About – Gaudium Verum

Board Members:

John Murgel

Treasurer/Organist/Tenor

John has been a Catholic church organist for 25 years, having launched his musical career early in life thanks to the dual benefit of growing up in a small town and being interested in organ music.

He has played in a number of parishes across Colorado and over time came to realize the inherent value in the Church's liturgical patrimony. John also sings tenor, though he is most at home when "singing" with the pipes of the organ, playing works that complement the rich heritage of Gregorian chant and polyphony.

Fr. Francis Therese Krautter

Secretary/Baritone

Fr. Francis Therese Krautter is a Catholic Priest and Religious with the Congregation of Saint John in the Archdiocese of Denver.

He is the Pastor of Saint Ignatius of Loyola Parish, and the Chaplain at Mullen High School. He is a member of the Archdiocesan Schola, and a regular singer at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, Littleton. Fr. Francis sings with the St. Martin's Festival Chorus, and works to promote education in Sacred Music and beautiful liturgy.

Singers:

Richard Wheeler

Tenor/Conductor

Rick Wheeler attended Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ. He then subsequently studied voice with Alan Held in NYC and developed his understanding of renaissance choral music,..

he pursued his expertise in Gregorian Chant with Dr. Walter Bahn of Catholic University, and performed in New York City for 6 years as a choir member/section leader with several professional choral groups including the Westminster Choir and the Kent Singers. He has sung under the direction of Simon Carrington, Riccardo Muti, Robert Shaw, and Leonard Bernstein. In Spokane WA Rick was a founding member of the Spokane Baroque Singers and the founder and music director of the River City Chamber Singers. He was a member for 2 years of Male Ensemble Northwest in WA state, and in CO sang with the Ars Nova Singers for 12 years. In 2012 Rick performed as Associate Director of music for the inception ceremony of Archbishop Samuel Aquila and will soon complete his 12th season with the world renowned St. Martin's Chamber Choir. He has been a music editor for over 30 years and is sought after to edit hymnals and rare renaissance manuscripts with nearly 1000 editions of choral music as well as 1000's of Gregorian chant editions. In 2019 Rick founded the Liturgical choir, Gaudium Verum whose sole purpose is to sing for liturgical functions in Churches throughout the west.

Christina Heppermann

Soprano

Christina graduated from the University of Louisville in 2010 with a degree in Music performance, emphasis in voice. During this time she was a member of the University of Louisville Cardinal Singers, Collegiate Chorale, Early Music Ensemble, and sang Soprano in the Kentucky Opera Chorus.

Since moving to Colorado in 2016, she sings as the Soprano Section leader for All Souls Catholic Church as well as singing Soprano for Gaudium Verum, St Martin’s Chamber Choir and other various ensembles throughout the Denver area. Christina teaches private lessons in addition to performing and continues to share her love of music with those around her.

Ann Marie Morgan

Alto

Praised by the Baltimore Sun for her “beguiling musicality,” Ann Marie Morgan is a frequent guest artist on viola da gamba, and has performed in the Bach St. John and St. Matthew Passions with the Cleveland, Philadelphia and Minnesota Orchestras.

She has been featured at Bach Festivals including those in Oregon, Bethlehem, and Boulder, as well as in performances internationally in Germany, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Central America and Canada. Ms Morgan has served on the Early Music faculties of the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University and at the Interlochen Center for the Arts. In Colorado for spring 2020 Ann Marie was appointed Acting Director of the CU College of Music’s Early Music Ensemble. She has played viol, baroque cello and cello piccolo with the Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado, the Colorado Bach Ensemble and Seicento Baroque. As a singer Ann Marie is alto section leader in both Ars Nova Singers and the choir at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Parish Church (under the direction of St Martins’ own Rick Wheeler). To see a list of recordings, watch and listen to videos, and to stay informed of upcoming news and events, please visit her website.

Gillian Harrison Cain

Alto

Gillian Harrison Cain has been singing semi-professionally since age 4. She currently is a staff singer at Holy Ghost Catholic Church and often sings with the Archdiocesan Chorale, Gaudium Verum, and Vittoria Ensemble.

She has previously sung with several groups in the Denver metro area including Confluence, Golden Concert Choir, Musicians of St. Clare, and Cherry Creek Chorale. Her recent solo work includes the Mozart Requiem and Allegri’s Miserere. By day, she is the Director of Member Programs for Atla, a professional membership association for libraries and librarians who support the study of religion and theology. She holds a BS in Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines, received her Masters of Library and Information Services (MLIS) from the University of Denver, and recently earned her Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential. Gillian credits her mother's habit of playing Gregorian chant albums while vacuuming with developing her love for Renaissance music. She is immensely grateful for a husband and daughter who willingly go dirt bike riding so she can immerse herself in the rich sound of polyphony on a regular basis.

Tyler Wigginton

Bass

Tyler Wigginton is a Denver-based composer, vocalist, and chorus director. Since graduating in 2017 with a Bachelor’s in Music he has spent the majority of his time performing and teaching in the barbershop a cappella style.

