Craig Cramer, organist
Vocal Soloists
Courtney Huffman, Soprano
Lori Boyer, Soprano
Stephanie Ruggles, Mezzo-Soprano
Zachary Devin, Tenor
Gerard Sundberg, Baritone
Gerard Sundberg, baritone, is a graduate of Bethel College (St. Paul, MN), and holds both master of fine arts and doctor of musical arts degrees from the University of Minnesota. He is presently professor emeritus of voice at Wheaton Conservatory of Music (Wheaton, IL), where he taught studio voice and vocal pedagogy. He recently relocated to the Twin City area, and is an adjunct voice professor at Bethel University. Performances for the 2018-19 season include Vaughan Williams Five Mystical Songs with Deo Cantamus, Minneapolis; Mendelssohn Elijah with Chicago Master Singers; Handel Messiah with the Atlanta Symphony and Chamber Chorus; Vaughan Williams Dona Nobis Pacem with Wayzata Symphony (Minneapolis); Dvorak Requiem with Chicago Master Singers; and Handel Samson and Bach cantatas BWV 172 and 187 with the Peoria Bach Festival.
Instrumental Soloists
Jennet Ingle, Oboe d'Amoure
Jennet Ingle, oboe d’amore, loves the oboe. She has built an active career around performing, teaching, making reeds for and writing about it, and believes deeply that everyone else loves it, too – perhaps they just don't know it yet. Jennet performs as principal oboist of the South Bend Symphony and the Northwest Indiana Symphony and teaches oboe at Valparaiso University. She has also performed with Chicago’s Music of the Baroque and other area ensembles. Since 1998 she has owned and operated Jennet Ingle Reeds, and can be found on the web at www,jennetingle.com. Jennet is an active performer and has released a CD, Music That SHOULD Have Been Written for the Oboe. She is the founder of a South Bend chamber music series, Musicians for Michiana.
Jennet Ingle, oboe d’amore, loves the oboe. She has built an active career around performing, teaching, making reeds for and writing about it, and believes deeply that everyone else loves it, too – perhaps they just don't know it yet. Jennet performs as principal oboist of the South Bend Symphony and the Northwest Indiana Symphony and teaches oboe at Valparaiso University. She has also performed with Chicago’s Music of the Baroque and other area ensembles. Since 1998 she has owned and operated Jennet Ingle Reeds, and can be found on the web at www,jennetingle.com. Jennet is an active performer and has released a CD, Music That SHOULD Have Been Written for the Oboe. She is the founder of a South Bend chamber music series, Musicians for Michiana.
Marcia Henry Liebenow, Violin
John Orfe, Piano
John Orfe, piano, has earned critical acclaim for his interpretations of five centuries of keyboard repertoire ranging from the canonic to the arcane. As the core pianist and a founding member of critically-acclaimed new music ensemble Alarm Will Sound, he has performed in Carnegie Hall, Miller Theatre, Roulette, the World Financial Center, and Symphony Space in New York; Disney Hall, Mondavi Hall, and Hertz Hall in California; and music series and festivals across the United States and Europe. The New York Times praised his “virtuosic ardor” in performances of György Ligeti’s Piano Etudes and Concerto. His solo piano transcription of John Adams’ Short Ride in a Fast Machine was hailed as “a knockout” by the Boston Globe and “breathtaking” by the San Francisco Chronicle, which also praised his “hypervirtuosic” performances of Nancarrow. Dr. Orfe gave the US premiere of Steve Reich’s “Piano Counterpoint” at Stanford University’s Bing Hall as well as the work’s East Coast premiere at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He has recorded on Canteloupe, Nonesuch, and Parma labels. His compositions have earned praise from The New York Times, LA Weekly, San Francisco Chronicle, Boston Globe, Die Welt, and Hamburger Abendblatt. He is a winner of a Jacob K. Javits Fellowship, a Tanglewood Music Center Fellowship, and numerous other awards and prizes. He holds degrees from Eastman, the University of Rochester, and the Yale School of Music.
