Program
Songintroductionswrittenby Steve Lovaas
IhrMusici,FrischAuf! HansLeoHassler
IubilateDeo[II]à8 GiovanniGabrieli
JubilateDeo IvoAntognini
Quartet: CarolynBaker,SeanFagan,DaniSchlueter, MichaelSheppard AveVerumCorpus WolfgangAmadeusMozart
SongforAthene JohnTavener
WoisteinsoherrlichVolk JohannesBrahms
Lord,Thouhastbeenourrefuge R.VaughnWilliams
Quartet: Angela Bosco-Lauth, MattPearson,AmyResseguie, KennethScott
Tourdion PierreAttaingnant
RejoiceintheLamb BenjaminBritten
Soloists: Lilly Bailey,Heather Vesgaard,Matt Wiersma,Steve Lovaas
DieGedankensindfrei Arr.VonOliverGies ErgoBibamus JohannAndré
INTERMISSION
HeißaKathreinerle
TradGerman,arr.JoachimRohrer
Horch,waskommtvondraußenrein TradGerman,arr.MichaelJäckel
Welcome
RaiseaglassandliftyourspiritswithRockyMountainChamber Singers! Prost! Songs of Ceremony and Celebration exploresthejoyof communitythroughchoralmasterpiecesspanningcenturiesandcultures. FromfestiveworksbyHassler,MozartandBrittentorollickingGerman folksongsmeanttobesungtogether,RMCScelebrateslife,musicandthe joyofgatheringtogether.
Our Choir
AnnBunyanfoundedtheRockyMountainChamberSingersinLoveland, Coloradoin1988,withthegoalofbringingacappellachoralmusicto northernColorado.Thegroupenjoysperformingagreatvarietyofstyles, fromtheRenaissancemastersthroughfolksongsfromaroundtheworld, tomoderndoo-wop,jazz,barbershopandpop/rock.TheChamberSingers revelinthebreadthandvarietyofthisliterature,whichrequiresanearfor manydifferentstylesandadedicationtoprecisionandblend.
Audiencemembershaveraved,“Yourselectionofpiecesisinspired!”and “Suchwonderfulblendanddiction.”Reviewshavepraisedthe “…astoundingdisplayofvirtuosityintechnique,execution,styleand versatility”and“…exactphrasing,excellentdiction,impeccable intonationandathoroughknowledgeofeverystyle.”
Recordingsinclude“RMCSACappella!”,“ChristmaswiththeChamber Singers”,“GoTellItOnTheMountain”and“BestoftheRockyMountain ChamberSingers.”
Our Director, Dr. David Dunbar
BorninHeidelberg,Germany,DavidDunbarbeganhismusicaltrainingat anearlyageinpiano,organ,voice,cello,conducting,andcomposition.His formaleducationincludesaBachelorofMusicdegreefromBrigham YoungUniversity,aMasterofMusicdegreefromtheUniversityofNorth Texas,andaDoctorofMusicalArtsdegreefromtheUniversityofArizona. Dr.DunbaralsoholdsanAdvancedCertificateinScoringforMotion PicturesandTelevisionfromtheUniversityofSouthernCalifornia.Hehas conductedchorusesandorchestrasintheUnitedStates,Canada,and Europe,andcontinuestoworkasacomposer,arranger,andorchestrator. InadditiontobeingdirectoroftheRMCS(since2022),healsoservesas DirectorofMusicandtheArtsatFirstPresbyterianChurchofFortCollins.
Aaron Owen (joined2019)
Amy Resseguie (2013)
Angela Bosco-Lauth (2012)
Ann Jeffers (2024)
Carolyn Baker (2026)
Cassie Foust (2023)
Chris Lalonde (2024)
Dani Schlueter (2018)
Heather Vesgaard (2008)
Ian Rousom (2013)
Jean Lemmon (2025)
Meet The Singers
Aaron Owen dedicates himself to music, whether he’s playing saxophone, keys, clarinet, singing, or writing and producing music. By day he’s an apprentice electrician, and by night he gigs with two local bands, Texas Red and Hotel Wifi, headlining shows across the Front Range. Aaron enjoys singing in RMCS with his mom, Kristen.
Amy Resseguie is a writer, editor, and CSU alum who has spent her career working in communications and public engagement with the city of Fort Collins. Amy has sung with the Opera Fort Collins chorus and various church ensembles. She has loved singing with RMCS for the last decade, as well as helping out behind the scenes with our board duties and marketing efforts.
Angela Bosco-Lauth moved to Fort Collins for college and never left. After completing both her PhD and DVM degrees at CSU, she now works there as an associate professor teaching the next generation of veterinarians and researching infectious diseases. Music helps keep her balanced, and in addition to RMCS, she also sings with the Larimer Chorale. Her other hobbies include martial arts, horseback riding, hiking, hunting, and homesteading with her spouse and their assortment of pets.
Ann Jeffers has loved music and performing since early childhood. Since moving to NOCO in 2019, she has also sung with Seicento Baroque Ensemble, Pro Musica Terrae Amoris, and Loveland Opera Theater. Between 1980 and 2000, she lived in Boston and sang opera, oratorio and song recitals. In 2022 she retired from a career as a genetic counselor and clinical educator specializing in hereditary cancer. She lives happily in Loveland with her partner, Robin. Her daughter Fiona is a fearless wilderness EMT and educator.
Carolyn Baker has
Cassie Foust has always enjoyed music and singing and has earned a B.A. in music education from California State University, Fullerton. She lives in Loveland with her husband and two young children, with whom she currently stays home. She enjoys reading, kickboxing, and adventuring outdoors with her family. Cassie is loving her time with RMCS and getting back into singing and performing.
