Keri Bass, alto , is greatly enjoying her second season with the Nova Singers. Prior to singing with the Nova Singers, Keri was a member of the Augustana Choir and the Augustana Chamber Singers. She currently is employed as a school counselor at the Wittenmyer Learning Center in Davenport, Iowa. She and her husband Jeff Bass live in Davenport with their son Carter and two cats.

Susan Becker, soprano, received her B.A. in music education from Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, and, while a student there, she was privileged to sing in the Nordic Choir and a study under Weston Noble. She has also been privileged to be a member of Nova Singers for nearly as many years as the group has been in existence. Sue currently works as the Weapon System Manager for the U.S. Army’s fleet of M119A2 105mm Towed Howitzers, and for the last 25 years, she has been the Director of Music at Faith Lutheran Church, Eldridge, Iowa.

Pat Burr, tenor, is Director of Choral Music and Drama at Northeast MS/HS School, near Clinton, Iowa. He received his B.A. in Music from Mount Mercy College, his M.M. in Piano from the University of Notre Dame, and a B.Ed. degree in music education at St. Ambrose University. A member of the St. Ambrose University-Community Symphony Orchestra, he has also performed onstage frequently in community theater. Pat and his wife Jolinda live in DeWitt.

Kate Cochran, soprano, is a senior at Knox College from Iowa City, Iowa. She has been a member of the Knox College Choir and Chamber Singers since she came to Knox and is a soprano section leader. In addition to singing in choirs, Kate finds joy in dancing, family and friends, wonderment, checking things off her to-do list, and her yoga practice.

Anne Earel, alto, earned an undergraduate degree from Augustana College in 2001 and a master's degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Iowa in 2005. While at Augustana, she sang with the Augustana Choir and Augustana Chamber Singers, then performed with Musica Sacra and the Back Bay Chorale while living in the Boston area. A reference librarian at Augustana, Anne now enjoys performing with Nova Singers and Quad City Choral Arts. She and her husband, Jim, live in LeClaire, Iowa.

Pam Edwards, soprano, is a retired vocal music teacher. She taught middle school choral music in Geneseo, Illinois for 23 years and K-12 music in Galva, IL for 11 years. She is currently teaching vocal music part time at Geneseo High School. She received her B.M.E. degree from Augustana College and her M.M.E. degree from Northern Illinois University. She is the organist and senior choir director at First Lutheran in Rock Island. A big thank you to all who support Nova!

Gregory Etzel, bass, is an active performer in the region with memberships in the Nova Singers, Knox Galesburg Symphony, and the Peoria Municipal Band. Greg has performed roles with Opera Illinois, Opera Quad Cities, and the Sugar Creek Symphony and Song Festival. At St. Mary's Cathedral in Peoria he is the Assistant Choir Director, cantor and soloist. Greg holds teaching positions with Knox College, Monmouth College, and Black Hawk College. Most recently he earned a Masters of Music degree from Western Michigan University and resides in Laura, IL, with his wife, daughter, and dog.

Curtis Fischer-Oelschlaeger, bass, is currently the director of choral activities for the Rockridge School District. He received his B.A. in Music, M.A. in Vocal Performance and M.A.E. in Education from Truman State University in Kirksville, MO. Choral studies have taken him to Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, Lichtenstein, Holland, Russia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria He is active in local theaters, having been seen on the stages of Circa '21 Dinner Theater, Quad City Music Guild, The Green Room and City Opera Company of the Quad Cities. Curtis is also currently a member of Quad City Choral Arts under the direction of Dr. Jon Hurty and is the bell choir director for the Church of Peace in Rock Island. He would like to thank Alex, Elijah, Emilie and his parents for their love and support.

Barb Kuttler, alto, holds an undergraduate degree in vocal music, and a graduate degree in Library Science, and works at the St. Ambrose University Library and the Bettendorf Public Library as a reference librarian. She and her husband Steve are raising a quartet of singers and musicians who are always interested to see what new (to them) and unusual pieces the Nova Singers will be performing each concert.

Lynn Maxfield, tenor, is a Lecturer in Music at Knox College where he teaches private voice lessons, voice class, and directs the men's choral ensemble. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the College of Idaho, a Master of Arts from the University of Iowa, and is writing his dissertation for a PhD in Voice Pedagogy also from the University of Iowa. During his graduate studies, he performed for three years with the University of Iowa's Kantorei. Additionally, he has been active in the university's Martha Ellen Tye Opera Theatre, performing roles in The Tender Land, Die Zauberflote, and Orpheus in the Underworld.