John Orfe, piano, has earned critical acclaim for his interpretations of five centuries of keyboard repertoire ranging from the canonic to the arcane. As the core pianist and a founding member of critically-acclaimed new music ensemble Alarm Will Sound, he has performed in Carnegie Hall, Miller Theatre, Roulette, the World Financial Center, and Symphony Space in New York; Disney Hall, Mondavi Hall, and Hertz Hall in California; and music series and festivals across the United States and Europe. The New York Times praised his “virtuosic ardor” in performances of György Ligeti’s Piano Etudes and Concerto. His solo piano transcription of John Adams’ Short Ride in a Fast Machine was hailed as “a knockout” by the Boston Globe and “breathtaking” by the San Francisco Chronicle, which also praised his “hypervirtuosic” performances of Nancarrow. Dr. Orfe gave the US premiere of Steve Reich’s “Piano Counterpoint” at Stanford University’s Bing Hall as well as the work’s East Coast premiere at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He has recorded on Canteloupe, Nonesuch, and Parma labels. His compositions have earned praise from The New York Times, LA Weekly, San Francisco Chronicle, Boston Globe, Die Welt, and Hamburger Abendblatt. He is a winner of a Jacob K. Javits Fellowship, a Tanglewood Music Center Fellowship, and numerous other awards and prizes. He holds degrees from Eastman, the University of Rochester, and the Yale School of Music.
Conductors
Maurice Boyer
Tim Fredstrom
Tim Fredstrom, conductor, is professor of choral music and music education at Illinois State University where he conducts the Men’s Glee and Chamber Singers and teaches courses in choral pedagogy and conducting. He is the conductor of Cantus Novus, a community chamber choir in Bloomington-Normal, and former conductor of the Peoria Area Civic Chorale. Before joining the faculty at Illinois State University in 2003, he taught choral music in the Nebraska public schools for ten years. He is a frequent choral clinician and adjudicator and has presented numerous workshops on choral music education, gifted education, and technology. He has served as guest conductor for numerous choral festivals throughout the country, including Illinois Music Educators District festivals and the Illinois Music Educators All-State Chorus. He holds degrees in vocal performance from Nebraska Wesleyan University and the University of Nebraska and a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from the University of Nebraska.
Tim Fredstrom, conductor, is professor of choral music and music education at Illinois State University where he conducts the Men’s Glee and Chamber Singers and teaches courses in choral pedagogy and conducting. He is the conductor of Cantus Novus, a community chamber choir in Bloomington-Normal, and former conductor of the Peoria Area Civic Chorale. Before joining the faculty at Illinois State University in 2003, he taught choral music in the Nebraska public schools for ten years. He is a frequent choral clinician and adjudicator and has presented numerous workshops on choral music education, gifted education, and technology. He has served as guest conductor for numerous choral festivals throughout the country, including Illinois Music Educators District festivals and the Illinois Music Educators All-State Chorus. He holds degrees in vocal performance from Nebraska Wesleyan University and the University of Nebraska and a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from the University of Nebraska.
John Jost
John Jost, conductor, is professor emeritus of music at Bradley University where he directed the Bradley Chorale, Community Chorus, and Chamber Singers, and taught conducting from 1989 until his retirement in 2018. He received his bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees from Stanford University. Before joining the Bradley faculty he directed ensembles and taught in California, New York, and Haiti where for several decades he directed a summer music camp for Haitian youth. He has held both principal viola and principal second violin positions in the Peoria Symphony Orchestra, has served as president of the Illinois Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association, is co-founder and artistic director of the Peoria Bach Festival, and currently directs the new Peoria-area chamber choir Lumière. He has won awards for teaching and service from Bradley University, the American Choral Directors Association, the Haitian Ministry of Culture, and the Haitian Episcopal Church.
John Jost, conductor, is professor emeritus of music at Bradley University where he directed the Bradley Chorale, Community Chorus, and Chamber Singers, and taught conducting from 1989 until his retirement in 2018. He received his bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees from Stanford University. Before joining the Bradley faculty he directed ensembles and taught in California, New York, and Haiti where for several decades he directed a summer music camp for Haitian youth. He has held both principal viola and principal second violin positions in the Peoria Symphony Orchestra, has served as president of the Illinois Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association, is co-founder and artistic director of the Peoria Bach Festival, and currently directs the new Peoria-area chamber choir Lumière. He has won awards for teaching and service from Bradley University, the American Choral Directors Association, the Haitian Ministry of Culture, and the Haitian Episcopal Church.
Peter Wykert
Peter Wykert, organist and conductor, is completing his second year as Cantor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Peoria. He has served as music director at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Elmhurst, IL and as a music intern at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Park Ridge, IL. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music from Concordia University Chicago. As Cantor he plans worship services, directs ensembles, serves as primary organist, oversees the Trinity Concert Series, and serves as the managing director of the Peoria Bach Festival.
Peter Wykert, organist and conductor, is completing his second year as Cantor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Peoria. He has served as music director at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Elmhurst, IL and as a music intern at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Park Ridge, IL. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music from Concordia University Chicago. As Cantor he plans worship services, directs ensembles, serves as primary organist, oversees the Trinity Concert Series, and serves as the managing director of the Peoria Bach Festival.