Lauren Lestage

Soprano

Lauren Lestage is a soprano from Houston, Texas. She currently resides in Denver, Colorado where she is working towards her Master in Music for Vocal Performance at the University of Denver.

For her undergraduate degree she attended the University of North Texas, where she received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and Music Education. She was a 2020-2022 US Scholar with Voces8. In 2021, she performed with the Opera Colorado Chorus and Colorado Ballet. She has also sung as a soloist with the ElEmpire Lyrics Players in Denver, UNT Symphony Orchestra, UNT Grand Chorus, UNT Opera, and Denton Community Theatre. She sang in concerts with the Dallas Choral Festival, performing large choral works such as Poulenc’s, Stabat Mater and Vivaldi’s, Gloria. Some of her favorite performances were singing with Grammy award winning choral ensemble, Houston Chamber Choir in their 2018/2019 season.

Tyson Repke

Tenor

Tyson V. Repke is, quite possibly, the world's only nuclear-trained choral music conductor.

The son of a cowboy, he grew up on ranches in Wyoming and Colorado, then joined the Navy and became a submarine nuclear reactor operator and electronics technician. After the Navy, Tyson decided to follow his passion and became a choral music teacher, teaching in public schools for nine years before accepting an offer to work for Colorado's largest home inspection company, where he rapidly progressed from radon specialist to upper management. Even while he dabbled in the corporate world, Tyson continued to conduct and teach music as Director of the VoiceMale boys' choir at Young Voices of Colorado. Ultimately, Tyson found that he was unable to resist his calling, and so he has now returned to full-time conducting and teaching as both the Choir Director for All Souls Catholic Church and as Director of Choral Music at Ascent Classical Academy of Douglas County. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education, graduating summa cum laude from the University of Northern Colorado, and a Master of Music degree specializing in Choral Conducting from the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music. Tyson is also an avid performer when he can find the time. He has acted in operas and musicals and has been a section leader and/or featured soloist for numerous performing ensembles across the western slope and front range of Colorado.

Lorena Perry

Soprano/Alto

Music and song are the canvas and color of Lorena Perry’s sonorous life. She’s been an avid participant in Denver/Boulder ensembles, including Opera Colorado, Ars Nova Singers, Saint Martin’s Chamber Choir, Kantorei, and the Colorado Symphony Chorus.

She also sings for Denver’s St. Paul Lutheran, Denver Archdiocesan Schola, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and All Souls Catholic. She recorded Eric Whitacre’s first A Capella choral album release in 2002 with Ronald Staheli, filmed education videos for Saint Martin’s, and recorded with Mack Wilberg, Kantorei, Voices of Light, and the Mormon Youth Symphony & Chorus. Lorena enjoys concert solo work and recently placed 1st in the 2022 N.A.T.S. competition. As a versatile instrumentalist, she plays church organ, teaches voice, piano, violin, viola, cello, & guitar, and served as concert master with the Castle Rock Orchestra. She founded and directs the Castle Rock Children’s Choir, and directs and choreographs for musical theater. Lorena mothers five wonderful children and continuously creates original art across myriad media, including music, dance, poetry, video, landscape, and art/design. Castle Rock Children’s Choir and Saint Martin’s have performed her choral compositions. One of her original compositions earned a competitive spot in a 2020 worldwide Christmas concert broadcast.

Patrick Torsell

Tenor/Organist

Patrick Torsell began studying the organ at age 8, assuming his first professional role at 11, while also developing a love for sacred choral music and finding his tenor voice.

He specializes in chant accompaniment and improvisation, and has a particular affinity for French Romantic literature. Patrick built a sacred music program for Mater Dei Latin Mass Community in Harrisburg, PA from 2017-2020, directing a schola, mixed choir, and children's chorister program. Previously he served as associate organist at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Littleton (2013-2017), seminarian organist at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary in Nebraska (2011-2013), Principal Organist and Choirmaster at Blessed Sacrament, Stowe, VT (2006-2011), and organist at St. John the Evangelist, Bellefonte, PA (2000-2005). He hosts a YouTube series, "Chant Talk," and is a contributor to Corpus Christi Watershed. His day job is executive leadership of ski resorts, and he currently serves as Senior Director of Operations at Ski Cooper in Leadville, CO.

Scott Perry

Bass

Scott Perry has performed solo and as an ensemble singer with a variety of all-professional and community music organizations in the Denver area. He has directed church choirs for nearly 15 years, through which he has leveraged his training from Ronald Staheli and Mack Wilberg.

Occasionally he sings and plays keyboard with his 80’s-rock garage band. During normal business hours, Scott works as an RF engineering manager and integrated product team lead at Lockheed Martin Space. He enjoys time with his wife, Lorena, and their four easygoing children.

Margaret Walsh

Soprano

Margaret Walsh started singing at the age of 14 in church choir, learning Gregorian Chant and Sacred Polyphony. She went on to study classical vocal performance privately while in high school.

