Artistic Staff

Kristen has been serving the chorus since she joined in 1997. Over the past 14 seasons Kristen has worn many hats: advisor to the board, musical arranger, guest musician (flute & recorder),composer and Artistic Director. Kristen is also a proud, past recipient of the Chorus' Audrey Award, as well as one of The 20 Who Helped Make Everything Possible and received the Emory Churness Award for Leadership in June 2007. Kristen is a Partner and Director of Product Development for Astor Street Software, a company that produces software for the performing arts. Kristen has a BA in Theatre from Carroll College and an MBA with an emphasis in Information Systems from Keller Graduate School of Management.

Jamie Schmidt is a graduate student in the Masters of Music-Collaborative Piano program at UW-Milwaukee. This past summer she played keyboards for the American Folklore Theater in Door County, WI. She previously worked in Sioux City, Iowa where she served as staff accompanist/organist for Briar Cliff University, Western Iowa Tech Community College, Sioux City West High School, Bishop Heelan High School and Grace United Methodist Church. As part of her duties she was involved in choral activities, opera scenes and musicals including 42nd Street, CATS, Sweeny Todd, Footloose, H.M.S. Pinafore, Working, Trouble in Tahiti, and most recently No, No, Nannette. Jamie received her BA in music and accounting from Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, Iowa. Jamie is currently studying with Jeffry Peterson, Jamie Johns, and Elena Abend and has previously studied with Dr. Richard Steinbach and Dr. Judit Jaimes.