Music Staff

Craig Carmody-Anderson, Founding Director

Craig Carmody-Anderson heard the world-famous Vienna Choir Boys in 1962, and was so overwhelmed by that performance that he vowed to have his own boychoir one day. In July 1976, he placed an advertisement in a local newspaper for this new choir - The Land of Lakes Choirboys - and on August 11, his dream came true as his boychoir began to take shape. Mr. Carmody-Anderson, a retired career Police Officer, holds a B.A. in music from St. Cloud State University. He has studied abroad with various choral conductors including Professor Wolfgang Powischer, a former conductor of the Vienna Boys' Choir, and Professor Ingrid Doll-Kallinger, at the Hochschule for Music and the Performing Arts, also in Vienna. Mr. Carmody-Anderson is widely recognized as one of the most successful of American children's choir conductors, and he has served as a consultant to many boychoirs across the country. Mr. Carmody-Anderson retired from the Champlin, Minnesota police force May 31, 1995, after 28 years of service. Since turning over the Artist Director’s baton to Francis Stockwell in 1997 he has remained with the organization as director of the Alumni Choir.

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Francis Stockwell, Artistic Director

Francis D. C. Stockwell, born in New Zealand, began his musical career at a very early age. At age six he was studying piano and later violin. He was also a soloist in a local church choir. At age 15 he received his first concert diploma for piano from the Trinity College of Music London. In 1968 he gained two further concert diplomas for piano: one from the Royal Schools of Music, London, the other a Fellowship from the Trinity College of Music London. In the same year he graduated from the University of Canterbury with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music and languages. In 1969 he left New Zealand for Switzerland to continue his piano studies at the Conservatoire de Music in Geneva. At the same time he accepted a teaching position in Zug, Switzerland at Institut Montana, a renowned international boys' school. There he taught English, music and Latin. In 1970 he gained a teacher's diploma in German from Hamburg and in the late 70's he went to Vienna where he lived and worked with the Vienna Boys' Choir. At the same time he studied voice with Gerald Trabesinger of the Vienna Boys' Choir Institute and with Ingrid Doll-Kallinger, Professor of Singing at the Musikhochschule in Vienna. In 1984 he returned to New Zealand to accept a position as Director of Music at Southwell Boy's School. Two years later he returned to Switzerland where he taught at Institut Montana and lectured in singing at the Conservatorium of Lucerne. In the fall of 1997 he arrived in Elk River, Minnesota to accept the post of Artistic Director of the Land of Lakes Choirboys.

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Aaron Carpenter, Associate Conductor

Aaron J. Carpenter serves as an Associate Conductor working with the Voyager Choir and Nordic Choir. He holds a B.A in Vocal Performance from St. John’s University 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 the Training Choir and teaching sight-singing, ear training, solfege, recorder and music theory. Aaron is also the Director of Worship at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Maple Grove, MN where he directs an adult choir, a handbell choir and serves as the conductor of the Festival Community Orchestra. He is an active member of ACDA, NPM, ALM and AGEHR. Aaron and his wife, Maria, have two children, Noah and Isabella.

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Lisa Griffin, Accompanist

Lisa has accompanied the Training, Resident and Nordic Choirs since 2001, and teaches piano and ear-training at the choir building. She is a graduate of Concordia University in St. Paul Minnesota 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 Church in West St. Paul and resides with husband Nick and daughter Madeleine in Elk River.

Jennifer Maxfield, Accompanist

Jennifer has accompanied the Alumni Choir for two years. A graduate of the College of William and Mary, she has many years’ experience as a church musician and accompanist and is the mother of two Choirboys, one member of the Alumni Choir, and one choirgirl.

Administrative Staff

Roger Vogt, Interim Executive Director

Roger is a former choirboy from 1992 to 1996 who came back to join the choir as a Prefect in 2000. In July of 2008 he was named the Interim Executive Director. Although new at this job, he brings knowledge and experience from his time spent working with and for the previous Executive Director, John Fitzgerald. He primarily tours with the Viking Choir and works with them as his principle choir. Roger attained his degree in physical education from St. Cloud State University in May of 2007, and is currently working on his Master of Science in sports management at St. Cloud State University.

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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, one of whom was a member of the Choir from 1991-1993. He is now a student at the University of Minnesota. The light of her life is her grandson Simon.  With twenty-seven years of office experience and seven years in a supervisory position, 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.

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Paul J. Fanberg, General Prefect

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. In this position PJ oversees the manners, behavior, and leadership training of all Land of Lakes Choirboys members. He primarily tours with the Nordic Choir. PJ currently attends St. Cloud State University pursuing a degree in business. In addition to his work with the choir, PJ is a member of the Minnesota National Guard.

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Cullen Graner, Prefect

Cullen is a former choirboy from 1991 to 1995 who came back to join the choir as a Prefect in 2007. He works primarily with the Training and Resident Choirs in training them in the basics of behavior. Cullen is currently pursuing his degree in nursing.

Christian Lysholm, Prefect

Christian is a former choirboy from 1998 to 2005 who came back to join the choir as a Prefect in 2008. Christian is a senior at St. Francis High School in nearby St. Francis. He plans on attending college after he graduates.

Seth Maxfield, Prefect

Seth is a former choirboy from 2005 to 2007 who came back to join the choir as a Prefect in 2008. Seth has been a member of the Alumni Choir for the past two years. He is currently a junior at Trinity Lutheran High School in St. Francis where he plays basketball and golfs. After he graduates high school, he plans on attending college and majoring in history.