Sharon Bain, Soprano Section Leader, first joined SBCS in 1997. She earned her undergraduate degree in American Studies, with a minor in music, from the University of Notre Dame where she studied voice and French horn. Sharon also has a Master of Arts degree in social work from the University of Chicago. She works currently at the Early Childhood Development Centers at Notre Dame and Saint Mary's College, and is the mother of three sons. She enjoys singing at church, playing music with her family, and cooking. Sharon is a married mother of three, and resides in South Bend.
Stephanie Berry is a native of Middlebury, IN. and a second year member of the SBCS. Stephanie earned her undergraduate degree in Apparel Design with minors in Vocal Performance and Marketing at Ball State University. While at Ball State University, Stephanie performed in many operas, and won the BSU Concerto Competition in 2006 with "Glitter and be Gay" by Leonard Bernstein. Her most recent roles include Alice Ford in Merry Wives of Windsor and Queen of the Night from Die Zauberflote. She is currently teaching voice lessons at Northridge High School and pursuing her Masters in Vocal Performance at Indiana University South Bend with hopes of becoming a professional opera singer.
Breighan Brown is in her first season with the SBCS. She is the Senior Budget Analyst and Adjunct Professor of Music History at Southwestern Michigan College. She holds a B.A. in Violin Performance and a B.B.A. in Finance from Saint Mary's College, as well as a M.M. degree in Music Theory from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). She is currently in the process of completing her Ph.D. in Music Theory at CCM, where her dissertation will explore the interaction of voice-leading spaces in the music of Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Breighan is also a member of the choir at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Granger, and is a native of White Haven, Pennsylvania.
Donna Eggers has been singing for over twenty-five years. Originally from Tennessee, she has performed as a soloist and as a member of professional and amateur choirs in New Orleans and New York City. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Vocal Performance as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics from Tulane University. She earned a Master of Communication Disorders from LSU and has been working as a Speech-Language Pathologist for eight years. The Plymouth resident incorporates music to treat patients as often as she can. Donna has sung with SBCS for five seasons.
Cheryl Ferguson, of Valparaiso, is singing her eleventth season with SBCS. Cheryl has served as Education Director for the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, and most recently, Executive Director for the LaPorte County Symphony Orchestra. She holds a degree in Education from Purdue University, and studied vocal performance at Carson Newman College. Cheryl is the mother of four grown children, and sings at a UCC in Chicago, as well as with the NISO chorus.
Maggie Mountsier is thrilled to join SBCS this season. A native of Granger, Maggie has performed throughout the community in the Firefly Festival, South Bend Civic Theatre, Conservatory of Dance, and Penn High School choral and musical productions. She completed her degree in vocal performance and theatre and drama in 2008 from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. She has performed extensively in summerstock musical theatre, with roles including Katie Yoder in "Plain and Fancy" and Iris in "Fame" at Amish Acres Round Barn Theatre, Tuptim in "The King and I" and Hope Harcourt in "Anything Goes" at the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre, and Maggie in "A Chorus Line" and Claudia Nardi in "Nine" at the Indiana University department of theatre and drama, among others. She is currently taking music education licensure classes at Bethel College and hopes to continue to perform and pass on her passion for music to today's students.
Emily Packard. Originally from Southern California, Emily attended California State University, Fullerton and later received her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of South Florida. Emily is working on a Master of Music degree at IUSB. She has performed with world renowned groups such as the Boston Pops touring chorus, Hollywood Bowl Chorus, Pacific Chorale and Tampa Bay Master Chorale. She has performed with Opera Tampa, St. Petersburg Opera, and New Century Opera. Her most recent roles include the "Queen of the Night," "Ortlinde," "Zerlina," and "Antonia". She received a scholarship from the V.O.I.C.Experience program with opera great Sherrill Milnes. She is currently a stay at home mom for her daughter. Emily is in her second season with SBCS.
Alto
Carrie Bjonback is returning for her third season with SBCS. She grew up in Moline, Illinois, lived for several years in Canada, and now resides in La Porte, Indiana. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, a masters degree in plant physiology from the University of Minnesota, and an MD from the University of Colorado. She is a family physician practicing part time family practice and part time medical acupuncture in La Porte. She is married with two children in college, one studying in Nepal. She enjoys music, reading (especially fantasy), and watching Japanese anime.
