Department Faculty

Kara Bancks is an active clarinetist from Chicago. Principal clarinetist of the Elmhurst Symphony, she is also a member of the Millennium Chamber Players, the Atlantic Arts Trio, and the Fire Wire Ensemble, highlights from her 2007-08 season include an appearance on the Chicago Symphony’s MusicNOW series, a concerto performance with MCP, and live broadcasts on 98.7WFMT-Chicago Classical Radio. A recent graduate of Eastman School of Music (MMus), she has performed with the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra, the Eastman Virtuosi, the Eastman Philharmonia, the Eastman Wind Ensemble, OSSIA New Music, Musica Nova, and many other ensembles throughout the Midwest and Upstate New York. Her teachers have included Jon Manasse, Kenneth Grant, Susan Warner, and Charlene Zimmerman.A passionate teacher in her own right, she has taught at the University of Rochester,Eastman, the Hochstein School of Music and Dance, and currently serves on the faculties of Concordia University-River Forest, Wheaton College, and the Chicago Academy for the Arts. Especially committed to the music of today, she frequently commissions new works from emerging composers, and has participated in workshops, master-classes, and recording sessions with composers as varied as Augusta Read Thomas, Shulamit Ran, Libby Larsen, and Louis Andreissen.

Fionna Bezaire holds a Masters Degree from Northwestern University in Piano Performance and Pedagogy where she studied with Sylvia Wang. She is an Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and also holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of Windsor in Canada. She received early childhood music training achieving accreditation in both Musikgarten and Kindermusik. Currently, she enjoys a multi-leveled teaching schedule of private students, Keyboard Skills classes and Musikgarten classes at Concordia University.

Maurice Boyer is a DMA candidate in Orchestral Conducting at the University of Maryland College Park. He holds a MM in Choral Conducting and a BM in Sacred Music (piano principal) from Westminster Choir College of Rider University. Although born in the United States, Mr. Boyer began his musical training (piano, voice and solfege) in Aix-en-Provence, France, where he lived until the age of 18. His principal conducting teachers have been Joseph Flummerfelt, Kenneth Kiesler and James Ross. He also studied Theology at Princeton Theological Seminary. This past summer (2007), he was invited to participate in the second International Academy of Orchestral Conducting in Paris and Vendome, France. There he worked with Kenneth Kiesler of the University of Michigan and conducted the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris (EOP), France's leading chamber orchestra, in rehearsal and performance. In response to Mr. Boyer's performance at the Academy, John Nelson, Music Director of the EOP, invited him to be his Assistant Conductor this Spring for three series of concerts in France (Bach "St. Matthew Passion" in Notre Dame Cathedral) and in the United States (Handel and Haydn Society of Boston and Wheaton College). Mr. Boyer is Founder and Music Director of the Maryland Sinfonietta and the Ashgrove Ensemble. He has been Chorus Master of the New Jersey State Opera and has served as Music Director in several churches. Also a singer, he is a member of Fuma Sacra, ensemble-in-residence at Westminster Choir College and one of the East Coast's leading vocal ensembles specializing in Renaissance and Baroque Music, and the Carmel Bach Festival Chorale. As a student at Westminster, he was a member of the Westminster Choir and the Westminster Symphonic Choir and sang under the direction of such conductors as Christoph Eschenbach, Kurt Masur, Zubin Mehta, Riccardo Muti, and Robert Shaw. Areas of research and particular interest are Jean Sibelius - the subject of his doctoral dissertation is the Finn's 7th Symphony - Benjamin Britten, and J.S. Bach. When not studying a score, preparing for classes or working on his dissertation, Mr. Boyer enjoys going to the gym, reading poetry and watching movies, particularly foreign films.

Charles Brown is in his eighth year as Director of Choral Activities at Concordia University Chicago. His experience with the Kapelle has led to extensive touring throughout the United States, with additional concert tours to Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Chile, and Argentina. Kapelle has performed in five recordings during Charles?s tenure and is currently in the production of a sixth. Prior to his appointment at Concordia, Charles taught choral and general vocal music education in the Pennsylvania and New Jersey public school systems, fostering a love of music in students from kindergarten through high school. His continued passion for choral music education in churches and schools is demonstrated in the festivals and workshops he currently leads throughout the country. A vocal soloist in his own right, Brown has been active both in the East and Southwest regions of the country, as well as in the Chicago area singing bass-baritone roles, particularly specializing in Baroque oratorio music. He is also a member of Chicago?s Grant Park Chorus. A graduate of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ, he earned degrees in choral conducting and music education. Charles studied conducting with Joseph Flummerfelt, Andrew Megill, and Constantina Tsolainou. His music education mentor was Frank Abrahams. He also sang in the Westminster Choir and Symphonic Choir, performing under the batons of Leonard Bernstein, Joseph Flummerfelt, Zdenic Macal, Kurt Masur, Zubin Mehta, Riccardo Muti, Wolfgang Swallisch, and Hugh Wolf. Charles is currently completing requirements for a Doctorate of Musical Arts at the University of Arizona in choral conducting with Bruce Chamberlain and voice performance with Grayson Hirst. Charles?s doctoral dissertation will examine the Expanding Voice Method, a male changing voice process, as postulated by Henry Leck. Charles currently lives in Wheaton with his wife, Susan, and their children, Ian and Miriam.

