Christmas with Caritas
December 7th, 2024
7:30 PM
​
Christ United Methodist Church
Featuring
Caritas Vocal Ensemble
Paolo Debuque, conductor
June Bethke Petrie, soprano
Laurie Botes Zaepfel, soprano
Anne Carlson, mezzo-soprano
Laura Saetre, mezzo-soprano
Katie Hines, alto
Kristen Tibben, alto
Erik Gulsvig, tenor
Matthias Hunt, tenor
Peter Smith, tenor/baritone
John Walsh, baritone/bass
Zachariah Mandell, bass
Nicholas Saetre, bass

Program
TBD
Since its founding in 2001, Caritas Vocal Ensemble has combined consistent musical excellence with a deep charitable mission, and has raised over $200,000 in funds for a variety of partner nonprofit organizations. The ensemble's program in Rochester explores classic Christmas themes of joy, wonder, and mystery with an eclectic mix of a cappella selections. It includes a musical telling of the classic poem Twas the Night before Christmas and a closing singalong in which members of the ensemble will lead the audience in Christmas and holiday favorites.
Established in 2002, Caritas Vocal Ensemble (originally named "Sacred Voice") came together as a response to 9/11. It has always been a part of our mission to spread love and kindness, whether that be through song, human connection, or donation. While our roots formed in performing mainly nonsecular music, Caritas Vocal Ensemble has since branched out and taken pleasure in performing a robust variety of choral genres.

Paolo Debuque

Paolo Debuque is a Filipino/Chinese-American conductor, artistic director, and designer noted for his innovative programming and commitment to grassroots, community-centered art. Trained in conducting, voice, and piano, his engagements have included Head of Performing Arts at the International School of Minnesota (PS-12), Founding Artistic Director of Path to Peace, a weeklong choral festival for gun violence prevention, and Founding Artistic Director of A Thousand Tongues, a concert series dedicated to amplifying the voices of Asian- American/Pacific Islander artists.
Paolo currently serves as Chorus Master of the Dakota Valley Symphony and as Chancel Choir Director at Good Samaritan UMC in Edina. He studied music at Swarthmore College and earned the Masters in Choral Conducting at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, studying with Dr. Jerry Blackstone. Further conducting study includes fellowships and apprenticeships with Interlochen Center for the Arts, Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Wintergreen Music Festival, Berkshire Choral International, Chorus America, and more.

Anne Carlson

Anne Carlson, mezzo-soprano, grew up in a musical family and sang all through childhood. She sang with the Armstrong High School Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, and with the University of Chicago Motet Choir. Anne lives in South Minneapolis with her husband and two kids. She enjoys reading, walking the dog around the lake, yoga, and strong coffee.

Erik Gulsvig

Erik Gulsvig, tenor, teaches seventh grade life science and has worked in the Wayzata Public Schools for over 20 years. He was previously in Caritas but took a hiatus to complete his Master's Degree in Curriculum and Teaching. His other choral experience includes the Gustavus Choir, Wright County Chamber Chorus in Buffalo, Two Rivers Chorale, One Voice Mixed Chorus, and The Summer Singers. Erik loves birds, having raised three different species of doves, two species of quail, canaries and a conure.

John Walsh

John F. Walsh, Jr, baritone/bass, is a professional photographer in the Twin Cities. John has been singing in one group or another since grade school. With over 30 years in the Minnesota Chorale, John is enjoying honing his listening skills in a smaaller ensemble. John lives with his love of 42 years in the Powderhorn neighborhood of Minneapolis and is proud of his son, his daughter-in-law, and his two beautiful granddaughters.

June Bethke Petrie

June Bethke Petrie, soprano, is a charter member of Caritas and is gratified to have spent these many years singing with wonderful people to help other non-profits fulfill their missions. As a child, she was in as many school groups and musical productions as she could be. As an adult, June sang in ensembles at the UW-Madison and with the Clara-Schumann-Kammerchor of Düsseldorf, but Caritas has been her choral home since the group formed in late 2001. She recently gave up her German-English translation business and retrained to teach English to adult speakers of other languages.

