Consortium Carissimi, Minnesota Bach Ensemble, and Glorious Revolution Baroque. Other soloist appearances include VocalPoint Chorus, the music series of Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, House of Hope Presbyterian and Holy Family Catholic Church, Mount Olive Lutheran's annual ach Tage, and the Oratorio Society. Additionally, Andrew has sung with VocalEssence, Minnesota Chorale, the Minnesota Opera, Lyra Baroque Orchestra, and the Oregon Bach Festival.

Brody Krogman, BASS-BARITONE

Brody Krogman, a bass-baritone, is a native of Sioux Falls, SD, and is a graduate of the University of South Dakota. Brody has been an active performer in the region with solo performances of Haydn’s Die Schöpfung (The Creation), Franz Liszt’s Via Crucis, Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem, and Handel’s Messiah. On the opera stage, he has held principal roles in Copland’s The Tender Land, Donizetti’s L'elisir d'amore, Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, and Johann Strauss Jr.’s Die Fledermaus. Recently, Brody debuted with the Mankato Symphony Orchestra in Bernstein’s West Side Story. In the 2018-2019 season with the MSO, he will sing as the bass soloist for Handel’s Messiah. This last summer, he had the honor of performing as a young artist at the Illinois Bach Academy, and traveling to Weimar, Germany for the Bachkantaten Akademie under the baton of Helmuth Rilling. 

MATAYA LARSGAARD, alto

Mataya Larsgaard, a native of Sioux Falls, SD, is in her first year as an instrumental director in Avon, SD. She is a recent graduate from the University of South Dakota, and received her degree in Music Education in 2017. She has performed with the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra in Verdi’s Requiem, the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, and performs with Transept. As an instrumentalist and vocalist, she performed in the top ensembles while attending USD.

BLAKE LEGREE

Blake LeGree, baritone, lives in Vermillion, SD, and graduated from the University of South Dakota with a B.S. in Psychology and Communication Studies. Along with singing for Transept, Blake is also active in the music department at USD. He has sung with the USD Chamber Singers and is currently a member of the Concert Choir. At USD he was featured as a Tenor soloist in Schubert’s Mass in G. Blake is currently pursuing a PhD in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Disaster Mental Health from the University of South Dakota. He is active in teaching and research, with interests in rural LGBTQ mental health and sexual trauma.

Cindy Moeller, Mezzo-soprano

Mezzo-soprano Cindy Moeller enjoys performing both opera and musical theatre, most recently Beauty and the Beast, The Addams Family, West Side Story, The Music Man, and Fiddler on the Roof.  Ms. Moeller has sung roles with the Victor Herbert Festival in Ann Arbor, Michigan and has been a soloist with Opera South Dakota and the Sioux County Oratorio Chorus. She also performs regionally and nationally with the South Dakota Chorale. This year, she will be part of the Holly Jolly Company, performing with the South Dakota Symphony in their Christmas spectacular. Previously adjunct faculty at Iowa State University, she is now professor of voice at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa and the assistant technical director for Northwestern’s theatre

Alia Robison, Mezzo-soprano

Alia Robison, mezzo-soprano, is a recent Music Education graduate from the University of South Dakota. While in college, Alia was active in the USD music department. She has performed with Transept and was active in the USD music department throughout college. Additionally, she has worked with the Vermillion Children’s Choir, the Vermillion UCC children’s choir, and the Christ Lutheran children’s choir. In 2017, Alia was inducted into the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society. Alia is currently teaching PreK-5 general music and 6-8 band lessons in the Harrisburg School District.

SAM SCHROEDER, bass-baritone

Sam Schroeder, a 2015 graduate of the University of South Dakota (B.M.), is the K-12 Vocal Music Teacher at the Parker (SD) School District. He is thrilled to be singing with Transept. A bass-baritone, he sung multiple operatic roles while at USD, such as Orson in "Too Many Sopranos", and Wolfgang Bigbad in the children's opera "The Three Little Pigs". He also participated in all three of the university's choirs, leading the bass section of the award-winning Chamber Singers for two years. As a teacher, students and choirs under his direction have earned numerous excellent and superior ratings at South Dakota music contests, and multiple students have been selected for state auditioned honor choirs.

ANDREW SCHUITEMAN, tenor

Andrew Schuiteman earned his B.A. in Music from the University of South Dakota, and he is currently pursuing his D.D.S. at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. During his collegiate career, he participated in concert choir and played saxophone in symphonic band and jazz band. Andrew sang in the first Transept project and is thrilled to be back for another performance.

