Artistic Direction
CAROL MENKE, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Choral conductor and lyric soprano Carol Menke began her musical studies at the piano with her mother at age five, and at age eight started flute lessons. She entered college with aspirations of a career as a flautist. However, participation in a voice class led to recognition of her superb vocal gifts. Following graduation from CSU at Chico, she attended the Franz Schubert Institute in Baden bei Wien, Austria, which confirmed her passion for the Art Song genre. The young singer was heard in performance many times at the Schuberthaus in Vienna. Miss Menke later completed her Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance. Carol maintains a full schedule as teacher and choral conductor in addition to fulfilling her solo engagements. At Santa Rosa Junior College she teaches voice and music theory classes. Her leadership of the choir at the Church of the Incarnation in Santa Rosa as well as Cantiamo Sonoma, a distinguished chamber choral ensemble, has served to enrich the musical environment of the area.
Choral conductor and lyric soprano Carol Menke began her musical studies at the piano with her mother at age five, and at age eight started flute lessons. She entered college with aspirations of a career as a flautist. However, participation in a voice class led to recognition of her superb vocal gifts. Following graduation from CSU at Chico, she attended the Franz Schubert Institute in Baden bei Wien, Austria, which confirmed her passion for the Art Song genre. The young singer was heard in performance many times at the Schuberthaus in Vienna. Miss Menke later completed her Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance. Carol maintains a full schedule as teacher and choral conductor in addition to fulfilling her solo engagements. At Santa Rosa Junior College she teaches voice and music theory classes. Her leadership of the choir at the Church of the Incarnation in Santa Rosa as well as Cantiamo Sonoma, a distinguished chamber choral ensemble, has served to enrich the musical environment of the area.
MARLA TUSA, DIRECTOR OF THE TRAINING AND INTERMEDIATE GROUPS
Marla Tusa grew up in rural Canada where she developed a love of choral music at a young age. She has a Bachelor of Music from Brandon University where she majored in voice and a Bachelor of Education from Vancouver Island University. Mrs. Tusa has over 10 years of classroom music experience, 20 years of private piano and voice lesson experience and has directed youth and adult choirs, ensembles, musical theater productions, rock bands and concert bands. During her year teaching English in Paris she sang with La Sorbonne University Symphonic Choir and St. Paul’s Anglican Boys Choir. Marla taught music at Merryhill School (K-8) in Santa Rosa from 2000-2004. She and her husband spent 10 years living on Vancouver Island where she sang with The Island Consort, directed music and choir at Brechin United Church and taught K-10 music and French at Aspengrove School. Marla has recently moved back to Santa Rosa with her husband and two young boys. She leads after-school music enrichment programs at SRFACS and directs the choir at Strawberry Elementary School. Marla sings alto and second soprano with the Sonoma County Chamber Singers.
Marla Tusa grew up in rural Canada where she developed a love of choral music at a young age. She has a Bachelor of Music from Brandon University where she majored in voice and a Bachelor of Education from Vancouver Island University. Mrs. Tusa has over 10 years of classroom music experience, 20 years of private piano and voice lesson experience and has directed youth and adult choirs, ensembles, musical theater productions, rock bands and concert bands. During her year teaching English in Paris she sang with La Sorbonne University Symphonic Choir and St. Paul’s Anglican Boys Choir. Marla taught music at Merryhill School (K-8) in Santa Rosa from 2000-2004. She and her husband spent 10 years living on Vancouver Island where she sang with The Island Consort, directed music and choir at Brechin United Church and taught K-10 music and French at Aspengrove School. Marla has recently moved back to Santa Rosa with her husband and two young boys. She leads after-school music enrichment programs at SRFACS and directs the choir at Strawberry Elementary School. Marla sings alto and second soprano with the Sonoma County Chamber Singers.
CLAIRE FRYDENLUND, CHORUS MANAGER AND THEORY INSTRUCTOR
Claire has an extraordinary love for the chorus, as she grew up in it under the direction of her mother, Carol Menke. Her singing in the children’s chorus and beyond took her to Canada, Italy, and to two ACDA conventions, both Western Division and National (under the direction of Carol Menke and Dan Earl, respectively). She has been singing with Cantiamo Sonoma since 2002. Claire is the Bulletin & Announcements Editor at the Church of the Incarnation in Santa Rosa. She has been the Theory Instructor since August 2007, and the Chorus Manager since June 2015. Claire and her husband Dave are true Trekkies; she also enjoys reading, baking, learning American Sign Language, and spending time with her children Scotty and Sarah.
Claire has an extraordinary love for the chorus, as she grew up in it under the direction of her mother, Carol Menke. Her singing in the children’s chorus and beyond took her to Canada, Italy, and to two ACDA conventions, both Western Division and National (under the direction of Carol Menke and Dan Earl, respectively). She has been singing with Cantiamo Sonoma since 2002. Claire is the Bulletin & Announcements Editor at the Church of the Incarnation in Santa Rosa. She has been the Theory Instructor since August 2007, and the Chorus Manager since June 2015. Claire and her husband Dave are true Trekkies; she also enjoys reading, baking, learning American Sign Language, and spending time with her children Scotty and Sarah.
SUZANNA ROZGA, THEORY ASSISTANT
Suzanna grew up in the Santa Rosa Children’s Chorus, including a tour of Germany and Austria with the Concert Group in 2003, and considers the experience a formative one, both musically and personally. She continued on to sing in the Concert Choir and Chamber Singers at Santa Rosa High School, touring Mexico and Disneyland in 2008 and graduating in 2010. After studying Earth and Soil Science for a year and a half at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, she transferred to the Santa Rosa Junior College in order to pursue a degree in music
Suzanna grew up in the Santa Rosa Children’s Chorus, including a tour of Germany and Austria with the Concert Group in 2003, and considers the experience a formative one, both musically and personally. She continued on to sing in the Concert Choir and Chamber Singers at Santa Rosa High School, touring Mexico and Disneyland in 2008 and graduating in 2010. After studying Earth and Soil Science for a year and a half at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, she transferred to the Santa Rosa Junior College in order to pursue a degree in music