Lakeshore Chorale
Board of Directors

Mary Klein, President
Molly Lieberman,Vice President
John Buteyn, Secretary
Mary Klahn, Treasurer
Linda Adams
Mary Ahern
William Born
Richard Daehnert
Joseph Hemauer
Eleanor Jung
Bernie Markevitch
Elise McKinch
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,  is a member of the choral faculty at UW-Milwaukee, where he directs the University Choir, the Men's Choir, and teaches conducting and voice classes. Prior to this, Paul was on faculty at UW-Manitowoc, where he taught music theory, aural skills, music literature and appreciation, history of rock and roll, and directed the choir. Paul holds a master of music in choral conducting from UW-Milwaukee, and a bachelor of music in voice from Marian University in Fond du Lac.  Between degrees, 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. Paul is also the music and tech director at Maximillian's in Mt. Calvary, WI, where he is instrumental in the production of two professional music reviews each year, and has prepared singers for performances with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Bob McGrath of Sesame Street.

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 also performs regularly with the East Side Chamber Players, a group of young professional musicians from the Milwaukee area who perform concerts of chamber works throughout the Midwest. In addition, Paul has appeared as a guest artist with Vocal Tapestry, the UW-Milwaukee University Community Orchestra, Present Music in Milwaukee, and as a performer on the Yolanda Marculescu Vocal Arts Series.

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 built a choral program in grades five through twelve, including a swing choir and a variety of musical theater productions, more than doubling the size of existing ensembles.

Heather has been seen on stage in the JMKAC's production of Cinderella, in Swingtime Canteen for the Broadway Baby Dinner Theater, and has been featured in a number of shows with Spotlight Productions of West Bend dinner theater. She continues to present recitals, to further her education through workshops, and is active in a variety of musical organizations both as a participant and guest clinician.

After leaving the classroom to raise her two children and operate a private voice studio, Heather has recently taken a position at Barton Elementary School in West Bend. She has been a singing member of the Lakeshore Chorale for the past thirteen years and serves in the music ministry at First United Lutheran Church in Sheboygan. She is delighted and honored to begin her ninth year as the Lakeshore Youth Chorale Conductor.

Lakeshore Chorale Accompanist
Kristin Collom

Kristin Collom received a Master of Music degree in Collaborative Piano (vocal emphasis) from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2011. She graduated magna cum laude in 2007 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. As a member of the Conversa Trio, she was selected as a finalist in Wisconsin Public Radio’s 2010 Neale-Silva Young Artists’ Competition. Ms. Collom has studied with Jeffry Peterson, Judit Jaimes, Jamie Johns, and Katja Phillabaum.

Ms. Collom is currently an accompanist for the Milwaukee-based Kalliope Vocal Arts. She is a founding member of the East Side Chamber Players.

Ms. Collom previously taught high school and junior high school choir and band in Kenosha. While at UWM, she was the accompanist for the Concert Chorale, University Choir, Women’s Chorus, Men’s Glee Club, and Opera. She is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society and the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. She is an active freelance accompanist and piano teacher in the Milwaukee area. 

Lakeshore Youth Chorale Accompanist
Drea Wagner

Drea Wagner, Nationally Certified Teacher of Music, graduated in 2009 with a degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Lakeland College, where she studied with Dr. Arthur Johnson. Drea established New Song Piano Studio in 2004, since which time her students have won many awards at local, state, and national competitions, and performed successfully in recitals. Drea is an active member of the Michibago Music Teachers Association (MMTA), a local organization in which she serves as secretary. She is also on the executive board of the Wisconsin Music Teachers Association (WMTA), and a member of Music Teachers National Association (MTNA).

Drea is an accomplished performer, accompanist, arranger, composer, improviser, and church musician. Recent awards include the 2010 Festival for Creative Pianists Creative Teaching Incentive Award (Grand Junction, CO), the 2010 MMTA Member of the Year Award, and the 2009 Lakeland College Outstanding Student in Piano Performance and Pedagogy Award. Drea is active in the local music community, performing in area concerts and master classes, collaborating in a Classical Improvisation Duo with Arthur Johnson, and serving in the music ministry at Manitowoc Baptist Church.