Dawn Bontrager is in her fifth season with the SBCS. Dawn is a native of northern Minnesota. She earned her undergraduate degree in social work from Goshen College, a Master's degree in social work from the University of Chicago, and a Master's degree in Divinity from the Chicago Theological Seminary. Dawn is a licensed clinical social worker and currently works as Director of the Patient Access Center at Madison Center in South Bend. Dawn has been singing all of her life in church choirs, college choirs, and in small groups performing in local venues and for special occasions. Dawn lives in Mishawaka with her partner and has 2 young adult children. Dawn writes, “I am thankful for the opportunity to sing with such talented musicians.”
Carol Bosler, Alto Section Leader, earned her undergraduate degree in mathematics and secondary education from Western Michigan University. Currently, she is a People Development Manager for Whirlpool Corporation, where she has been employed for fourteen years. She is involved in various other musical endeavors with her flute and vocals, performing at local venues and events in the area. Carol has two grown sons and resides with her husband in Niles, MI, where she enjoys home decorating, gardening and many arts and crafts. This is her nineteenth season with SBCS.
Melaney Gabris is in her second season with SBCS. She was with the 126 Army Band in Wyoming, Michigan for ten years as a percussionist, performing in goodwill tours in Italy, Trinidad and Tobago, Australia and Latvia. Melaney has accompanied Penn High School Choirs, performed with the Elkhart Municipal Band, LaPorte County Symphony Orchestra and does songleading and drumming at church. She has ghostwritten and edited several books and was the editor of a local magazine. Her hobbies include golf, salsa dancing, and travel. She lives in Mishawaka and is the mother of a 9 year old girl.
Mary Ann LaPlante, Alto 1/Soprano II, is the Pastoral Associate for Music, Liturgy and Spirituality at Little Flower Catholic Church in South Bend, a position she's held for twenty-seven years. She was born in Massachusetts, taught high school biology, chemistry and physical science and then changed careers by coming to St. Joseph College, Renssalaer , IN to procure a masters in music and liturgy. She loves nature which she enjoys with her horse, Lightning, and has Benny and Grace (her two cats) at home. She has been with SBCS since just about their beginning. Mary Ann resides in South Bend.
Emily Schneider grew up in Michigan and sang with various ensembles in elementary school, high school and college. She earned her Bachelors in Business Administration from Central Michigan University and is currently working on earning her Masters in Business Administration. She is currently Business Intelligence Analyst with Bayer Healthcare and enjoys cooking, traveling, reading and running around with her dog, Bella. This is Emily's third season with SBCS, she resides in Osceola, and she would like to thank her family and friends for their continued support.
Catherine Tadey, a 5½ year member of SBCS, is a native of Dyer, Indiana and a graduate of Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana. During her tenure at Butler, she studied voice with Kari York and Maryann Scott and oboe with Dr. Malcolm Smith. She graduated in 2004 with a Bachelor of Music in Education. A performer since the age of seven, Cathy has appeared on stage with several ensembles including the Southlake Children's Choir, Butler New World Composer's Orchestra, and the Northwest Indiana Symphony Chorus. Cathy has recently relocated to New Lenox, Illinois, and she is the Intermediate School Band director for the Minooka CCSD #201. Ms. Tadey enjoys travel, long drives, and hiking.
Tenor
Kendall Dahlstrom has been with SBCS since its beginning. He earned a B.A. in psychology and a Master of Divinity in pastoral studies from North Park University and Theological Seminary. He is pastor emeritus of the Evangelical Covenant Church of South Bend where he served from 1984-2005. Musical experiences include high school a capella choir, barbershop quartet, church choirs, North Park College Choir, Nebraska Choral Arts Society, Covenant Ministers' Chorus, and SBCS. He currently chairs the steering committee of the Children's Choir of Michiana. In the summer, Ken plays in the Battell Senior Softball League. He and his wife Nancy celebrated forty-four years of marriage, and they take advantage of every opportunity to visit Luke and Rebekah, their brilliant grandchildren.
