Lakeshore Chorale
Board of Directors

William Born, President
Dick Fellenz, Vice President
Niki Reynolds, Secretary
Rick Hoffmann, Treasurer
Linda Adams
Bruce Browne
John Buteyn
Richard Fellenz
Eleanor Jung
Mary Klein
Bernie Markevitch
Paul Thompson (ex officio)
Casandra Palmer (ex officio)
Heather Hammond (ex officio)
Penny Kindraka (ex officio)

Lakeshore Chorale Music Director/Conductor
Paul Thompson

Paul Thompson, the fourth conductor in the history of the Lakeshore Chorale, comes to the group fresh from finishing his Masters in Choral Conducting at UW-Milwaukee. Paul is also a faculty member at UW-Manitowoc, where he directs the chorus and teaches theory, aural skills, and music literature classes. Prior to attending UWM, he was director of vocal music and jazz studies at St. Mary's Springs High School in Fond du Lac, WI, where he directed the Concert Choir, Vocal Jazz ensembles, Madrigal Singers, Music Liturgy Ensemble, and the Jazz Band. He has also directed church music for a number of years and is currently the director of choirs at Mt. Zion Lutheran church in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. 

As a singer, Paul has received honors including winning the 2008 UWM Concerto and Aria competition and taking first place at the Wisconsin NATS competition as a college senior in 2005. He has also appeared as a soloist with the Green Lake Festival, the Fond du Lac Summer Music Festival, the South Shore Chorale, and the Fond du Lac Chamber Singers.

Paul embraces a wide range of musical genres, citing versatility and breadth as a virtue for any musician with the belief that “good music informs good music, regardless of era or genre. Understanding jazz makes for a better performance of Mozart. Understanding Puccini makes for a better country singer.” Paul has successfully tested this idea over the years, having played throughout the Midwest with jazz and rock groups, working on studio work from Country to Christian music, and directing a pop music review at Maxamillion's in Mt. Calvary since 2007.

Lakeshore Youth Chorale Conductor
Heather Hammond

Heather Hammond received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Carthage College and her Master of Music Education degree in choral conducting and literature from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She was employed for eight years in the Cedar Grove-Belgium School District, where she had the opportunity to work with grades five through twelve in both vocal and general music.

Heather has been seen on stage in the JMKAC’s production of Cinderella, Broadway Baby Dinner Theater, featured in Spotlight Productions of West Bend dinner theater, and in recital with Dr. Arthur Johnson and Riley McKinch.

Heather has a private voice studio in Sheboygan Falls and is also a singing member of the Lakeshore Chorale.

Lakeshore Chorale Accompanist
Kristin Collom

Kristin Collom is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree in Collaborative Piano with a vocal emphasis at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She graduated magma cum laude from Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and a minor in Spanish. At Ithaca, she placed first in the Mary Hayes North Competition for Senior Piano Majors. In 2010, her chamber trio at UWM was selected for the final round of the Wisconsin Public Radio's Neale-Silva Young Artists' Competition.

Kristin has previously taught high school and junior high school choir and band in Kenosha. She is currently the accompanist for the UW-Milwaukee University Choir, Women's Chorus and Opera and teaches privately. Kristin studies with Jeffry Peterson, Katja Phillabaum, and Judit Jaimes.   

Kristin is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society and the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. 

Lakeshore Youth Chorale Accompanist
Drea Wagner

Drea Wagner is a 2009 graduate of Lakeland College with a degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy. She teaches at New Song Piano Studio at her home in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, where she has been sharing her love of music with her students since 2004. Her piano students have won many awards at local and state competitions, and performed successfully in recitals. Drea is an active member of the Michibago Music Teachers Association, a local organization in which she serves as secretary. She has also interned with the Wisconsin Music Teachers Association, and is a member of Music Teachers National Association.

Drea is an accomplished performer, arranger, composer, improviser, and church musician. While in high school she began studying with Dr. Arthur Johnson, and has since won many competitions and awards, including the WMTA Badger State Keyboard Competition, and the Lakeland College 2009 Outstanding Student in Piano Performance and Pedagogy award. In 2006, she collaborated on a Lakeland College project promoting the music of Andras Viski in a concert at the Stefanie H. Weill Center and on a recording, Elismeres. Drea is active in the local music community, playing in area concerts and master classes, as well as serving in the music ministry at Manitowoc Baptist Church.