Gloria Dei

“Son of God Mass” to be sung at both morning services at Gloria Dei on Sunday, February 19^th.  The Gloria Dei Chancel Choir will sing this special musical setting of the Mass by contemporary British composer James Whitbourn.  The music is scored for choir, organ and soprano saxophone.  Gloria Dei member, Kurt Claussen will be featured on the hauntingly beautiful soprano saxophone part and our guest conductor will be Christopher Aspaas, who directs the Chapel Choir and Viking Chorus at St. Olaf College as well as being the music director of Magnum Chorum.  Please join us for this special musical offering and invite your friends and relatives join us for worship that day!

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The Gloria Dei Chancel Choir, directed by Timothy Strand, leads our congregation in worship services throughout the year. In addition to Sunday morning worship, the Chancel Choir shares other special musical offerings including the Service of Lessons & Carols in Advent, Christmas Eve, Holy Week and Easter, and other Festival Day services.  Over the past few years, the Chancel Choir has performed a Mass or other major work each spring, with members of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and often invites other instrumentalists from the congregation to accompany the Choir and share their talents.  It has also joined choirs from other faith communities in our neighborhood for Thanksgiving services and special performances. 

Christopher Aspaas has served as

Gloria Dei Chancel Choir

Music Director of Magnum Chorum since 2008.  Dr. Aspaas is Associate Professor of Choral/Vocal Music at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, where he teaches choral literature, choral conducting and voice, and conducts the Viking Chorus and Chapel Choir.  He earned his B.M. in Voice Performance from St. Olaf, his M.M. in Choral Conducting from Michigan State University, and his Ph.D. in Choral Music Education at Florida State University.  Aspaas is active as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator, and makes frequent appearances as a tenor soloist.

Kurt Claussen has taught saxophone and band for more than twenty years, working with students at all levels from beginner through adult. Since 1995, he has been a band and woodwind specialist at Falcon Ridge Middle School in Apple Valley, Minnesota. In addition to his school duties, he is adjunct instructor of saxophone at St. Olaf College, and also maintains a select private saxophone studio. Mr. Claussen freelances throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area, and has appeared as a solo and quartet recitalist and clinician in the US, Canada, Norway and Germany. He holds the performer’s Certificat from the Conservatoire National de Region de Bordeaux, France, where he studied with eminent saxophonist and teacher Jean-Marie Londeix. He earned the Master of Music degree in saxophone performance from the University of Minnesota, studying with Ruben Haugen, and the Bachelor of Arts in music education from St. Olaf College.

Tim Strand...
As

Dr. Aspaas, Tim Strand, and Kurt Claussen

the Director of Music, Tim serves as Gloria Dei's principal organist, supervises the entire music program and staff, and direct three choirs:  The Chancel Choir (Gloria Dei's principal choir - Adults), The Matins Singers (Adults) and Schola Cantorum (Children Grades 3-6).

Tim is a graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, MN with a Bachelor of Arts in Church Music and Business Administration, and of Indiana University School of Music, Bloomington, IN with a Master of Music in Church Music and Organ Performance.

Tim has extensive experience in Lutheran Church music ministry as an organist and director of adult, children, and handbell choirs.  Additionally he has a wide-ranging background working with instrumentalists; implimenting and directing Summer Music Camps for Children and Youth; hosting and overseeing concert series and hymn festivals; and composed the music for the hymn, “Rise, O Church, Like Christ Arisen” (Evangelical Lutheran Worship Hymn #548), the hymn Gloria Dei used as the theme hymn for its year long Centennial celebration in 2008.

In addition to his work in church music ministry, Tim is the accompanist for Magnum Chorum; an accompanist for Morningstar Music Publishers; accompanist for the Mounds Park Academy High School Choir; a member of the Twin Cities Chapter of the American Guild of Organists; and he is an active organ recitalist.