David L. Homann, Tenor Section Leader, has been with SBCS since its first full season. A full-time dad with three kids' schedules to juggle, he maintains his own busy schedule in South Bend as a youth group leader, Sunday school teacher, cantor and member of the choir at his church, and he manages several rental properties. In his spare time, he reads and partners with his wife for ballroom dancing. His one failure in life has been finding more time to play golf.
Steven Mast is singing his tenth season with SBCS. A native of La Porte, IN, he now resides in Niles, MI with his partner and six cats. Steven earned undergraduate degrees in music and elementary education from Valparaiso University, a Master of Arts degree in reading education from Western Michigan University, and a Master of Science degree in counseling and human services from Indiana University. He is currently a sixth grade English teacher at Dowagiac (MI) Middle School, where he has taught in Dowagiac for nineteen years. Steven enjoys cooking, travel, golf, and was a participant in the 2005 Chanticleer in Sonoma Choral Workshop.
Thomas W. Olsen was a voice major at IU in Bloomington, Indiana where he performed a variety of operatic roles as an undergraduate. He participated in the Santa Fe Opera’s apprentice program. He subsequently moved to Boston where he was a finalist in the regional Metropolitan Opera Auditions and frequently performed leading roles with the New England Chamber Opera. This year marks his third season with SBCS. He has also sung the past seven years with the Northwest Indiana Symphony Chorus under the leadership of Dr. Nancy Menk. Tom is a medical records supervisor and currently lives in Illinois, but will be moving to the Valparaiso area very soon.
Edward Sparks is in his fourteenth season with SBCS. He has sung with numerous choirs, ensembles, and played (trombone) with several bands. Edward is a Tool and Die Maker and currently works in the Metrology Lab at Honeywell. He enjoys restoring various musical instruments and devices and road bicycling. He is a South Bend resident.
Brad Todorovich is a native of New Lenox, Ill. (south of Chicago) and is singing his first season with SBCS. He holds a BM in Commercial Music from Millikin University (Decatur, IL), and is an alumnus of the renowned Millikin University Choir under the direction of Dr. Brad Holmes. Currently he is working toward the Master of Sacred Music at the University of Notre Dame and sings with the UND Chorale. While on tour with previous choral groups, Brad has performed across the United States and in England, the Dominican Republic, China and Taiwan. He works as the Minister of Music at Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Edwardsburg, Mich.
Bass
Stephen Drendall, Bass Section Leader, is in his twentieth year with SBCS. He received Music and Music Education degrees from Temple University, where he sang under renowned conductor Robert Page and was in the repertory choir for Masters in Choral Conducting students. He has soloed with the Elkhart and La Porte Symphonies. He has been cantor at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. James and St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal (both South Bend), and choir director at Lydick U.M. and St. Paul's Episcopal (Mishawaka) Churches. He was cantorial soloist thirten years at Temple Beth-el (South Bend). His “day job” is as a family and consumer lawyer in South Bend, where he also lives.
Michael Driscoll is enjoying his thirteenthth season with SBCS. A native of Butte, Mont., he is a Roman Catholic priest for the diocese of Helena, Montana. For the past fifteen years, he has taught liturgical studies and sacramental theology in the Theology Department at the University of Notre Dame where he is currently the director of the Masters in Sacred Music Program. He also directs the SummerSong program for the renewal of pastoral musicians. He holds a doctorate in religious studies from the University of Paris (Sorbonne) and a doctorate in theology from the Institut Catholique in Paris. A South Bend resident, Michael enjoys international and domestic travel, cooking, and films.
Mike Hildreth is a Masachusetts native who has followed academia to the Midwest (South Bend). After earning an undergraduate degree from Princeton and a Ph.D. from Stanford, both in Physics, he and his family spent five years in Geneva, Switzerland doing research before returning to the US where he and his wife joined the faculty at Notre Dame in 2000. He is currently an Associate Professor of Physics, with a research focus in experimental particle physics, which makes him one of those "atom smasher" guys. Their family consists of a teen-age son and numerous pets. They enjoy cooking, travel, and outdoor activities, including sailing and hiking. This is his eighth season with SBCS.