Katie Hines

Katie Hines, alto, has enjoyed both singing and making music as a cellist throughout her life. At Gustavus Adolphus College, Katie sang with the Gustavus Choir and Chamber Singers while pursuing her Music Education degree. She taught music for a few years, and then transitioned to the business world as a learning and development consultant and producer. She is presently employed at Land O' Lakes, serves on the Caritas board as chair, and lives in Brooklyn Park with her husband Rob and cocker spaniel, Duncan (Hines - get it?) along with the occasional visit from her two grown daughters.

Kristen Tibben

Kristen Tibben, alto, graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College with degrees in music and organizational management. While at Gustavus, she sang with the Gustavus Choir and Chamber Singers. After graduation, Kristen sang with the Dale Warland Symphonic Chorus and the Minnesota Chorale. She has been a member of Caritas Vocal Ensemble since 2006. Kristen is married and has two children. When she isn't singing or doing work for the Caritas Board, she enjoys tromping around in Minnesota state parks, reading, and gardening.

Laura Saetre​

Laura Saetre, mezzo-soprano, developed her love of choral singing at a young age through the Ascension Youth Choir in Stillwater. She continued to sing in multiple church choirs and school ensembles during high school and while attending Luther College. In recent years, Laura has enjoyed singing with the Valley Chamber Chorale in Stillwater, and the River City Chorale in Hudson. She is very excited for the opportunity to sing with a smaller ensemble again! Laura is a speech language pathologist for the Anoka-Hennepin School District. She lives in St. Paul with her husband and fellow-singer, Nick, and their two cats, Holly and Ivy. In addition to singing, they enjoy traveling, gardening, and adventurous eating!

Laurie Botes Zaepfel

Laurie Botes Zaepfel, soprano, has been a singer since childhood, participating in a variety of church, school, and community groups through the years. At St. Olaf College, she sang with the Chapel Choir and the Repertory Singers. Although large oratorio choirs have their own thrills, her real musical love is the intimate chamber choir. Laurie manages the office for Salem English Lutheran Church in the Uptown neighborhood of Minneapolis. She lives in St. Paul with her husband Joseph and has two young adult children. When not singing or tending to work, family needs, or social justice, Laurie likes to cook and to read, especially children's literature.

Matthias Hunt

Matthias Hunt, tenor, joined Caritas in 2019 after taking a break from choir for a few years while he traveled frequently as a broadcaster. He sang with the St. Olaf Choir and Waltham Abbey Singers and also has a passion for pre-Classical arrangements.

Nicholas Saetre

Nicholas Saetre, bass, is an IT technician and manager in Bloomington, and a lifelong singer. He took a long hiatus from singing professionally to pursue a career as a chef, and on his return to choral music, sang with several groups in the Stillwater Valley Area. He lives in the Highland Park neighborhood with his wife Laura, who also sings with Caritas. When not carrying a tune, Nick enjoys gardening, camping, and fly fishing.

Peter Smith

Peter Smith, tenor/baritone, spent much of his school life in music in both band and choir, and made himself a tenor in order to face off with his rival. He went to the University of Minnesota for music for a brief time before leaving to continue singing in musicals and church choirs across Minnesota. Caritas is his first group in many years and he looks forward to many more.

Zachariah Mandell

Zachariah Mandell, bass, has been singing and harmonizing just about all his life - just check his parents' home videos. While he focused on playing trombone in college and studying Greek and Latin language and literature (BA, Penn State, 2014; MA, University at Buffalo, 2017), he continued to sing in (and direct) Orthodox Church choirs. He studied Orthodox sacred music (singing, conducting, and composing) at St. Vladimir's Seminary in Yonkers, New York (M. Div, 2020), performing and recording with several seminary ensembles as well as the Grammy- nominated St. Tikhon Choir. He is currently the music director at St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral in Northeast Minneapolis, a community gardener, a perpetually annoyed Pittsburgh Steelers fan, and a seeker of amazing food.
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