Ryan Fitch is a 2002 graduate of Midland Lutheran College with a B.A. in Music Education. At Midland Ryan studied voice, organ, and piano with professors Dr. Lucinda Sloan, Dr. Charles Wilhite, and Dr. Claire Bushong. Ryan is currently in the Masters program for vocal performance at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln where he studies with Professor Donna Harler-Smith. Besides being a full time student, Ryan serves as Director of Worship and Music and Organist for Salem Lutheran Church in Fremont.
Georg Getty is returning to Omaha after spending educational time in Australia, South/Southeast Asia and Europe. An alumnus of Omaha's Central High School, Georg holds a B.A. in Music and a B.S. in Psychology from Nebraska Wesleyan University, where he was actively involved in choral, solo and opera music activities. Last year, living in Melbourne, Australia, he continued this pattern of involvement at Monash University while performing with Sonic Art (an experimental electronic group) and researching Australian Aboriginal country/western music. Georg first sang with the Omaha Chamber Singers for a brief time in late 2003 and is happy to be back; Omaha is a wonderful place to call home.
A graduate of Creighton University, Kim Grabenstein is the Legal Assistant for the Omaha World-Herald Company and serves on the state board of the Nebraska Association of Legal Assistants. She is also the organist for St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, accompanist for the Tangier Shrine Chanters, and has sung with the Opera Omaha Chorus, Omaha Symphonic Chorus and Die Meistersingers. This is Kim’s fourth season with the Omaha Chamber Singers.
Sara Henrichs is in her third season for the Omaha Chamber Singers. She received her Music Education degree from Hastings College in 1993, and her Masters in Music Education from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln in 2001. She has been a high school choir director for thirteen years, of which the last six have been at Papillion-La Vista High School. Ms. Henrichs has served as Show Choir Repertoire and Standards Chair for the Nebraska Choral Directors Association for the past 8 years, and is currently Facilities co-chair for the North Central NCDA Convention to be held in Omaha in 2006. Her top show choir, Free Spirit, has received many awards including best vocals, most original selection, best male and female soloist, and the Spirit Awards in competition. Recently, her show choir performed at the NMEA Convention in Lincoln, and the PLHS Concert Choir has been invited to perform at the Doane Vocal Festival in January. Sara resides in Omaha.
Dan Hutsell is in his third season with the Omaha Chamber Singers. Dan is currently the choir director at Blair High School. At Blair, Dan directs four choirs, two show choirs, teaches lessons and theory, and co-directs the 12th Night Festival and musical. He began his teaching career with an appointment at Papillon-La Vista South High School where he worked with both the instrumental and vocal music departments. Dan graduated from Hastings College with a bachelors of music in education in the spring of 2004.
Brian Jay is an active area musician. He has sung in several choral organizations including River City Mixed Chorus and the Opera Omaha Chorus. Mr. Jay is a staff organist at North Side Christian Church. He is a graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan University, where he studied piano with Dr. Larry Jones, received private instruction in voice and saxophone, pursued coursework in vocal and instrumental music education, and performed with university ensembles. Mr. Jay has experience directing choirs for schools, churches and community groups. He accompanied music groups and taught vocal music for public schools in Nebraska and Iowa until 1997. Now employed by First Data, he is a computer programmer, and is living and working in Omaha.
Erinn Machacek is the director of choirs at Omaha Bryan High School and Lutheran Church of the Master. She holds bachelors degrees in Vocal performance and music education and a Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Doane College.
Professionally speaking, her educational teaching experience has included Lincoln, Columbus, Norfolk, Battle Creek, and Schuyler. Honors include being a guest adjudicator for Doane Vocal Festival and Nebraska Choral Directors Association Jazz/Show Choir competition, Cross County conference choral clinic director, Dorian Opera Apprentice program at Luther College, Repertoire and Standards Chair for Nebraska State Choral Directors, 2006 Planning committee for Regional North Central Choral Directors Convention, and 2004 recipient of Nebraska Choral Director’s Outstanding Young Director of the Year.
Professional involvement includes Nebraska Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference, Nebraska Choral Directors Association, American Choral Director Association, and Omaha Education Association.
Erinn and her 4 year-old twins live in Omaha.
Shelly Niewohner is currently teaching Vocal Music 5-12 at Tekamah-Herman High School. She is a graduate of Springfield High School (in Minnesota) and received her degree from Bemidji State University. While at Bemidji, she was an active member of the Bemidji Choir, the chamber singers, the madrigal dinners (all under the direction of Dr. Paul Brandvik), opera night soloist and ensemble member (with Dr. Fulton Gallagher), a choir officer and soprano section leader for the Bemidji Choir.
Her teaching experience began in Silver Bay along the north shore of Lake Superior in a K-12 position (with varsity volleyball!). She then moved to her hometown of Springfield for a 5-12 position, met a Nebraskan and made her move to Tekamah-Herman the following school year.
She enjoys singing with the Omaha Chamber Singers and spending time with her family.
A.J. Reimer is the choral director at Elkhorn Ridge Middle School, teaching students in grades 6 through 8. He graduated from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln with a degree in Music Education and is enjoying the challenges of a classroom. He appreciates the opportunity to sing with the Omaha Chamber Singers and the patience of Stacy and Owen for letting him skip out on dishes to sing.
