The MDSC is made up of two representatives from each of the sophomore, junior and senior classes of music majors. It serves as the liaison between students and Music Department faculty and administration. In addition, it sponsors several social events each year. Contact any of the representatives with your ideas, questions, and concerns.
Senior Representatives
Hannah Leiseth ’25 Alice Ryan ‘25 Mars Dall ‘25 Henry Vermeer ’25
Junior Representatives
Josie Scozzari ’26 Andrew Kramer ’26
Sophomore Representatives
Bree Nissley ’27 John Rasmussen ’27
Student Organizations – see below for student-run music ensembles.
Pi Kappa Lambda is an honor society recognizing outstanding accomplishment in music. The Beta Delta chapter was founded at St. Olaf College in April 1964. Music faculty, and junior and senior students majoring in music are eligible for membership. The Music Department pays the one-time membership fee.
The St. Olaf student chapter of the American Choral Directors Association is part of a national organization that works to connect music educators, choral directors, composers, and other choral music enthusiasts via conferences, topic meetings, workshops and masterclasses, as well as social events. With a student membership, future directors and educators can explore the benefits and resources of membership to a professional choral organization while still in college. Meetings are usually monthly, dates/times TBD by group. New members can join by emailing silves1@stolaf.edu or coming to a meeting! All are welcome! Insta: @stolaf_acda Facebook: St. Olaf ACDA Student Chapter Sign up for our alias on Instagram! Faculty Advisors: Anton Armstrong (x3183) and Therees Hibbard (x3187)
Faculty Advisor: Leigh Ann Garner (x3190) The Music Educators’ National Conference is a voluntary, nonprofit organization representing all phases of music education in schools, colleges, universities, and teacher-education institutions. Active MENC membership is open to all persons engaged in music teaching or other music educational work. Look for the posters and announcements about becoming a part of MENC.
Faculty Advisor: Dale Kruse (x3931) The St. Olaf Student NATS Chapter (National Association of Teachers of Singing) is intended to increase and enhance a student’s knowledge and understanding of singing, pedagogy, vocal science, literature, and artistry, and to stimulate discussions that will benefit future singers and teachers of singing. Membership dues are required.
Agnes A CappellaAgnes A Cappella is St. Olaf’s treble-voiced a cappella music ensemble. Comprised of 12 upperclass soprano and alto singers, we perform a variety of repertoire from pop, rock, indie, R&B, and jazz genres.
Rehearsals: Usually 3 hours per week equally split between a weeknight and a weekend.
Performances: 1 per semester.
Social Media: Instagram
New members are chosen through an audition process during the Spring semester. Contact Hannah Paulson (paulso7@stolaf.edu) for more information.
Faculty Advisor: Karen Wilkerson
A community of student choristers dedicated to performing and preserving the works of F. Melius Christiansen and the St. Olaf choral tradition.
Rehearsals: TBD, one hour per week during the spring.
Performances: We have one concert every spring, where the choir performs a larger motet accompanied by other smaller works.
Social Media: Website, Instagram, YouTube
New members join by filling out the form linked on our website. Contact Thomas McCarthy for more information.
Faculty Advisor: Anton Armstrong
Hill HarmonicsWe are an all voice-part a cappella group who sings popular music. We arrange almost all of the songs we feature at our performances.
Rehearsals: Wednesdays, 8:30-10, and Sundays, 4-5:30, in HOM 111
Performances: 1-2 performances each semester, with a concert in the Pause and a smaller holiday-themed event.
Social Media: Facebook or Instagram.
Auditions are at the start of the fall semester, in the middle of September. Contact Jaclyn Duellman for more information.
Faculty Advisor: Louis Epstein
The LimestonesLimestones A Capella is a tenor/bass ensemble founded at St. Olaf in 1989. We are the oldest a capella group on campus, known for singing and arranging pop/country music styles.
Rehearsals: 3 hours per week, usually in three 1-hour rehearsals in Ytterboe Lounge or HOM usually
Performances: We perform our Fall and Spring concerts on the Lion’s Pause Mane Stage, and usually try to do other gigs around town campus and the Northfield community as well (ex., Winter Walk, Armory)
Social Media: Twitter, Instagram, website
We usually have auditions in the spring semester, before summer break. The group doesn’t have a specific size limit. Contact Tommy Krueger for more information.
Staff Advisor: Brandon Cash
Ole Ave Vocal Jazz is a 12-member vocal ensemble comprised of various majors and class years, that performs a range of music, from pieces sung a cappella to pieces accompanied by a jazz combo. Our goal is to share our passion with our surrounding community and hopefully get them swingin’ to the beat!
Rehearsals: Sundays, 2:30-4 p.m. in the Pause; Thursdays, 8-9 p.m. in CHM
Performances: 1 per semester
Social Media: Instagram
We hold auditions at the beginning of the school year. However, if group members are away on study abroad, for example, we may recruit mid-year. Contact Obsa Kedir for more information.
Faculty Advisor: Therees Hibbard
Spiritus NovusWe are a group of singers dedicated to lifting voices in community and creativity! We sing compositions by St. Olaf students and collaborate with other interdisciplinary artists on campus.
Rehearsals: Saturdays, 12:30 p.m., in CHM 224
Performances: 1 per semester
Social Media: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube
We hold auditions at the beginning of each semester. Contact Elijah Culp for more information.
Faculty Advisor: Therees Hibbard
Synergy Musicians’ CollectiveSynergy Musicians’ Collective is a completely student-led orchestral-based ensemble committed to creative and collaborative programming, providing opportunities for student composers, conductors, performers, and those interested in arts management opportunities. On every program, the executive board creates a concert experience that includes a student composition premiere, multiple student soloists, and other collaborative artists.
Rehearsals: Sundays, 7-8:30 p.m., in CHM 140
Performances: 1 per semester
Social Media: Instagram
There are not auditions for the group, and people can show interest via our interest form at the end of each semester for the following semester. Contact Aiden Kocian for more information.
Faculty Advisor: Scott Anderson
St. Olaf TaikoWe are St. Olaf’s student-run Japanese drumming group! Taiko (太鼓) is a form of Japanese drumming, passed down through oral and visual tradition. St Olaf Taiko is dedicated to teaching the art of taiko drumming, aims to develop as a performance based group, and hopes to spread our talents and knowledge through a variety of performances throughout the year to a diverse population. St. Olaf Taiko was founded in 2004 and has always been student led.
Rehearsals: Sundays, 1-3pm, in CHM 140, and Fridays, 6-8pm CHM 140/Dance Studio 3
Performances: Concerts at the end of each semester with smaller performances throughout the school year.
Social Media: Instagram, YouTube, Website
Members can join at the beginning of the each semester (including J-term) by showing up to rehearsals! No musical experience is necessary – everyone is welcome. Contact Koharu Ferguson (fergus14@stolaf.edu) or stolaf.taiko@gmail.com for more information.
Faculty Advisor: Chung Park