Ty Lundman is excited to join the Chamber Singers this year. He is a second-year student in the Master of Sacred Music at Notre Dame, and is the organist and handbell director at First Presbyterian Church – Mishawaka. Ty came to South Bend from Montana, where he recently completed a Bachelor of Music at the University of Montana in Missoula. Though he has worked primarily in musical theater and church ministry, he is also a licensed pilot and ham radio operator.
Tom Miracle is in his second season with SBCS after returning to northern Indiana a year ago from Virginia, where he was a nine-year member of the Virginia Symphony Chorus and other choral groups in the Hampton Roads area. Tom grew up in Culver and graduated from Culver Military Academy. After serving in the U.S. Air Force as a Korean language specialist, he went on to complete a degree in Japanese Language and Asian Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in northern California. After a 30-year career in international business and public affairs, Tom now resides in Culver where he operates an independent business as a linguist and technical editor translating written Japanese materials into English.
Michael S. Wade received his bachelors and masters degrees in music education from Indiana State University. He is active as a choral clinician, adjudicator and guest conductor. Michael taught vocal music for thirty-four years at the high school level in Crown Point and Elkhart, Indiana. He has taught undergraduate courses at Saint Mary's College and graduate level choral courses at Valparaiso University. Wade is a past president of the Central Division of the American Choral Directors Association and the Indiana Choral Directors Association. He served five years as chairperson of the ICDA All State High School Honors Choir. Currently, he directs the Indiana University South Bend Chorale and is Music Director at First Congregational Church in Elkhart. Michael also teaches applied voice and sings with the Saint Joseph Valley Camerata. This is his seventh season with SBCS.
Doug Williamson is a Montana native who has lived in South Bend for seven years. Doug has been with the SBCS for 4½ seasons. Doug sang with Helena Symphony Chorale, Helena, Montana for ten years prior to moving to South Bend and has had a lot of experience with musical theater and dramatic theater. Recently he had the opportunity to sing a principal role in the premier of a new modern opera by Saint Mary's professor Zae Munn. Doug is a graduate of Carroll College, Helena, Montana (biology) and works for the South Bend Medical Foundation. Hobbies include landscaping, gardening, cooking, travel, and long walks with the resident beagle, Dixie.
Sharon Bain, Soprano Section Leader, first joined SBCS in 1997. She earned her undergraduate degree in American Studies, with a minor in music, from the University of Notre Dame where she studied voice and French horn. Sharon also has a Master of Arts degree in social work from the University of Chicago. She works currently at the Early Childhood Development Centers at Notre Dame and Saint Mary's College, and is the mother of three sons. She enjoys singing at church, playing music with her family, and cooking. Sharon is a married mother of three, and resides in South Bend.
Stephanie Berry is a native of Middlebury, IN. and a second year member of the SBCS. Stephanie earned her undergraduate degree in Apparel Design with minors in Vocal Performance and Marketing at Ball State University. While at Ball State University, Stephanie performed in many operas, and won the BSU Concerto Competition in 2006 with "Glitter and be Gay" by Leonard Bernstein. Her most recent roles include Alice Ford in Merry Wives of Windsor and Queen of the Night from Die Zauberflote. She is currently teaching voice lessons at Northridge High School and pursuing her Masters in Vocal Performance at Indiana University South Bend with hopes of becoming a professional opera singer.
Breighan Brown is in her first season with the SBCS. She is the Senior Budget Analyst and Adjunct Professor of Music History at Southwestern Michigan College. She holds a B.A. in Violin Performance and a B.B.A. in Finance from Saint Mary's College, as well as a M.M. degree in Music Theory from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). She is currently in the process of completing her Ph.D. in Music Theory at CCM, where her dissertation will explore the interaction of voice-leading spaces in the music of Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Breighan is also a member of the choir at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Granger, and is a native of White Haven, Pennsylvania.
Donna Eggers has been singing for over twenty-five years. Originally from Tennessee, she has performed as a soloist and as a member of professional and amateur choirs in New Orleans and New York City. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Vocal Performance as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics from Tulane University. She earned a Master of Communication Disorders from LSU and has been working as a Speech-Language Pathologist for eight years. The Plymouth resident incorporates music to treat patients as often as she can. Donna has sung with SBCS for five seasons.
