Developing boys through the discipline of music
Mailing Address:
Land of Lakes Choirboys
P.O. Box 74
Elk River, Minnesota 55330
Physical Address:
Land of Lakes Choirboys
6437 Norris Lake Road
Elk River, Minnesota 55330
Telephone: 763.213.8105
E-Mail: choir@lolcb.org
Aaron Carpenter, Artistic Director
Aaron J. Carpenter was appointed Artistic Director in October of 2011. He holds a B.A. in Vocal Performance from St. John's University, Collegeville, where he studied choral conducting with Dr. Axel Theimer, Ms. Mary Jo Bot, Paul Richards, OSB and additional studies with Dr. Rene Clausen. He has studied voice with Dr. Frank Summerside, Dr. Scott Dewese and Dr. Carolyn Finley. While at St. John's University he worked with the St. John's Boys' Choir directing their Training Choir and teaching sight-singing, ear training, solfege, recorder and music theory. Mr. Carpenter is also the Director of Worship at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Maple Grove, MN where he directs a 35-voice choir. He is the founder and conductor of the Festival Community Orchestra and has recently been invited to serve as the guest conductor of the Minnesota Catholic All-State Honors Boychoir. Mr. Carpenter is an active member of ACDA where he currently serves as the Minnesota Repertoire and Standards Chair for Boys' Choirs. He is also a member of NPM, ALM and AGEHR. He and his wife, Maria, have two children, Noah and Isabella.
Lisa Griffin, Accompanist
Ms. Griffin has been an accompanist with the Land of Lakes Choirboys since 2001, and teaches piano lessons at the choir building. She is a graduate of Concordia University in St. Paul, MN and has been a professional accompanist in the Twin Cities metro area for over twenty years. She is the Music Director for the contemporary worship band at Augustana Lutheran Chuch in West St. Paul and resides with her husband, Nick, and daughter Madeleine in Elk River, MN.
Mary Jo Buettner, Administrative Assistant
Mary Jo is the nucleus of the organization, keeping us organized and on track. She is the mother of two sons, Dan, who was a member of the Choir from 1991-1993 and Steven, who is serving in the U.S. Air Force. The light of her life is her grandson Simon. With manyyears of office experience and Mary Jo brings a multitude of experience and qualities to this position. She comes from a musical family. Her mother was a professional opera singer and her great uncle a concert pianist. She herself has studied voice and has been singing since the third grade. Besides her administrative duties, she is there for the choirboys and their parents to keep the lines of communication open.
Paul (PJ) Fanberg, Executive Director
Paul (PJ) was a choirboy from 1994 to 1997 and has been a prefect with the Land of Lakes Choirboys since the fall of 2000. In July of 2008 he was promoted to the position of General Prefect and in March of 2010 was promoted to serve as only the third Executive Director. As General Prefect PJ oversees the manners, behavior, and leadership training of all Land of Lakes Choirboys members. As Executive Director PJ oversees all business aspects of the organization - inlcuding day-to-day operations, fundraising, grant writing, networking and strategic planning. PJ is a graduate of St. Cloud State University with a degree in business. In addition to his work with the choir, PJ is a member of the Minnesota National Guard.
Taylor Quinn, Associate Director
Taylor Quinn joins the LOLCB staff to serve as a voice instructor, music theory instructor and conductor of the Schola Cantorum. Mr. Quinn is a graduate of Northwestern College in St. Paul, MN where he received a B.M. in vocal performance. He currently serves as the Music Director with the Eagan Women of Note. Taylor has a strong background in teaching voice and serving as a voice coach for Extension Ministries at Northwestern College. He has also served as the co-director of the Young MAIsterSingers of Independence, MO and as the associate conductor with the Metropolitan Chorale of Kansas City. The LOLCB is thrilled to welcome Mr. Quinn to the staff and we look forward to shaping the future.
Corinne Olinger, Associate Director
Mrs. Olinger joins the LOLCB staff to serve as the director of the Prep Choir. Corinne received her B.M. in K-12 Vocal Music Education from the University of Minnesota-Duluth and currently is employed at St. Andrew's Catholic School in Elk River where she teaches K-5 general music and directs the Children's Choir. Mrs. Olinger has had two sons work through the ranks of the LOLCB giving her a great understanding of our organization and the value of our motto "Music, Respect, and Honor." Corinne is a member of ACDA and MMEA.
Kenny Calvert, Prefect
Kenny joined the Land of Lakes Choirboys as a Prep Choirboy in 1998. He went through the various choirs, ascended the ranks, and participated in several tours - both domestic and abroad. His time as a Land of Lakes Choirboy drew to a close when he graduated from the Viking Choir in 2005. He remained affliliated and involved with the choir and accepted the opportunity to become a prefect for the LOLCB in fall 2009.
In 2011, Kenny recieved an Associate of Arts degree from Anoka-Ramsey Community College. He is currently a senior at Northwestern College in St. Paul, MN, and i smajoring in psychology with a minor in Bible.
Adam Saxton, Prefect
Adam was a choirboy from 2001-2006 and traveled with the choir to all four corners of the United States. After working at the Choir's Summer Camp for five years he became a prefect in 2010. He is currently studying at Northwestern College pursuing a degree in History with hopes of one day attending law school. Dealing primarily with the younger Voyager Choir, Adam is involved in teaching the new boys the fundamentals of respect and honor.