Chris Lalonde grew up in a music-loving household and got his start through musical theater and various brass instruments. He joined his first a cappella group in college at Notre Dame and has been involved in groups representing various styles since, including as a long-time member of the Barbershop Harmony Society. Chris is a recent transplant to Colorado after stops around the country and lives in Fort Collins with his wife, two boys, and two cats.
Dani Schlueter is a music therapist and voice/guitar/ukulele instructor at Foundation Music School in Ft. Collins. A native of Chicago, she earned a bachelor's in K-12 music education at Wartburg College in Iowa and a Masters in music therapy at CSU. She and her husband welcomed their first child in November 2023. Besides singing with RMCS, Dani enjoys sewing, board gaming, playing the ukulele, and being “Mama!”
Heather Vesgaard and husband Matt live in Fort Collins with their family. With degrees in social work from CSU, Heather is the executive director for the nonprofit youth development organization Partners. In addition to RMCS, Heather volunteers with the music and arts ministry at First Presbyterian Church Fort Collins and as a BOD member of the Centennial Children's Chorus. When not working, parenting, or singing, Heather enjoys cuddling her dogs and exercising in the Colorado sunshine!
Ian Rousom is a Fellow in the aerospace industry and a father of four very musical children. He is involved alongside his wife, Kristin, in many music and service roles throughout Colorado, particularly volunteering at Faith Church in Fort Collins. Ian holds degrees in chemistry, computer science, and information technology, and a minor in music. His hobbies include construction, stained glass, and woodworking.
Jean Lemmon returned to Colorado in 2020 after retiring from the Water Quality Division of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission. She has been involved in early music (Renaissance and earlier) since her days at Colorado College, is cofounder of Pro Musica Terrrae Amoris and is active with the music program at First Presbyterian Church of Fort Collins. Jean loves hiking, cooking good food, and knitting.
Joya Migliaccio was born and raised in Colorado Springs. She completed her
undergraduate and veterinary degrees at CSU. She currently practices primarily small animal medicine. She moved back to Fort Collins in 2021 where she lives with her 4 dogs, cat, and horse. In her free time outside of work and singing she enjoys exploring the outdoors, reading, baking, doing puzzles, and playing card and board games with her friends and family.
Justin Roth is a singer/songwriter and fingerstyle acoustic guitarist who toured nationally for over 20 years and released six albums. After a choral hiatus since the late 1900s, now he’s thrilled to sing with RMCS. He’s a father of two, husband of one, and spends his time teaching guitar, making YouTube tutorials, leading songwriting workshops in schools, transcribing music, DJing on KRFC, and playing solo gigs.
Kenneth Scott
Kristen Cummings lives in Fort Collins with her husband, Jason, your friendly ticket-taker at the door. As a recent empty nester, she’s adjusting to the quieter moments at home after raising four sons. Kristen studied music at CU Boulder and has sung with the Denver Opera Company, Larimer Chorale, and Dickens Carolers, with a fondness for music theatre performance. She works in communications in the travel industry and when not working can be found jetting off to new destinations. Kristen is thrilled to be singing again with her son, Aaron.
Lilly Bailey started singing before she could talk. She started singing in junior high choir back in Texas, through high school (making the Texas All State Choir!), and into college where she studied music. She has sung with Christ the King Singers in Dallas, and Fort Worth Chorale. Lilly was a choir director in Texas for 4 years before she and her husband Sean moved out to Fort Collins. Hobbies include hanging out with her cats, collecting house plants, and doing jigsaw puzzles.
Matt Pearson brings with him a lifelong love of singing in choirs and small ensembles. Originally from England, Matt relocated to Fort Collins in August, accompanying his wife as she began a new role at Colorado State University. Working remotely as a software professional, Matt appreciates the flexibility to support his children’s sports and music pursuits. In his free time, he enjoys exploring northern Colorado’s scenic surroundings and cheering on his beloved Liverpool FC.
Matt Wiersma has been involved in music for much of his life, performing in choirs and bands, and enjoying the opportunity to sing, play drums, or piano at church. Matt also stays busy with a wide range of home projects—everything from installing solar panels and a fireplace to renovating a school bus. Matt and Vickie are having a grand time exploring the wonders of parenthood with their 1 year old Felix, making this an exciting and memorable time for their
family.
Michael Sheppard grew up playing trumpet and played upright bass in high school and in the Omaha youth symphony. He also played bass guitar while in the Air Force. He sang with the New Life gospel quartet for over 30 years. He has studied voice with teachers Tom Turner, Daniel Nelson and, finally, Dr. John Lueck. In 1995, Mike’s good friend Dick Laingor encouraged him to audition for RMCS. This began one of Mike’s most fulfilling musical experiences to this day.
Sean Fagan is excited to join RMCS, ending a three-year choral break after moving to Fort Collins with his wife, Lilly Bailey. Previously, he performed across DFW Texas with the Fort Worth Chorale, Christ the King Singers, and the Goode Time Carolers. Though he earned a music degree from UT Arlington, Sean pivoted from recording studio work to a career in IT systems administration. Along with singing, Sean connects to his musical roots through bass guitar, DJing, and seeing concerts with Lilly and friends.
Steve Lovaas has a music degree from UConn and has performed in opera, choral, folk, and early-music ensembles around the country. Steve is the chief information security officer for the CSU System, and his community engagement has included stints as president of Opera Fort Collins and Colorado Science Olympiad. He and his wife, Heidi, now take every opportunity to explore a new retreat in the San Luis Valley.
Vickie Wiersma is thrilled to sing in this year's Christmas concert! An amateur in the traditional sense, she also sings for the praise band at Immanuel CRC, in recitals under the tutelage of Ginger Martin, and all day (and night) to her one year old son, Felix. When not singing, Vickie enjoys painting her nails, writing fiction, and putting on tea parties for her friends!