Cheryl Ferguson, of Valparaiso, is singing her eleventth season with SBCS. Cheryl has served as Education Director for the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, and most recently, Executive Director for the LaPorte County Symphony Orchestra. She holds a degree in Education from Purdue University, and studied vocal performance at Carson Newman College. Cheryl is the mother of four grown children, and sings at a UCC in Chicago, as well as with the NISO chorus.
Maggie Mountsier is thrilled to join SBCS this season. A native of Granger, Maggie has performed throughout the community in the Firefly Festival, South Bend Civic Theatre, Conservatory of Dance, and Penn High School choral and musical productions. She completed her degree in vocal performance and theatre and drama in 2008 from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. She has performed extensively in summerstock musical theatre, with roles including Katie Yoder in "Plain and Fancy" and Iris in "Fame" at Amish Acres Round Barn Theatre, Tuptim in "The King and I" and Hope Harcourt in "Anything Goes" at the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre, and Maggie in "A Chorus Line" and Claudia Nardi in "Nine" at the Indiana University department of theatre and drama, among others. She is currently taking music education licensure classes at Bethel College and hopes to continue to perform and pass on her passion for music to today's students.
Emily Packard. Originally from Southern California, Emily attended California State University, Fullerton and later received her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of South Florida. Emily is working on a Master of Music degree at IUSB. She has performed with world renowned groups such as the Boston Pops touring chorus, Hollywood Bowl Chorus, Pacific Chorale and Tampa Bay Master Chorale. She has performed with Opera Tampa, St. Petersburg Opera, and New Century Opera. Her most recent roles include the "Queen of the Night," "Ortlinde," "Zerlina," and "Antonia". She received a scholarship from the V.O.I.C.Experience program with opera great Sherrill Milnes. She is currently a stay at home mom for her daughter. Emily is in her second season with SBCS.
Carrie Bjonback is returning for her third season with SBCS. She grew up in Moline, Illinois, lived for several years in Canada, and now resides in La Porte, Indiana. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, a masters degree in plant physiology from the University of Minnesota, and an MD from the University of Colorado. She is a family physician practicing part time family practice and part time medical acupuncture in La Porte. She is married with two children in college, one studying in Nepal. She enjoys music, reading (especially fantasy), and watching Japanese anime.
Dawn Bontrager is in her fifth season with the SBCS. Dawn is a native of northern Minnesota. She earned her undergraduate degree in social work from Goshen College, a Master's degree in social work from the University of Chicago, and a Master's degree in Divinity from the Chicago Theological Seminary. Dawn is a licensed clinical social worker and currently works as Director of the Patient Access Center at Madison Center in South Bend. Dawn has been singing all of her life in church choirs, college choirs, and in small groups performing in local venues and for special occasions. Dawn lives in Mishawaka with her partner and has 2 young adult children. Dawn writes, “I am thankful for the opportunity to sing with such talented musicians.”
Carol Bosler, Alto Section Leader, earned her undergraduate degree in mathematics and secondary education from Western Michigan University. Currently, she is a People Development Manager for Whirlpool Corporation, where she has been employed for fourteen years. She is involved in various other musical endeavors with her flute and vocals, performing at local venues and events in the area. Carol has two grown sons and resides with her husband in Niles, MI, where she enjoys home decorating, gardening and many arts and crafts. This is her nineteenth season with SBCS.
Melaney Gabris is in her second season with SBCS. She was with the 126 Army Band in Wyoming, Michigan for ten years as a percussionist, performing in goodwill tours in Italy, Trinidad and Tobago, Australia and Latvia. Melaney has accompanied Penn High School Choirs, performed with the Elkhart Municipal Band, LaPorte County Symphony Orchestra and does songleading and drumming at church. She has ghostwritten and edited several books and was the editor of a local magazine. Her hobbies include golf, salsa dancing, and travel. She lives in Mishawaka and is the mother of a 9 year old girl.
Mary Ann LaPlante, Alto 1/Soprano II, is the Pastoral Associate for Music, Liturgy and Spirituality at Little Flower Catholic Church in South Bend, a position she's held for twenty-seven years. She was born in Massachusetts, taught high school biology, chemistry and physical science and then changed careers by coming to St. Joseph College, Renssalaer , IN to procure a masters in music and liturgy. She loves nature which she enjoys with her horse, Lightning, and has Benny and Grace (her two cats) at home. She has been with SBCS since just about their beginning. Mary Ann resides in South Bend.
