Meet Our
Artistic Staff
Dr. Amanda Huntleigh
Artistic Director
Dr. Amanda Huntleigh is Artistic Director of the Dubuque Chorale, Director of Programming and Vocal Studies at the Northeast Iowa School of Music, and founding director of the Galena Reprise Singers. As an advocate for vocal music making across the lifespan, she creates welcoming spaces for singers of every age and experience level through community choirs, intergenerational outreach initiatives, and masterworks collaborations. Collaborating partners include the Dubuque Symphony and Youth Orchestras, Julien Winds, Driftless Strings, and high school, collegiate, and community choirs across the tri-state area. In May 2027, she will guest conduct the Chicago Chorale in its spring concert, When the Light Returns.
As a full-time collegiate professional, Huntleigh is on faculty at Cornell College, conducting choirs and teaching courses in music education, music history, and music fundamentals. Previously she served on the faculties of Clarke University as Associate Professor of Music, Director of Choral Activities, and Music Program Director, and at Smith College as Assistant Director of Choral Activities. Huntleigh has led choirs touring in Chile, Latvia, Italy, and throughout the midwest. Huntleigh holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting from the University of Washington, a Master of Music degree in conducting from George Mason University, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Wartburg College. Her research on the communicative power of conducting gesture draws on her certification in Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analysis. Earlier in her career, she taught choral, instrumental, and general music in Illinois, Virginia, and Delaware public schools.
Karmella Sellers
Children’s Choirs Program Director
Karmella Sellers is the Children’s Choirs Program Director for the Dubuque Chorale and conducts the Legati Singers, the more advanced of the two Children’s Choirs.
Having been a music educator for over 34 years, she brings a wealth of experience with her to this position and firmly believes that music not only enriches lives, but also teaches discipline, team work, and responsibility. As a music specialist in the Dubuque Community School District since 2005, she has served the community through teaching elementary children about the wonders of music and choral singing.
Sellers is originally from Los Angeles, California. She received her Bachelor of Music Education from Grand Canyon University (Phoenix, Arizona) and her Masters in Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University. In 2009, Sellers achieved National Board Certification.
When she is not sharing in music-making with children, Sellers likes to read, to travel with her husband, Rory, and to spend time with her grown children and not-so-grown grandchildren.
Victoria Bausman
Staccati Singers Conductor
Victoria Bausman is the director of the Staccati Singers of the Dubuque Chorale Children’s Choirs. In addition to directing the Staccati Singers, Bausman teaches K-5 General Music at Bellevue Elementary School. Apart from teaching and directing, Bausman enjoys singing with the Dubuque Chorale and Cadenza.
Bausman earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education as well as a Vocal Performance Certificate at Elmhurst University in Elmhurst, IL. During her studies, Bausman had multiple opportunities to travel to other countries, such as Jamaica, Austria, and the Czech Republic to widen her horizons as well as further her experience in music and teaching. Prior to teaching in Bellevue, Bausman was the general music teacher and choral director at Galena Middle School and Galena High School.
Than Chesher
Associate Director
Than Chesher is the Associate Director for the Dubuque Chorale. In addition to the Dubuque Chorale, Chesher directs the choirs of Dubuque Senior High School and teaches a Modern Band class introducing students to contemporary instruments and recording techniques. He has directed choirs in Iowa and Minnesota, where students earned honors in conference, state, and national honor choirs.
Chesher comes to Dubuque with 28 years of professional musical experience performing for amusement parks, cruise ships, and onstage as a vocalist and bassist. His academic research includes individual well-being through music, student musician identity, and popular music in schools. Chesher received his Master of Arts in Music Education from the University of Iowa and his Bachelor of Music Education from Morningside College.
Dr. Sharon Jensen
Chorale Accompanist
Dr. Sharon Jensen holds music degrees from Calvin College, the University of Texas, and the University of Michigan. The recipient of a Rotary Fellowship, she studied at the Hochschule für Musik in Vienna, Austria, where she received the Artist’s Diploma.
She has performed with orchestras throughout the Midwest and at Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall for four consecutive years. In July 2016, she was a pianist for the Prague Choral Festival and performed with members of the Czech Philharmonic in Smetana Hall. Jensen has also been heard on Chicago’s WFMT Dame Myra Hess series and NPR’s Live from Landmark Center and Live from the Chazen.
Recently retired from a 35-year university teaching career, Jensen maintains a piano studio in Dubuque, IA. In 2015, she was honored as the Nationally Certified Teacher of the Year from the state of Iowa and in 2020 as the Iowa Foundation Fellow.
Amanda Hauta
Children's Choirs Accompanist
Amanda Hauta, MM, is an adjunct professor at the University of Dubuque where she has taught World Music. She sings with the Julien Chamber Choir and teaches piano and accordion lessons. She loves accompanying the Dubuque Chorale Children’s Choirs. She completed a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from the University of Northern Colorado and a Master of Music degree from the University of Minnesota Duluth. Hauta’s current project is learning how to play bagpipes with the Dubuque Fire Pipes and Drums. She lives in Dubuque with her husband and two sons.
Benjamin Kunz
Cadenza Accompanist
Dr. Benjamin Kunz is a licensed clinical psychologist who finds making music to be among his primary sources of coping and balance. He has been a church musician since before he should have been allowed and thanks all of those who have mentored him and endured the early years. He started playing the piano at age four at the American Suzuki Institute, later continuing instruction in Madison, Wisconsin. He is a product of quality public school music education, performing vocally and playing piano, bass, and percussion (selected initially to avoid having to haul any instruments back and forth to school). He continued his music involvements and training at Olivet Nazarene University, traveling extensively around the midwest singing in and accompanying various choirs, groups, and ensembles. Working as a Worship Arts Director for many years in the Chicagoland area, Ben has accompanied, arranged, conducted, and served as a vocal and music director for many church and theater productions. Recent opportunities include collaborations with some wonderfully talented musicians and friends in church music, as well as the Kankakee Valley Symphony Chorus and the Kankakee Valley Theatre Association. In addition to Cadenza, he is currently a collaborative pianist at Dubuque Senior High School. Relatively new to Dubuque with his wife and four children, they are enjoying all that the Driftless area has to offer and he is grateful for this opportunity to be involved making music with others in the community.
Board of
Directors
Click on an individual's name if you wish to send them an email.
Mark Niemer, President
Tara Dunn, Vice President
Greg Orwoll, Treasurer
Danielle Phillips, Secretary
Macayla Albee
Emily Amato
Joe Amato
Nicholas Anderson
Doug Henry
Michael Sivill
Sarah Slaughter
Committee
Chairs
Artistic Planning: Amanda Huntleigh
Education and Outreach: Mary Beth Ferring
Finance, Auditing: Greg Orwoll
Fundraising: Terry Eckhart
Governance and Personnel: Terry Eckhart
Librarian: Mary Beth Ferring
Logistics: Mark Niemer
Membership: Nicholas Anderson
Publicity: Sarah Slaughter
Board Documents
| Handbook |
The handbook gives a welcome to the organization, and covers topics like dues, attendance, and concert attire. |
| Strategic Plan |
The Strategic Plan defines goals and objectives for the next five years in order to achieve our mission. |
| By-Laws |
The Dubuque Chorale’s by-laws are the operating manual of the organization. The Board encourages the members of the Chorale to be familiar with them. |