Sam Brandt is a 2008 Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School
graduate and current student at Butler University majoring in Arts
Administration-Music. He
currently studies voice with Dr. Kyle Ferrill and sings in multiple choirs
under the direction of Dr. Eric Stark and Professor Henry Leck. Sam is the
current president of Butler University’s Premier All Male A Cappella group,
Out of the Dawg House, and is the program administrator for the WELS Youth
Wind Ensemble and Chorale. This summer he is interning with the Milwaukee
Repertory Theater in special events and development.
Jonathan Laabs, baritone, has
been with Canticum Novum: a WELS chamber choir since 2007. Jon
graduated in 2008 from Martin Luther College with a degree in music
education. In 2005-2006 he was privileged to sing a season
with The Singers: Minnesota Choral Artists under Matthew Culloton. Jon
currently serves as Director of Choral Programs at Kettle Moraine Lutheran
High School, where he leads a program of 5 performing ensembles, and also
teaches classes in Music Theory and Lifetime Sports. He also performs
with Bel Canto Chorus of Milwaukee as a member of the professional core and
bass section leader.
Michael Marquardt,
Executive Director of CN, serves the Lord at Peace Lutheran Church and
School in Hartford, WI, where he teaches fifth grade, coordinates the school
music program, directs the youth and adult choirs, and assists with
coordinating music in worship. He participates in broader ministry as a
member of the WELS Southeastern Wisconsin District Commission on Worship. A
former member of the Bel Canto Chorus of Milwaukee, Michael was part of the
professional core and featured several times as a soloist. Michael studied
voice at the University of Wisconsin with Mimmi Fulmer and Kathleen Otterson,
and at Martin Luther College with Roger Hermanson, who was also his mentor
in choral conducting. Michael resides in Hartford with his wife and musical
partner, April, and their two sons.
Jordan Murphy, bass, is a 2008 Kettle Moraine Lutheran High
School graduate and current student at Wisconsin Lutheran College with a
major in music education. He is currently involved in both the college choir
and chamber choir at Wisconsin Lutheran College under the direction of Dr.
James Nowack. Jordan is also in the concert band and jazz band as a trombone
player. He currently lives in Jackson, WI for the summer, but has an
apartment in Milwaukee during the school year.
James Naumann, bass, has been
with Canticum Novum since 2008 and hails from Benton Harbor, MI. He received a Bachelor
of Music in both Organ and Piano Performance from Western Michigan
University in Kalamazoo, MI in 2007. He is currently working on a Master of
Music in Piano Performance at Western Michigan University and holds the
graduate assistantship of opera coach/rehearsal pianist. He plans to
continue post-graduate work in historical musicology immediately following
the completion of his next degree in 2009.
Matthew Schmidt, baritone, is an electrical field engineer
in the nuclear power industry. A graduate of Milwaukee School of
Engineering, he also attended Martin Luther College where he studied voice
under Roger Hermanson and Jodi Rowe in addition to singing in the College
Choir. Matt and his wife, Sarah, currently live in Milwaukee, WI, where he
is blessed to serve as Motet Choir director at Grace Lutheran Church. Matt
joined Canticum Novum in 2010.
Joshua Wendt, bass, has sung with Canticum Novum
since its first year. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education
from Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN. While at MLC, he sang with the
College Choir and served as bass section leader. He also studied voice under
Jodi Rowe. Joshua sang with the Raincross Chorale of Riverside , CA under
the direction of Steven Kester, and joined the Riverside Philharmonic for a
performance of Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” under the direction of Patrick
Flynn. Joshua is the principal and teaches grades 2-8 at St. Peter’s
Lutheran School in Mishicot , WI and serves that congregation as choir
director, organist, and frequent soloist. He also teaches voice and organ
lessons at Manitowoc Lutheran High School and serves as co-director of the Lakeshore Lutheran Chorale in Manitowoc, WI.
Kurt Wittmershaus currently serves
at Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN, teaching social studies education
courses and directing the College Chorale. A 1988 graduate of Dr. Martin
Luther College, he began his teaching at St. Paul's in Saginaw, MI, where he
served as minister of music and directed the Saginaw Valley Lutheran Chorale
in its inaugural year. Prior to accepting the call to MLC, he directed
various choirs at Luther High School in Onalaska, WI. He joined Canticum
Novum in 2008, singing baritone.
Bass Bios