Emily Schneider grew up in Michigan and sang with various ensembles in elementary school, high school and college. She earned her Bachelors in Business Administration from Central Michigan University and is currently working on earning her Masters in Business Administration. She is currently Business Intelligence Analyst with Bayer Healthcare and enjoys cooking, traveling, reading and running around with her dog, Bella. This is Emily's third season with SBCS, she resides in Osceola, and she would like to thank her family and friends for their continued support.
Catherine Tadey, a 5½ year member of SBCS, is a native of Dyer, Indiana and a graduate of Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana. During her tenure at Butler, she studied voice with Kari York and Maryann Scott and oboe with Dr. Malcolm Smith. She graduated in 2004 with a Bachelor of Music in Education. A performer since the age of seven, Cathy has appeared on stage with several ensembles including the Southlake Children's Choir, Butler New World Composer's Orchestra, and the Northwest Indiana Symphony Chorus. Cathy has recently relocated to New Lenox, Illinois, and she is the Intermediate School Band director for the Minooka CCSD #201. Ms. Tadey enjoys travel, long drives, and hiking.
Kendall Dahlstrom has been with SBCS since its beginning. He earned a B.A. in psychology and a Master of Divinity in pastoral studies from North Park University and Theological Seminary. He is pastor emeritus of the Evangelical Covenant Church of South Bend where he served from 1984-2005. Musical experiences include high school a capella choir, barbershop quartet, church choirs, North Park College Choir, Nebraska Choral Arts Society, Covenant Ministers' Chorus, and SBCS. He currently chairs the steering committee of the Children's Choir of Michiana. In the summer, Ken plays in the Battell Senior Softball League. He and his wife Nancy celebrated forty-four years of marriage, and they take advantage of every opportunity to visit Luke and Rebekah, their brilliant grandchildren.
David L. Homann, Tenor Section Leader, has been with SBCS since its first full season. A full-time dad with three kids' schedules to juggle, he maintains his own busy schedule in South Bend as a youth group leader, Sunday school teacher, cantor and member of the choir at his church, and he manages several rental properties. In his spare time, he reads and partners with his wife for ballroom dancing. His one failure in life has been finding more time to play golf.
Steven Mast is singing his tenth season with SBCS. A native of La Porte, IN, he now resides in Niles, MI with his partner and six cats. Steven earned undergraduate degrees in music and elementary education from Valparaiso University, a Master of Arts degree in reading education from Western Michigan University, and a Master of Science degree in counseling and human services from Indiana University. He is currently a sixth grade English teacher at Dowagiac (MI) Middle School, where he has taught in Dowagiac for nineteen years. Steven enjoys cooking, travel, golf, and was a participant in the 2005 Chanticleer in Sonoma Choral Workshop.
Thomas W. Olsen was a voice major at IU in Bloomington, Indiana where he performed a variety of operatic roles as an undergraduate. He participated in the Santa Fe Opera’s apprentice program. He subsequently moved to Boston where he was a finalist in the regional Metropolitan Opera Auditions and frequently performed leading roles with the New England Chamber Opera. This year marks his third season with SBCS. He has also sung the past seven years with the Northwest Indiana Symphony Chorus under the leadership of Dr. Nancy Menk. Tom is a medical records supervisor and currently lives in Illinois, but will be moving to the Valparaiso area very soon.
Edward Sparks is in his fourteenth season with SBCS. He has sung with numerous choirs, ensembles, and played (trombone) with several bands. Edward is a Tool and Die Maker and currently works in the Metrology Lab at Honeywell. He enjoys restoring various musical instruments and devices and road bicycling. He is a South Bend resident.
Brad Todorovich is a native of New Lenox, Ill. (south of Chicago) and is singing his first season with SBCS. He holds a BM in Commercial Music from Millikin University (Decatur, IL), and is an alumnus of the renowned Millikin University Choir under the direction of Dr. Brad Holmes. Currently he is working toward the Master of Sacred Music at the University of Notre Dame and sings with the UND Chorale. While on tour with previous choral groups, Brad has performed across the United States and in England, the Dominican Republic, China and Taiwan. He works as the Minister of Music at Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Edwardsburg, Mich.
