About Us
The 2025-2026 season marks the 53rd anniversary of the Hillsdale Arts Chorale. The last few years have seen tremendous growth in chorale participation, and we are excited for an outstanding season. Arts Chorale performances have earned praise from audiences and professional soloists and instrumentalists who have performed with the Chorale. Members come from Hillsdale and nearby communities, to rehearse once week from September through May. This year, we will be performing 3-4 concerts: one in November, one in December, and a special concert in April with the Jackson Symphony Orchestra.
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.
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.
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.
2025 - 2026 Board Members
Aaron Johnson, President
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Aaron joined the chorale in the spring of 2023 after moving back to the area with his wife Kristine and their six children: Benjamin, Charlotte, Olive, Margaret, Atticus and Duke. Growing up, Aaron attended many concerts of the Chorale and has been actively involved in choirs since 5th grade, including high school State and All-State choirs, four years singing in choirs at Hillsdale College, opera workshops, and active participation in church choirs. Currently Aaron is a Sr. Continuous Improvement Analyst for Hillsdale College, an adjunct music instructor for double bass at Hillsdale College, a member of the Jackson Symphony Orchestra, and owner of Emmaus Business Solutions. Aaron and his family currently reside in Hillsdale where they love to visit the farmer's market, have friends over for musical theater karaoke, and take part in this beautiful community. |
Maurine McCourry, Vice President & Librarian
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Maurine joined the Chorale in 2022 after 34 years of only occasional choral singing following four wonderful years as a member of the choir at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. She has been a librarian at Hillsdale College since 2000, and has been the Library Director since 2019. She and her husband Chris have one daughter, Stella, currently a member of the Sylvan Singers at Lake Forest College in Illinois, and love camping and fishing and hanging out with their dogs Nica and Geri whenever they can. |
Greg Bailey, Treasurer
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Greg Bailey has been a part of the Hillsdale Arts Chorale in various board positions and as 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. |
Kyrsten Newlon, Marketing Director
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Kyrsten sang with the Hillsdale Arts Chorale for the first time in fall, 2023 when she moved to the area. She works in marketing, communications and donor development at Hillsdale Hospital and enjoys traveling, reading and spending time with family in her spare time. She has loved getting to know the Hillsdale community and considers the Hillsdale Arts Chorale proof she moved to the right place. |
Kevin Vear, Past President
Donald Sanderson, Member at Large
Ned Wyse, Member at Large
Anne Schmitt, 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.
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.
Chorale Members
SopranoGerda Burk
Heidi Hambleton Isabelle Hutchinson Kristine Johnson Maurine McCourry Evelyn Meyer Rachel Miller Monica Monachino Kimberly More Marie-Claire Morellec Kyrsten Newlon Anne Schmitt Anna Szczotka Michelle Wenisch Monica Yaniga |
AltoCalista Brunett
Connie Galloway Nancy Hutchinson Stephanie Kwong Laura Leutheuser Anna Navrotskaya Sandra Pooley Teresa Tomasino Breanne Vander Hill Lois Voss Mary Wolfram Debbi Wyse |
TenorGrace Hambleton
Eric Hutchinson Dean James Peter Slayton Derek Stauff John Szczotka Tim Voss Ned Wyse |
BassAdam Dauer
Jonah Hambleton Brandon Hugo Aaron Johnson Eric Leutheuser Rob Miller Tom Ryskamp Don Sanderson Charles Sanford Michael Wenisch |
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.