When earning her BA in Liberal Arts from Thomas Aquinas College, she was a core member of the college choir, performing both choral music and solos throughout her time there. Upon graduating, Margaret joined the Los Angeles Chamber Choir and performed with them at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Since moving to Colorado, she has been a principal singer at Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Outside of music, she works in special education, is an avid reader and hikes a lot with her dog.

John Murray

Tenor

John Murray is a tenor from Orlando, Florida, currently residing in Denver, Colorado. John has his Bachelor's in Music from Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia, and his Masters in Arts-Music from the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida.

John has performed professionally with the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception church choir in Washington D.C. and the Mary, Queen of the Universe Shrine Choir in Orlando, Florida. John is currently the lead cantor at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Denver, and sings with various churches across the diocese.

Angela Woods

Soprano/Organist

Angie, a Denver native, studied organ and vocal performance and liturgical music at Colorado State University.

She is the music director at Holy Name Catholic Parish in Englewood, where she plays the organ and directs adult and children choirs.

Kristin Gornstein

Alto/Mezzo-soprano

Mezzo soprano Kristin Gornstein sings polyphony and baroque music regularly across Colorado and the US.

She has sung with the chorus of the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center, early music group Concordian Dawn, Musica Sacra, and Seraphic Fire, among others. Upcoming local engagements include the Colorado Bach Ensemble and the Boulder Bach Festival. Kristin has been a member of Gaudium Verum since 2022.

Hannah McGinty

Soprano

Hannah McGinty is a professional soprano based in the Denver area. She serves as a staff singer at St. Andrew’s Denver, and a core member of St. Martin's Chamber Choir in addition to gigging around town.

Previously, she was the principal soloist and chorusmaster for Austin Baroque Orchestra & Choir, as well as a member of the Texas Early Music Project , Ars Longa Ensemble, Austin Cantorum, Ars Nova Boulder, and Elus Ensemble. She directed and sung in the Burgundian Consort and the University of Chicago Camerata, chamber choirs dedicated to well-researched performances of Renaissance choral music. Hannah received her B.A. in Musicology with Honors at the University of Chicago, her Masters of Music in Voice, specializing in Historical Performance, and her Master of Arts in Musicology at the Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University. She has attended numerous early music summer programs around the world, notably singing as Calisto in scenes from La Calisto at the Amherst Early Music Festival, and in two fully-historically-staged productions with La Petite Bande under the baton of Sigiswald Kuijken, as Costanza in Haydn’s opera L’isola disabitata, and as Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro. In addition to her singing, Hannah also plays piano, violin, and harpsichord, and enjoys hiking, fiber arts, yoga, cooking, and reading fiction from all over the world.

Danielle Kimbell

Soprano

A Colorado native, soprano, Danielle Kimbell holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Northern Colorado.

She has sung with St. Martin's Chamber Choir, the Greeley Chorale, the Evans Choir, Denver Early Music Consort, the choirs of St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral and the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, and will be joining the choir at Holy Ghost Catholic Church this fall. Passionate about contemporary and avant garde music Danielle had the distinct opportunity to work with composer Christian Wolff at the Open Space Festival of New Music, play with the improvisatory Cobra Ensemble, perform Richard Einhorn’s Voices of Light with Pro Musica Colorado and Philip Glass’ The Photographer at Crested Butte Music Festival. When not singing or playing noise accordion, Danielle can be found slinging coffee, curled up with a good book, or ever exploring our glorious world.

Sarah Cain

Soprano/Mezzo

Sarah Cain is currently pursuing the Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Pedagogy and Performance degree at CU-Boulder under the tutelage of Jennifer Bird-Arvidsson, with plans to graduate in December of 2023.

She is an alumna of the University of Central Arkansas, holding a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Music Education and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance. During her graduate studies, Sarah received the Artist Development Award from the inaugural Kristin Lewis Foundation Scholarship Competition, hosted at the University of Central Arkansas. Since 2014, Sarah has taught private voice and piano lessons as an independent studio, in addition to local nonprofit arts organizations. In her time as a voice teacher, Sarah has held membership in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) in both the Southern and West-Central Regions. Her most recent credits with Eklund Opera at CU-Boulder include: Mimì in the Fall ‘22 production of Puccini’s La Bohème, Agrippina in Handel’s Agrippina, and Mutter (Mother) in Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel.

Lisa Bartlett

Soprano

Growing up in a musical family, Lisa began singing as early as walking. She has sung in symphony choirs including the Texas A&M Century Singers and the Telluride Chorale, and formed Dolce Voce, an eight voice a cappella ensemble in western Colorado.

In New England, Lisa had the honor of singing with Cathedral Schola Cantorum with Philip Fournier, St. Mary Schola with Bruce Fithian, and studying vocal performance with soprano Christina Astrachan. Since returning to Colorado, Lisa has sung as a staff musician with the Holy Ghost Cappella under the direction of Richard Robertson, with Vittoria Ensemble, and under Gaudium Verum with director Rick Wheeler. In her full-time career as an award-winning architectural lighting designer, Lisa delights in orchestrating how space is perceived through the composition of lighting elements.