Stephen Drendall, Bass Section Leader, is in his twentieth year with SBCS. He received Music and Music Education degrees from Temple University, where he sang under renowned conductor Robert Page and was in the repertory choir for Masters in Choral Conducting students. He has soloed with the Elkhart and La Porte Symphonies. He has been cantor at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. James and St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal (both South Bend), and choir director at Lydick U.M. and St. Paul's Episcopal (Mishawaka) Churches. He was cantorial soloist thirten years at Temple Beth-el (South Bend). His “day job” is as a family and consumer lawyer in South Bend, where he also lives.
Michael Driscoll is enjoying his thirteenthth season with SBCS. A native of Butte, Mont., he is a Roman Catholic priest for the diocese of Helena, Montana. For the past fifteen years, he has taught liturgical studies and sacramental theology in the Theology Department at the University of Notre Dame where he is currently the director of the Masters in Sacred Music Program. He also directs the SummerSong program for the renewal of pastoral musicians. He holds a doctorate in religious studies from the University of Paris (Sorbonne) and a doctorate in theology from the Institut Catholique in Paris. A South Bend resident, Michael enjoys international and domestic travel, cooking, and films.
Mike Hildreth is a Masachusetts native who has followed academia to the Midwest (South Bend). After earning an undergraduate degree from Princeton and a Ph.D. from Stanford, both in Physics, he and his family spent five years in Geneva, Switzerland doing research before returning to the US where he and his wife joined the faculty at Notre Dame in 2000. He is currently an Associate Professor of Physics, with a research focus in experimental particle physics, which makes him one of those "atom smasher" guys. Their family consists of a teen-age son and numerous pets. They enjoy cooking, travel, and outdoor activities, including sailing and hiking. This is his eighth season with SBCS.
Ty Lundman is excited to join the Chamber Singers this year. He is a second-year student in the Master of Sacred Music at Notre Dame, and is the organist and handbell director at First Presbyterian Church – Mishawaka. Ty came to South Bend from Montana, where he recently completed a Bachelor of Music at the University of Montana in Missoula. Though he has worked primarily in musical theater and church ministry, he is also a licensed pilot and ham radio operator.
Tom Miracle is in his second season with SBCS after returning to northern Indiana a year ago from Virginia, where he was a nine-year member of the Virginia Symphony Chorus and other choral groups in the Hampton Roads area. Tom grew up in Culver and graduated from Culver Military Academy. After serving in the U.S. Air Force as a Korean language specialist, he went on to complete a degree in Japanese Language and Asian Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in northern California. After a 30-year career in international business and public affairs, Tom now resides in Culver where he operates an independent business as a linguist and technical editor translating written Japanese materials into English.
Michael S. Wade received his bachelors and masters degrees in music education from Indiana State University. He is active as a choral clinician, adjudicator and guest conductor. Michael taught vocal music for thirty-four years at the high school level in Crown Point and Elkhart, Indiana. He has taught undergraduate courses at Saint Mary's College and graduate level choral courses at Valparaiso University. Wade is a past president of the Central Division of the American Choral Directors Association and the Indiana Choral Directors Association. He served five years as chairperson of the ICDA All State High School Honors Choir. Currently, he directs the Indiana University South Bend Chorale and is Music Director at First Congregational Church in Elkhart. Michael also teaches applied voice and sings with the Saint Joseph Valley Camerata. This is his seventh season with SBCS.
Doug Williamson is a Montana native who has lived in South Bend for seven years. Doug has been with the SBCS for 4½ seasons. Doug sang with Helena Symphony Chorale, Helena, Montana for ten years prior to moving to South Bend and has had a lot of experience with musical theater and dramatic theater. Recently he had the opportunity to sing a principal role in the premier of a new modern opera by Saint Mary's professor Zae Munn. Doug is a graduate of Carroll College, Helena, Montana (biology) and works for the South Bend Medical Foundation. Hobbies include landscaping, gardening, cooking, travel, and long walks with the resident beagle, Dixie.