CONTACT:
Katrina Wallmeyer
612-547-1472
katrina@vocalessence.org

VOCALESSENCE WELCOMES SIX NEW BOARD MEMBERS

MINNEAPOLIS — March 18, 2015 — Minneapolis-based choral ensemble VocalEssence announced today that six new members have joined its Board of Directors – Ann Farrell, Joe Kalkman, Alfred Moore, David Myers, Timothy C. Takach, and Dorene Tebbe Wernke. All six new board members have been actively involved with non-profit organizations in the Twin Cities throughout their respective careers.

A vocal scholar from Missouri, Ann Farrell relocated to Minneapolis in 1991, served as an executive in the agency arena before acquiring Caprico Advertising in 2008. She is passionate about music’s effect on the human condition, hence her involvement with organizations that promote music education and therapy. From her home studio, Ann teaches voice and cantors regularly for private events. Ann and her husband Brian, live in Mendota Heights.

Joe Kalkman is an executive consultant, leadership coach, and human resources professional. He has held executive positions at Best Buy, Northwest Airlines and Dow Chemical. He earned a master’s degree in Educational Psychology from the U of M, and is passionate about how people learn—at work, in schools, and at home. He is a life-long musician, and is active in his church music ministry as pianist/choral arranger. Joe and his wife Cathy have 2 musical daughters.

Alfred (Fred) Moore is the retired president of Fiserv Health. He led the management buy-out of Wausau Benefits from Liberty Mutual and served as its CEO before its sale to Fiserv. He is currently a director of Labrynth Healthcare Inc., American Players Theatre, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, American Composers Forum and VocalEssence. Fred is a graduate of St. Vincent College and the University of Pittsburgh. He completed the Advanced Executive Program at Kellogg School of Business and studied at the University of Vienna.   He is a Chartered Life Underwriter and a Fellow of the Life Insurance Management Institute. Fred has been married to Ann Mikulski Moore for 47 years and they have three adult offspring and six grandchildren.

David Myers is professor, University of Minnesota School of Music, where he served as director, 2008-2014.  He is on community and national boards and has taught in three U.S. universities and the University of Sydney (AUS).  He has been panelist/chair for the NEA and national task force chair for innovating higher education. His research emphasizes lifespan learning and community music.

Timothy C. Takach is a full-time composer and his music has been performed on A Prairie Home Companion, NPR and The Boston Pops holiday tour, and at venues such as the Library of Congress, Kennedy Center and Royal Opera House Muscat. Tim was a co-founder of the professional ensemble Cantus and sang in the group for 17 years. He is also a co-founder of Graphite Publishing. Tim lives in Minneapolis with his wife and two sons.

Dorene Tebbe Wernke is a Community Volunteer and has been a Hennepin County Guardian ad Litem for the past 15 years. Previously, she worked for Target Stores in In-store Marketing. She and her husband, Alan, currently live in Edina.

“I am thrilled to welcome Ann, Joe, Fred, David Tim, and Dorene to the VocalEssence board,” said VocalEssence Executive Director Mary Ann Aufderheide. “Their incredible wealth of experience and expertise will be a highly valued asset to VocalEssence.”

VocalEssence, called “one of the irreplaceable music ensembles of our time” by Dana Gioia, past chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, impacts thousands of students, singers, and composers each year through its initiative programs, contests, and support for innovative art. VocalEssence was founded in 1969 and has debuted more than 150 commissions and world premieres. For more information, visit www.vocalessence.org.

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