Theresa Molden, alto, is a Finance Manager and works in Muscatine. She is a CPA and earned an undergraduate degree in Accounting from Auburn University at Montgomery in 1996. Theresa lives in the Quad Cities and is enjoying her second year with the Nova Singers. She also previously performed with the Rhodes MasterSingers, Memphis Chamber Choir, Germantown Symphony Chorus and Calvary Church Choir while living in Memphis, Tennessee. Theresa studies voice privately with Sonja Hurty and in her spare time also enjoys gardening, yoga and blues music.

Philippe Moore, baritone, is a Knox College graduate from Macomb, Illinois and is currently attending Illinois State University for an M.S. in Arts Technology. Philippe has been singing in choirs since Middle School and considers Nova Singers to be the most exciting group of which he’s been a part. Throughout his musical career Philippe has starred in such productions as Anything Goes and The Fiddler on the Roof. He has also sung in the top choirs for Illinois All-State festival and posted well at NATS competition. Philippe plans to keep music as a part of his life and believes that Nova Singers offers him the artistic discretion and cohesion which he has come to expect. Thank you, all Nova Singers and supporters!

Nicholas Nolte, tenor, attended Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, singing under the direction of Jon Hurty. Nicholas is active in Quad Cities community theater, most recently performing the role of Cain in Countryside Community Theatre's production of Children of Eden.

Tim Pahel, tenor, is in his first year as Director of Choral and Vocal Activities at Monmouth College, where he directs the highly select Monmouth Chorale, teaches applied voice and a variety of music classes. He is the director of the Galesburg Community Chorus, has directed the Knox College Women’s Chorale, and in winter and spring of 2004 was the director of the Knox College Choir and Chamber Singers. He received a bachelor’s degree from Lawrence University, a master’s from the University of Illinois, and is currently pursuing his doctorate in choral conducting at the University of Iowa.

Lori Potts, soprano, is a choir director at North Scott High School where she conducts 5 choirs. She is a graduate of Cornell College, which she attended on a voice and piano scholarship. She received her master’s in Music Education from Western Illinois University. Her students have been chosen for All State/Opus and have received outstanding performance awards and have received numerous division ratings at contest. Lori has also served in leadership positions in the Iowa Choral Directors Association and music directed and co-produced several Miss Iowa Productions. She resides in Davenport with her husband Bruce and family, Kendall, Alex, and Keagan.

Patrick Scott, baritone, joined Nova Singers in 2006. A Quad City native, he attended Augustana College, singing in the Choir and Chamber Singers. He has studied privately with Jim Parks, Murray Osbourne, and Dr. John Pfautz. Under Dr. Pfautz, he sang various roles in Die Fledermaus, Amahl and the night visitors, The Mikado and Le Nozze de Figaro. Patrick also enjoys playing bass guitar, upright bass, and bicycling with his wife Ellen.

Emily Shenk-DeMay, soprano, is a native of Davenport, Iowa. Emily graduated from Augustana College in 2002 with a B.A. in vocal performance and had the opportunity to participate in many ensembles while at Augustana, as well as many leading roles in the opera. She is employed as the Office Manager by the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center. Emily is very active in her home church, Davenport First Church of the Nazarene, and serves as the Adult Choir Director and member of the Worship Team. She is also active in the community, serving in various capacities with the American Cancer Society, Quad City Leadership Alumni Association and United Way. In her free time Emily enjoys spending time with her family and her husband John. This is Emily's 8th season with the Nova Singers..

Erika E.R.B. Thomas, soprano, is a private voice instructor in the Quad Cities. She is involved with many community vocal and theatrical organizations, including Quad City Music Guild, and is a certified Kindermusik Educator. Erika graduated from Augustana College with a double major in vocal performance and Scandinavian Studies; while at Augustana, she was a member of the Augustana Choir and Handel Oratorio Society. She lives with her husband, Christopher and 20-month old daughter, Eva, in Davenport, Iowa.

Michael Wahlmann, bass, is singing in Nova Singers for his thirteenth full season. Michael is also the cellist for the string Quartet, Quartrio, and plays cello in various ensembles in all manner of situations ranging from solo cello for cocktail parties to back-up ensembles at the Mark of the Quad Cities. When not playing cello or singing, Michael teaches private cello lessons and directs the choirs at St. John's Lutheran Church in Rock Island. Michael is fortunate to be father of the "world's most adorable child," Emma, and husband to the "world's most understanding wife,” Susan, whom he thanks many times over for allowing Nova Singers to take him away for one evening each week.

Peggy Wrzesinski, alto, has enjoyed 16 wonderful seasons with Nova Singers! By day, she is an administrator and consultant with the Black Hawk Area Special Education District. She holds bachelors degrees in Voice Performance and Special Education as well as a master's degree in Behavior Disorders from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. When not singing with Nova, Peggy spends as much time as possible pursuing her interest in veterinary medicine at Cat Clinic of the Quad Cities.