Vicki Diefenbacher was a full-time faculty member of the Preparatory and Community Piano Program from 2000 to 2004. After a one year hiatus, she returned in 2005 as a part-time instructor. Prior to joining the Concordia faculty, she taught at North Central College in Naperville and at the Oakbrook Academy of Music and Art. She holds a B.Mus. degree in piano performance and pedagogy from Roosevelt University, as well as a B.A. degree in English from DePaul University. She is an active solo and collaborative performer, and serves as adjudicator at area festivals. Her professional activities include memberships in MTNA, ISMTA and CAMTA.

Robert Everson earned his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Percussion Performance from DePaul University, and is the percussion instructor at Concordia University. As a soloist, he has performed with the Chicago Sinfonietta, the Chicago String Ensemble and the Illinois Philharmonic. He is the timpanist with many orchestras in the Chicago area including the Chicago Sinfonietta, the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, the Ravinia Festival Orchestra, Ars Viva, the Lake Forest Symphony, the Chicago Philharmonic, the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra, and the Joffrey Ballet Orchestra. He has also performed with the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Grant Park Symphony. He is an extra player with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and has performed on CSO recordings under Bernard Haitink and Pierre Boulez; the latter having won the Grammy award for best orchestral performance in 2001. He has played with dozens of pop artists, including Celine Dion, Dennis DeYoung, Harry Belafonte, Tony Bennett, Diana Ross, the Moody Blues, Andreas Bocelli, Aretha Franklin, and Art Garfunkel. He is a life-long resident of the Chicago area.

Dr. Richard Fischer, Distinguished Professor of Music, is in his 34th year as director of bands at Concordia University, River Forest, Ill. He received the bachelor of music education and master of music degrees from De Paul University and the doctor of musical arts degree from Michigan State University. He has also studied at Cornell College and the University of Northern Colorado. Fischer conducts the Wind Symphony and University Band. He teaches basic and advanced level conducting courses as well as various music education courses. Fischer also observes student teachers. Since Fischer's arrival in 1974, the Wind Symphony has played concerts and church services in 43 states and Canada. In May 2001, the Wind Symphony toured Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia. During May, 2005 the ensemble toured China for three weeks. This ensemble performed at the 24th National Conference of the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), the 2003 Illinois Music Educators Conference and has recorded ten internationally sold compact discs of sacred wind music. The Wind Symphony has commissioned and premiered numerous wind compositions. In the fall of 1995, the ensemble was invited to perform two concerts at Orchestra Hall in Chicago. Fischer is in demand internationally as a guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator. He was named to the "A Team" of University Professors by the Chicago Tribune in 1994. He has held positions with numerous professional organizations, such as the communications director for the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles in preparation for the 1995 conference in Hamamatsu, Japan. Since 1989, Fischer has served as music director for Ballet LeGere's production of the Nutcracker Ballet. For 17 years, he served as the assistant conductor of the Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest.

Cynthia Fudala currently is Principal Flutist of the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, the Northwest Indiana Symphony, and is the Flute Instructor at Valparaiso University, Concordia University (River Forest, IL), and at the First Conservatory (LaGrange, IL). She has performed with many Chicago area ensembles including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Sinfonietta, Chicago Chamber Orchestra, Lake Forest Symphony, Southbend Symphony, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Springfield Symphony, and the Lincoln Opera Company. As a member of the Oak Street Winds quintet, Cynthia appeared twice on the WFMT Dame Myra Hess concert series and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra?s Radiothon broadcast. With the Northwest Indiana Wind Quintet she has appeared on WFMT?s Live from Studio 1 show.
Cynthia received her Certificate in Performance and Master of Music degrees from Northwestern University, and her Bachelor of Music degree from University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music. Her teachers include Walfrid Kujala, Kyril Magg, Jack Wellbaum, and Katherine Borst-Jones. Cynthia resides in Forest Park, IL with her husband, Greg (who is also a professional trumpet player and a music educator) and their cats, Zozma, Norman, and Roger.

