LSYC STAFF
BRET AMUNDSON
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, CANTEMUS
Dr. Bret Amundson is the Dean of the School of Arts and Letters at The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN where he also directs Bella Voce, a select treble ensemble.
ADAM GIEBNER
DIRECTOR, CAMERATA
Mr. Giebner is a choir teacher at Grand Rapids High School and is thrilled to join the LSYC staff this season in Camera.
GRACE YOUNG
DIRECTOR, CONCERT CHOIR
Ms. Young holds degrees in Vocal Music Education and Psychology from The College of St. Scholastica. She is excited to direct the Concert Choir this season.
REGAN HJELLE
DIRECTOR, CHORISTERS
Mrs. Hjelle graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2015 with a Bachelors in Music Education. She has worked in the Duluth Public Schools as an elementary music specialist for the past 7 years.
RHONDA CARD
DIRECTOR, CHORISTERS
Ms. Card graduated from the University of Minnesota-Duluth in May 2022 and joins the LSYC staff as a director this season.
ELISE HINTZMAN
REHEARSAL MANAGER
Ms. Hintzman is a high school English teacher at Superior High School. This is her third season with LSYC as Rehearsal Manager.
RYLEE NEWTON
OUTREACH COORDINATOR
Ms. Newton graduated with a degree in Vocal Music Education in 2021 from The College of St. Scholastica and is the choir teacher at Superior Middle School.
EMILY VALINE
ACCOMPANIST, CANTEMUS
Ms. Valine is the Staff Accompanist and Fine Arts Department Administrative Assistant at The College of St. Scholastica. She also accompanies the Twin Ports Choral Project and the Lake Superior Youth Chorus.
KYLE PICHA
ACCOMPANIST, CONCERT CHOIR
Mr. Picha is the Resident Music Director for the Duluth Playhouse where he Music Directs four major musicals a year. He has worked extensively throughout Minnesota as a Music Director.
SAM BURNETT
ACCOMPANIST, CHORISTERS
Ms. Barnett joins the LSYC staff this season to accompany the Choristers.
CAROLYN MIKEL
INTERN
Ms. Mikel is in her third year at the College of St. Scholastica where she is pursuing a degree in Vocal and Instrumental Music Education with a minor in German.
SOPHIE OLSON
INTERN
Ms. Olson is a junior Vocal Music Education major at the College of St. Scholastica where she sings with the advanced treble ensemble, Bella Voce.
SARAH SYPNIESKI
INTERN
Ms. Sypnieski is a second-year student at the College of St. Scholastica where she studies Vocal Music Education. This is her second year as an intern with Lake Superior Youth Chorus.
EMMA DOWNING
INTERN
This will be Ms. Downing's first season with the Lake Superior Youth Chorus! She is a senior at the University of Minnesota-Duluth where she studies music education.
MATTHEW HUNKE
INTERN
Mr. Hunke is a senior music education student at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. This is his first year with LSYC.
JENNA ALTONEN
INTERN
An alum of LSYC, Ms. Altonen is excited to return to LSYC in the role of intern. She is a sophomore at The College of St. Scholastica.