About Us
The 2022-2023 season marks the 50th anniversary of the Hillsdale Arts Chorale. Outstanding performances have earned praise from audiences and professional soloists and instrumentalists who have performed with the Chorale. Members are auditioned, and come from Hillsdale and nearby communities, to rehearse once week from September through May. Four concerts are presented each year at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Hillsdale.
Through generous subscription support, the Chorale has been able to offer a varied range of chorale repertoire. The repertoire of the Chorale includes major works with chamber orchestra and professional soloists, a capella selection (both sacred and secular), and accompanied works with pianist/organist, Kristi Gautsche.
Major works include Bach's Magnificat and B minor Mass, Mozart's Masses and Requiem, Handel's Messiah and Lord Nelson Mass, Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, Poulenc's Gloria, Brahms' Liebeslieder Waltzes, and Menotti's opera Amahl and the Night Visitors (fully staged).
Sharing the art of choral singing to appreciative audiences makes joy of performing a goal and reward for all of us. For further information about subscriptions, or to audition throughout the year, contact us at 517.849.2410.
Through generous subscription support, the Chorale has been able to offer a varied range of chorale repertoire. The repertoire of the Chorale includes major works with chamber orchestra and professional soloists, a capella selection (both sacred and secular), and accompanied works with pianist/organist, Kristi Gautsche.
Major works include Bach's Magnificat and B minor Mass, Mozart's Masses and Requiem, Handel's Messiah and Lord Nelson Mass, Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, Poulenc's Gloria, Brahms' Liebeslieder Waltzes, and Menotti's opera Amahl and the Night Visitors (fully staged).
Sharing the art of choral singing to appreciative audiences makes joy of performing a goal and reward for all of us. For further information about subscriptions, or to audition throughout the year, contact us at 517.849.2410.
2022 - 2023 Board Members
Eric Leutheuser, president
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A lifelong resident of Hillsdale, he is one of those lucky to have had Arts Chorale founder, Howard Rizner, as his choir teacher throughout middle and high school, and then returned to sing with the group as an adult.
Leutheuser was the owner of the local Buick GMC dealership for thirty years, and has been involved in his community as an officer of the Hillsdale County Community Foundation, Hillsdale City Planning Commission, Economic Development Commission and the Rotary Club of Hillsdale. Most recently, he served three terms as State Representative in the Michigan Legislature, representing Hillsdale and Branch Counties. Eric and his wife Laura have three married daughters and a growing number of grandchildren. |
Anne Schmitt, operations manager
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Anne is the Music Director at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church. She and her husband, Randy, moved to Hillsdale from Colorado in 2015 to be near children and grandchildren. Anne values the friendships she has made in the Arts Chorale and loves singing with the group. "It's the highlight of my week." |
Greg Bailey, treasurer
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Greg Bailey has been the Executive Director of the Hillsdale Arts Chorale and a singer in the Bass section since 2005. He has been a CPA since 1994 and is a partner with the firm Bailey, Hodshire & Company, P.C. in Jonesville. He has served on the Hillsdale City Council and as Mayor of the City of Hillsdale, and he currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Hillsdale Hospital. Greg and his wife, Patti, reside in Hillsdale. He enjoys fishing, playing cards, and spending time with friends and family. |
Monica Yaniga, secretary
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Monica joined the Hillsdale Arts Chorale as a soprano in 2017. She developed a love of music at an early age, and has sung in various choirs and ensembles and served as a church cantor most of her life. A native of Cleveland, she moved to Somerset, Michigan, in 2010 with her husband, Fred, and three children Emma, Fred, and Claire. She is a licensed customs broker and account manager for an international logistics firm. In her spare time she loves traveling, reading, and wandering through art museums. |
Stephanie Gordon, marketing director
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Stephanie joined the Hillsdale Arts Chorale team in October 2016. She received her degree from Albion College in 2009. She spent time in New York City working with NBC Nightly News doing production work, which led her to practice public and media relations in Detroit. She moved back home to Hillsdale in 2012 after she married her husband, Dr. Matt Gordon. Since then, she has practiced marketing consulting, public relations, freelance writing, and copy editing for businesses in the Hillsdale area. Stephanie and her husband, Matt, a chiropractor, reside in Hillsdale with their three children - Eloise, Flora, and Jack. |
Donald Sanderson, Member at Large
Kevin Vear, Member at Large
Ned Wyse, Member at Large
Kevin Vear, Member at Large
Ned Wyse, Member at Large
The Accompanist - Kristi Gautsche
Kristi's dedication to the musical excellence is evidenced by each performance at the keyboard, and the demand for that excellence is evidenced by Kristi's very active performance schedule.
Kristi studied music education with her major emphasis in piano at Goshen College in Goshen, Indiana. She now plays throughout the Hillsdale area working as an accompanist for the Hillsdale Arts Chorale and Hillsdale Community Schools.
She serves as pianist and part-time organist for the College Baptist Church and has been the musical director for several productions at the Sauk Theatre and the Hillsdale Community Children's Theatre.
Kristi studied music education with her major emphasis in piano at Goshen College in Goshen, Indiana. She now plays throughout the Hillsdale area working as an accompanist for the Hillsdale Arts Chorale and Hillsdale Community Schools.
She serves as pianist and part-time organist for the College Baptist Church and has been the musical director for several productions at the Sauk Theatre and the Hillsdale Community Children's Theatre.
Chorale Members
SopranoBrietta Wilson
Rebecca Houghton Kendra Bonjernoor Ellie Tucker Loren Corbin Cindy Merritt Kristine Goffos Rebecca Mielke |
AltoMonica Yaniga
Mary Wolfram Laura Leutheuser Lois Voss Jennifer Sanderson Anne Schmitt Helen Schlueter Marge Beckner |
TenorNathan Lehman
John Jordan Dean James Tim Voss Derek Stauff Ned Wyse |
BassHarland Wood
Greg Bailey Frank Steiner Don Sanderson Bill Sanderson Ross Bonjernoor Eric Leutheuser Christopher Goffos |
The Howard J. Rizner
Hillsdale Arts Chorale Endowment Fund
The Howard J. Rizner Endowment Fund was created to support the Arts Chorale and to honor the man who established and led the Chorale during its first thirty-five years. You can help extend his legacy by supporting the endowment through a gift to the Hillsdale County Community Foundation. Envelopes are available at the Chorale's concerts. Those wishing to make testamentary gifts are encouraged to contact our Executive Director, Greg Bailey.
Mr. Rizner was an accomplished painter, and he especially enjoyed capturing the beauty of nature in mountain and river scenes. With the valued assistance of Don Heckenlively, a book of Rizner's art has been compiled in his honor and memory. Copies will be available at the Chorale's concerts or by contacting Don Sanderson at 517.439.1386. The suggested price is $15, and all proceeds (net production costs) will be donated to the Endowment Fund at the Community Foundation.
Mr. Rizner was an accomplished painter, and he especially enjoyed capturing the beauty of nature in mountain and river scenes. With the valued assistance of Don Heckenlively, a book of Rizner's art has been compiled in his honor and memory. Copies will be available at the Chorale's concerts or by contacting Don Sanderson at 517.439.1386. The suggested price is $15, and all proceeds (net production costs) will be donated to the Endowment Fund at the Community Foundation.