A veteran of the Chicago jazz scene, Kirk Garrison attended Mankato State University in his home state of Minnesota before honing his skills in the United States Air Force Band. One of the peaks of his military career was an assignment as musical director for a select band deployed to the Middle East during operation Desert Storm. After leaving the Air Force in 1992, he completed his masters degree in Jazz Studies at DePaul University where he is now a member of the jazz faculty. Kirk has been on the music faculty of Concordia University since 1995, teaching trumpet, jazz improvisation, and conducting the Jazz Band. Garrison's recent performance credits include the Chicago Jazz Festival and Chicago Blues Festival as well as appearances with the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra Brass, the Ravinia Festival Orchestra. Kirk is a member of several ensembles including the Chicago Jazz Orchestra, Rob Parton's Jazz Tech Big Band, the 911 Mambo Orchestra and the Lt. Dan Band featuring actor Gary Sinise. He has also appeared with such jazz stalwarts as Louie Bellson, Kenny Burrell, Ron Carter, Kurt Elling, and Herbie Hancock. In addition, Kirk Garrison is in high demand as a writer and arranger. In this capacity, he has received commissions from DePaul University, Rob Parton's Jazz Tech Big Band, the Chicago String Ensemble, and the Millar Brass Ensemble at Northwestern University.

Paul Henry has received high acclaim for his performances across the United States. Following his first Carnegie Recital Hall performance for the La Folia Series, Guitar International Magazine said, "Paul Henry thoroughly enthralled the audience." He was recently featured in Guitar One Magazine as one of the top 10 guitarists in the United States. A student of Andres Segovia in a series of master classes at the University of Southern California, Segovia praised Henry for his "finesse and great sense of musicality with his instrument." His recordings: The Romance of Spain on the Cadenza Classics label and The Virtuoso Guitar of Spain and Latin America on the Centaur label have received outstanding reviews. His recording and performance scores The Masterpieces of Francisco Tarrega as well as was The Twenty Sor/Segovia Etudes, and the Twenty-Five Melodic Etudes Op.60 by Matteo Carcassi have become staples of the guitarists repertoire and are available the Hal Leonard Corporation. His recent projects include a recording and music publication of his own arrangements of music by the Spanish masters ranging from the Renaissance to modern day composers. His new recording, Echoes of Spain scheduled for release in the summer of 2007 will feature Spanish solos and duets performed with guitarist, Arturo Guzman. He also has several other performers editions published by Hal Leonard.

Pianist Kuang-Hao Huang enjoys an active career of performing and teaching. He has performed throughout the United States as well as in England, France, China and South Korea. As a soloist, he has performed with the New World Symphony Orchestra, the Elgin Symphony Orchestra and has been heard on Chicago's Dame Myra Hess Memorial Series (WFMT 98.7 FM). Mr. Huang is also an active collaborator, performing concerts and radio broadcasts with members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and as a regular guest of the Chicago Chamber Musicians. He has performed with the Vermeer and Chicago String Quartets and on Ravinia's Rising Stars series. An advocate of new music, Mr. Huang has given world premiere performances of works by Louis Andriessen, Chen Yi, Daniel Kellogg, James Matheson and Rami Levin. Mr. Huang has also performed with the Chicago Chamber Musicians Composer Perspectives series, Fulcrum Point and MusicNOW and has had the opportunity to work with many of the world's foremost composers, including Pierre Boulez and John Corigliano. Mr. Huang serves on the faculties of the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, Concordia University Chicago, and the Merit School of Music, presents educational outreach programs throughout the Chicago Public Schools, coordinates the summer piano program at Northwestern University's National High School Music Institute and has also served on the faculty of the Mimir Chamber Music Festival at TCU in Ft. Worth, Texas. Mr. Huang has degrees from the University of Wisconsin, Indiana University and Northwestern University. His principal teachers include Leonard Hokanson, Joseph Kalichstein, Howard Karp, Rita Sloan and Sylvia Wang. A native of Whitewater, Wisconsin, Mr. Huang currently resides in Oak Park, Illinois with his wonderful wife Janice and their children Maia and Gabriel.

A prolific teacher, Jeremy has often been invited to give master classes at institutions such as the New England Conservatory of Music, University of Illinois, and Depaul University among others, and he recently participated in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's Armonia program at the National Museum of Mexican Art introducing music to children of the Pilsen little village area. He currently teaches at Concordia University, Northpark University, Harper College and several other leading music schools in the Chicago area. He performs with numerous prominent ensembles such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Contemporary Music Ensemble (Music Now), Lyric Opera of Chicago, Grant Park Symphony Orchestra, Contemporary Chamber Players, and Fulcrum Point New Music Project among others. His active solo and chamber music career has led to performances throughout the U.S. and in Europe. Jeremy's programming of new music has often included world and Chicago premieres of new works by leading composers such as those by John Harbison, John Adams, Mark-Anthony Turnage, Louis Andreissen, Iannis Xenakis, Franco Donatoni, John Cage and many others. He studied with the world-renowned concert saxophonist Frederick Hemke at Northwestern University where he received a BM in music performance and was the concerto competition winner.