MICHAEL SKARKE, COUNTERTENOR

Countertenor Michael Skarke, born and raised in League City, TX, has been praised for his “exquisite, almost ethereal tone quality” (Vocal Arts Chicago), and enjoys success both in the concert hall and on the opera stage. Michael is thrilled that Divine Mystery will be his debut with Transept. Recent solo performances include the roles of Corindo in Caccini’s L’Orontea, and Filotete in Händel’s Oreste, Bach’s Jesu Meine Freude and Wir Danken Dir, Britten’s Rejoice of the Lamb, Händel’s Messiah, and Ticheli’s Angels in the Architecture, as well as the American recital premiere of Jocelyn Pook’s songs from The Merchant of Venice. His Spring engagements include performing the title role in Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice. Michael recently graduated cum laude from Baylor University with his B.M., and is currently pursuing an M.M. degree from Baylor University with a Teaching Assistantship position in voice.

SPENCER SMITH, tenor

Spencer Smith, tenor, is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Choral Conducting at the University of South Dakota. In May 2017, he received a bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance from the University of South Dakota where he studied with Susanne Skyrm and Susan Keith Gray. A Sioux Falls resident and South Dakota native, Spencer is the Organist and Director of Music at First Congregational Church in Sioux Falls. In addition to performing with Transept, Spencer has performed as a member of the FCC Ensemble Singers Quartet, and the USD Chamber Singers. He also enjoys his time as a collaborative pianist, working with multiple choral ensembles, festivals, state competitions, and with numerous singers and instrumentalists in the Sioux Falls area. Spencer is excited to be back singing with Transept for “Divine Mystery” and looks forward to the remainder of the 2018-2019 season.

MANDI STEELE, mezzo-soprano

Mandi Steele, mezzo-soprano, is currently the Executive Director of the Sioux Falls Children’s Choir. She holds a Master of Music degree in Vocal Education from the University of South Dakota. As a vocal performer, Ms. Steele has been featured as a soloist in collaborative concerts, performed solo roles in musical and opera productions, been a featured artist for the Sioux Falls based Good Night Theater Collective, won the Aria/Concerto Competition at the University of South Dakota and placed second in the 2015 South Dakota Classical Graduate division of NATS. Ms. Steele currently performs with the GRAMMY-nominated South Dakota Chorale and Transept.

JAMES STUECKRATH, Bass

James Stueckrath is a graduate of the University of South Dakota, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Instrumental Music Education. In his second year as a music educator, James is the high school band director in Huron, SD, where he directs the Tiger Marching Band, concert band, pep band, jazz band, percussion ensemble, and various other small ensembles. James is a member of the South Dakota Bandmasters Association.

MOLLY STUECKRATH, ALto

Molly Stueckrath is in her second year of teaching in the Huron School District. She holds a bachelor’s degree in K-12 Vocal Music Education with an emphasis in piano from the University of South Dakota.  At Huron High School, Mrs. Stueckrath directs the Prima Chorale, Mixed Chorus, Concert Choir, and the extracurricular Madrigal Singers; she also instructs over fifty students in voice lessons within the school week.  In addition to her responsibilities at HHS, Mrs. Stueckrath maintains a private piano studio of beginning piano students. Mrs. Stueckrath is a member of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and South Dakota Music Education Association (SDMEA), where she serves as the Tri-M Music Honor Society Chair.

Elizabeth Wensmann, soprano

Elizabeth Wensmann is originally from Aberdeen, South Dakota. She recently graduated from the University of South Dakota with a degree in Music Education. She will be substitute teaching in the spring with the Sioux Falls School District and searching for open positions. Elizabeth is excited to be able to perform for the third time with Transept before her wedding, and she always loves being able to lend her voice to this amazing group.

MAX WHITEHEAD, tenor

Maxwell Whitehead was raised in Slayton, MN. He attended the University of South Dakota where he received a Bachelors of Science degree in Psychology. While at USD, Maxwell marched on the drumline and sang in both the Chamber Singers and Concert Choir. This will be Maxwell’s fifth concert with Transept. Currently, Maxwell is pursuing his Masters of Divinity to become a fully ordained Lutheran pastor.

TIM WORTHINGTON, bass

Tim Worthington is an ordained minister serving as Director of Spiritual Care at Dow Rummel Village in Sioux Falls, SD. His passion for choral music spans over five decades! From a soprano in the Kansas Boys Chorus in 1964 to a baritone here in his first program with Transept. Tim is a founding singer with the South Dakota Chorale now in its tenth season. Tim’s spouse, Rev. Kathy Timpany, is retired and was senior pastor at First Congregational Church in Sioux Falls from 2005 to 2015.