Jeffrey Bass, tenor, is in his fifth year with the Nova Singers and lives in Davenport, Iowa with his wife, Keri, and two cats, Bogey and Tabbitha. He graduated from Augustana College, where he sang with the Augustana Choir and Augustana Chamber Singers. He later earned an MBA at St. Ambrose University, and it currently a sales representative for Davenport Stoneworks Inc.

Susan Becker, soprano, received her B.A. in music education from Luther College, Decorah, Iowa. She is the director of music at Faith Lutheran Church, Eldridge, and in that capacity has directed several community choral events. Sue is an inventory management specialist for the U.S. Government, managing all of the Army's 75mm and 105mm towed howitzers.

Pat Burr, tenor, is Director of Choral Music at Northeast High 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. He plays violin in the St. Ambrose University-Community Symphony Orchestra, and has performed onstage frequently in community theater. Pat and his wife Jolinda live in Davenport.

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 for three years.  She is now employed as a reference librarian at Augustana, and is excited to be joining Nova Singers!  Anne and her husband, Jim, recently moved from Iowa City to LeClaire, Iowa, and are enjoying the stately old trees, friendly neighbors, and river views in their small town.

Pam Edwards, soprano, teaches middle school choral music in Geneseo, Illinois.  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!

Joel R. Kolander, tenor, graduated from Augustana College and is honored to be involved with such a proficient group.  He has previously sung with the Augustana Choir, Handel Oratorio Society, Genesius Guild, and the Quad City Opera Group.  Most recently, he played the role of Jimmy in Quad City Music Guild's production of "Thoroughly Modern Millie."  When he is not singing, Joel can be found in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu class, riding his motorcycle, watching birds, planting things, and generally enjoying the outdoors.

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 as a reference librarian. Singing under the gifted baton of Laura Lane for such appreciative and discerning audiences as frequent the Nova Singers concerts is one of life's joys.

J. Adam Lounsberry, tenor, is proud to join the Nova Singers again this season. Adam has been involved in music as long as he can remember; you may have seen him singing with the Quad City Choral Arts, Handel Oratorio Society, or in a variety of stage productions with Quad City Music Guild, Countryside Community Theater, and FONZ/Ghostlight Theater. Some of his favorite roles include Gaston in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Thomas Andrews, Jr. in Titanic, and the Baker in Into the Woods. Adam is a mortgage loan officer at DHCU Community Capitol Credit Union and resides in Davenport with his wife, Erin, and their two dogs, Shep and Izzy.

Philippe Moore, baritone, is a senior Studio Art major at Knox College from Macomb, Illinois.  He is also pursuing minors in both French and Music Performance.   Philippe has been singing in choirs since Middle School and considers Nova Singers to be the most exciting group of which to be a part.  Throughout his musical career Philippe has starred in such produtions as "Anything Goes" and "The Fiddler on the Roof."  He has also sung in the top choirs for Illinois All-State festival and recently went to the second round at the NATS competition.  Philippe's future plans are to Post-Bac at Knox College and continue singing in Nova Singers.

Curtis Oelschlaeger, bass, is currently the director of choral activities for the Rockridge School District where his duties range from high school choirs, to junior high choir, to show choir and madrigals, to directing the theater productions to marching band flags. He is active in local theaters, having been seen on the stages of Circa '21 Dinner Theater, Quad City Music Guild and City Opera Company of the Quad Cities. Curtis is also the bell choir director for the Church of Peace in Rock Island. He would like to thank Alex and Elijah for their support.

Tim Pahel, tenor, is chair of the music department at Carl Sandburg College, where he directs the Carl Sandburg College Choir, teaches private voice and piano lessons and a variety of music classes.  The CSC Choir has toured throughout the Midwest, and in March, 2005, traveled to New York City to perform in Carnegie Hall with members of the Galesburg Community Chorus and the Knox College Choir.  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 in her 19^th year of education, 13 of them at North Scott.  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.  In addition to music directing Anything Goes, she conducts 6 choirs at North Scott.  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.  Her performance credits extend to Circa ’21 as Sister Berthe in Sound of Music and as a bootlegger.  She resides in Davenport with her husband Bruce and family, Kendall, Alex, and Keagan.

Becky Pracht, mezzo-soprano, is a member of the Nova Singers' Board of Directors and a 20 year veteran of Nova Singers. She holds a B.A. in music education and voice from St. Ambrose University, where she is employed as switchboard operator and customer service manager in the campus post office. She and husband Mick have raised seven children, who have provided them with seven grandchildren.

Patrick Scott, baritone, joined Nova Singers in Christmas of 2006.  As a Quad City native, he attended Augustana College, singing in the Choir and Chamber Singers under the direction of Jon Hurty.  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.  As well as singing, Patrick enjoys playing bass guitar, upright bass, and bicycling with his wife Ellen.

Emily Shenk, soprano, graduated from Augustana College in 2002 with a B.A. in music performance.  She is the executive assistant at the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center. Emily is very active in Davenport First Church of the Nazarene, and serves as the Adult Choir Director and Youth Director. This is Emily's sixth season with the Nova Singers.

Erika E.R.B. Thomas, soprano, is a 2006 graduate of Augustana College where she received degrees in Vocal Performance and Scandinavian Studies.  She sang with the Augustana College Choir, Handel Oratorio Society and Opera@Augustana.  She teaches private voice lessons and directs a children's choir at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Bettendorf, Iowa.  She plans to start the Glorianna Chorale, a girl's choir in the Quad Cities, and hopes to pursue graduate study in vocal music.

Michael Wahlmann, bass, is singing in Nova Singers for his eleventh season. He also plays cello in all manner of situations, ranging from solo cello for cocktail parties to back-up ensembles at the Mark of the Quad Cities.  Michael also teaches private cello lessons and directs the choir at St. John's Lutheran Church in Rock Island. Michael thanks daughter Emma and wife Susan for allowing Nova Singers to take him away for one evening each week.

Jenny Winn, alto, is a speech-language pathologist and clinical supervisor at the Augustana College Center for Communicative Disorders. She sings with the choir and is a regular soloist at Zion Lutheran in Davenport.  With Quad City Music Guild, Jenny has performed as Belle in Beauty and the Beast and Maria in The Sound of Music. She was a member of the Augustana Choir and Chamber Singers. Jenny and her husband, Kirby, live in Davenport with their beautiful daughters, Anna and Emily.

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 persuing her interest in veterinary medicine at Cat Clinic of the Quad Cities.