Craig Sale maintains an active professional career as teacher, author, clinician and pianist. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from Northwestern University and a Master of Music degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Following graduate study he received a Professional Teaching Certificate from The New School for Music Study where he studied piano pedagogy with Frances Clark and Louise Goss. He serves as Director of the Preparatory and Community Piano Program at Concordia University Chicago where he also teaches courses in piano pedagogy. He is the co-author of The Music Tree 3: Activities and The Music Tree 4: Activities and is an Educational Consultant for the Frances Clark Library for Piano Students. Since 2000, he has served as Associate Editor for the Music Reading department in Keyboard Companion magazine. As a workshop and master class clinician, Mr. Sale has appeared throughout the US.

Jonathan Stahlke has been at Concordia since 1996. Previous to that, he taught at Angelo State University (Texas), Baylor University (Texas), and Hong Kong Baptist University. His degree work was completed at Baylor University (B.M. in Composition, Theory, and Piano Pedagogy), Duke University (M.A. in Music), and the College-Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinnati (D.M.A. in Composition with Theory as a secondary area). He teaches classes in Music Theory, Composition, Orchestration, and related areas, as well as Arts & Ideas for the College of Arts & Sciences. In 2000 he established the Chamber Orchestra and its annual Concerto Competition, now under the direction of Prof. Maurice Boyer. Jonathan and his wife Mary Benson Stahlke have lived in Hong Kong (two years) and Halle, Germany (one year), and in August 2005 adopted five siblings from Ukraine. They make their home in Forest Park, just two miles from the Concordia campus.

Willard Thomen is a private and class voice instructor at Concordia University, in River Forest, Illinois, and at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, where he teaches Our Musical Heritage, Exploring the Fine Arts, Vocal Pedagogy, French and German Diction, and private voice lessons. In addition to his university teaching, Willard serves as the Director of Music at St. Luke Presbyterian Church in Downers Grove, Illinois, a position he has held since 2005. As a trained tenor, Willard has been a professional ensemble member and soloist with the Chicago Symphony Chorus, Music of the Baroque, The Chicago Monteverdi Singers, The Chicago Baroque Ensemble, The Richard Boldrey Singers, and The Tudor Singers. He has performed with Dorian Opera Theater, Chicago Opera Theater, Light Opera Works, Hinsdale Opera Theater, and University of Hawaii Theater. He has appeared as soloists with numerous orchestral presentations and has conducted numerous major choral works with orchestra, including nineteen performances of Handel's Messiah, John Rutter's Requiem, and several performances of Faure's Requiem and Vivaldi's Gloria. He appears on two CD recordings: Vespers of the Blessed Virgin (1610) with Music of the Baroque, and The Deathtree: Passion Cantata By David Holsinger with the Concordia Wind Symphony. Willard is a member of the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA), and of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). He served as one of the music advisors for the City of Naperville's Celebration 2000: Music of the Millennium: A Concert of Sacred Music. He frequently is a presenter for choral workshops at various churches in the Chicago area, and he has served as an adjudicator for vocal contests of the Society of American Musicians and for NATS.

Steven Wente is Professor of Music and Organist to the Chapel of Our Lord at Concordia University, River Forest, Illinois, where he teaches organ, music history and related courses. He is also the chair of the music department. He keeps an active schedule as teacher, workshop leader and organ recitalist. He has taught in the AGO Pipe Organ Encounter (POE) and was on the worship committee for the 2006 AGO National Convention in Chicago. The immediate past national Director of Educational Concerns for the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians (ALCM), he is currently serving on the committee for the Region III conference in 2008. He has been a presenter at the Institutes on Liturgy, Preaching, and Church Music (LCMS) and has played at national conferences of the ALCM. A summer seminar in France and Switzerland provided opportunity to study the organs and organ music of these countries. Steven has written hymn preludes for Hymnal Supplement 98 (CPH) and Concordia Hymn Prelude Series. Hymn settings are in Hymnal Supplement 98 (CPH) and Lutheran Service Book. He is a contributor to Key Words in Church Music and Thine the Praise: Essays on Lutheran Church Music in honor of Carl Schalk. The bachelor and master of church music degrees are from Concordia University, River Forest. He holds a D. Mus. in organ performance from Northwestern University. His organ teachers have included David J. Wilson, Herbert Gotsch, Robert Lodine, Richard Enright, and Wolfgang Rubsam.