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2011 NCYC Staff
Camp
Administrators
 Fr.
Anthony Ruff OSB,
Founder, Director and Chaplain
Fr. Anthony has been a monk of Saint John’s Abbey since 1988. He was
ordained to the priesthood in 1993. He teaches undergraduate and
graduate theology in the areas of liturgy, liturgical music, and Gregorian
chant. He is an abbey organist and directs chant. He did graduate
studies at Saint John’s School of Theology·Seminary, and Yale University,
and his doctorate in liturgy is from the theology department of the
University of Graz, Austria. Fr. Anthony is on the advisory council of
the National Association of Pastoral Musicians, and he served on the Music
Subcommittee of the national bishops’ conference Committee on the
Liturgy which drafted the bishops' 2008 music document Sing to the
Lord. He has published many articles on liturgical music, and he
frequently presents in this area across the country and in Europe. His 702-page book,
Sacred Music and Liturgical Reform: Treasures and Transformations,
was published in 2007 by
Liturgy Training Publications. Fr. Anthony does priestly ministry to the
neighboring community of Benedictine sisters and at the local county
jail.
 Dr. Axel Theimer,
Founder and Choir Conductor
Dr. Axel Theimer, a native of Austria, where he
was a member of the
Vienna Boys Choir,
just completed his 41st year on the music faculty at Saint John’s University and
the College of Saint Benedict. He received much of his training in Vienna and
completed his studies at the University of Minnesota with a MFA in Choral
Conducting and a DMA in Vocal Performance.
He is an active recitalist, has presented master
classes, workshops and seminars for state, regional, national and
international music conventions and conferences and has conducted All State
Choirs, Choral Festivals and Honor Choirs throughout the United States and
in the Far East.
At Saint John’s and Saint Ben’s he directs the CSB/SJU
Chamber Choir and SJU
Men’s Chorus and teaches choral conducting, applied voice, vocal
pedagogy and other related classes. In addition to his professional activities at SJU
and CSB he is founder and music director of
Kantorei,
a Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul) choral ensemble, of Amadeus Chamber Symphony,
a chamber orchestra for Central Minnesota musicians and audiences
and is music director of the National Catholic Youth Choir. He is on the
faculty, and is currently Executive Director of
The
VoiceCare Network.
In 2001, he received the MN -
ACDA
Choir Director of the Year Award and, in 2004, was elected to the Minnesota
Music Educators Association’s “MMEA Hall of Fame”.
Original compositions and arrangements for Men’s
Chorus, Women’s, Mixed and Children’s Choir are published by and available
from
Alliance Publications, Inc. Fish Creek, WI.
 Dorothy Kantor,
Office Manager
Dorothy joined the staff in October 2008. Dorothy’s passion is her
husband Roger of 32+ years; and their three grown children and two grand
children. Two hold engineering degrees and one is a Doctor of Physical
Therapy. She earned a technical degree in design and retail management
but her diverse life experiences have been her greatest education. In
the early 80’s, Dorothy and her husband developed a computer consulting
business which they owned for 12 years. From 2000-2006, Dorothy worked
for the Diocese of St. Cloud as the Marriage Course
Coordinator/Facilitator offering two day marriage preparation courses
working with over 4,200 engaged couples. She and her husband continue to
volunteer as speakers at these courses. From 2006-2008 she
assisted the President, Development Director and Board of the St. Cloud
Area Economic Development Partnership by coordinated their marketing
and development activities. Dorothy has enjoyed volunteering at
various churches, schools and community non profits over the past 30
years. She and her husband have had a 20+ year involvement
volunteering as a mentor/sponsor for engaged couples and directing
leadership retreats through their church. In 1997 Dorothy became
trained as a Christian Clown.
Dorothy is able to assist you with any questions regarding
the NCYC
program, applications, scholarships, camp, tour concerts etc. at
dkantor@csbsju.edu.
Camp Staff
Chris
Ángel, Accompanist
Chris
Ángel, a native of San Luis Obispo, California, has served as a church
musician for over twenty years. He holds degrees in mathematical and
computational science and music from Stanford University and the
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and is currently a student
in the Master of Theology program at Saint John's
School of Theology·Seminary.
 Kathryn
Bontjes, Head Camp Leader
Kathryn will be joining NCYC for her third season as a camp leader. She
is a 2010 graduate of the College of St. Benedict with a degree in Music
Studies. She enjoys singing in choir, photography, sports, and
volunteering.
 Paul Johnson, Camp
Leader
Paul Johnson will be graduating spring 2011 from Saint John’s
University with a degree in Psychology and minoring in
Management. Paul is a resident assistant on campus during the year and
enjoys singing in the Men’s Chorus under the direction of Axel Theimer,
Singing with the Abby Schola, and loves to play sports and enjoy the
outdoors. Paul is a Saint John’s Boys Choir Alum and Youth Choral of
Central Minnesota Charter member and alum. During the rest of the summer
Paul enjoys working at Cold Stone Creamery in St. Cloud, serving up both
yummy treats and funny songs!
 Heidi Schleif, Camp
Leader
Heidi is going to be a senior at the College of Saint Benedict this fall
and this is her second summer as a camp leader for the National Catholic
Youth Choir. She is working on a major in Liturgical Music and a minor
in Hispanic Studies and spent the past semester studying abroad in
Segovia, Spain. Her interests include singing, reading, music ministry,
spending time with friends, watching movies, speaking Spanish, and
enjoying good food.
 Audrey Seah,
Camp Leader
Audrey is a native of Singapore, holds a bachelors degree in music
composition from Fresno State and is currently
a student in the Master of Theology program at Saint John's
School of Theology·Seminary.
Her hobbies include watching Lost, reading and
collecting all things Toy Story.
 Brian
Walsh, Camp Leader
Brian
will be joining NCYC for his third year as a camp leader, and is a 2010
graduate of Saint John's University with a degree in Theology. He was a
chorister with NCYC in 2005, and is very grateful for the fact that he
has been given the opportunity to continue to be involved with the
choir. During his time at St. John's, Brian was a member of the CSB/SJU
Chamber Choir and the SJU Men's Chorus, both under the direction of Dr.
Axel Theimer. He was also a Resident Assistant, and enjoyed studying
abroad in Europe. He loves singing, reading historical fiction, running,
and action movies! This coming year, he will be volunteering in Israel
with the Benedictine Volunteer Corps.
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