Jennaya Robison, DMA
Artistic Director
Jennaya Robison is the Artistic Director of the National Lutheran Choir and is a highly accomplished conductor, educator, and vocalist. She holds the Doctor of Musical Arts in choral conducting from the University of Arizona, the Master of Music in conducting and voice from the University of New Mexico, and an undergraduate degree in music (music education and voice) from Luther College. Her extensive work in the field of choral conducting includes serving as the Raymond R. Neevel/Missouri Associate Professor and Director of Choral Studies at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory until 2023, Associate Professor of Choral Music at Luther College from 2013 to 2020 and founding Scottsdale Musical Arts in 2009.
In demand as a clinician and guest speaker, Robison frequently appears at regional and national choral conferences and seminars, regularly leading All State and honor choirs, workshops, and festivals and has taught courses in choral singing and global connection in the United States, Namibia, South Africa, Germany, and an upcoming festival in Italy (2024). She is the editor of The National Lutheran Choir Series as well as the Jennaya Robison Series with Pavane Music, and is an active arranger of choral music. Robison has sung with the Dale Warland Singers, True Concord Voices, Spire Chamber Ensemble, and the Tucson Symphony among many other ensembles. She is the national chair of Worship & Arts for the American Choral Directors Association, a member of Chorus America, and has held leadership positions at Lutheran churches in Arizona, Missouri, Iowa, and Minnesota.
Tina Meckel
Executive Director
Tina is a passionate advocate for the power of the arts. She joined the NLC staff in 2009 after winning funding to start a development program for the Choir. Her work ultimately led to a doubling of the NLC’s budget and she was appointed executive director in 2015. Previously, Meckel worked for the Dale Warland Singers, the Children’s Theatre Company and Minnesota Opera. Meckel has consulted extensively with Minnesota arts and cultural organizations on fundraising, development and messaging. Her clients included Minnesota Public Radio, the Minnesota Children’s Museum, the St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists, the Minnesota Humanities Commission and others.
Tina is a native of the Monterey Bay area in California and grew up singing, acting, and playing piano. She came to Minnesota to go to “that other college” in Northfield. Today, Tina loves to read, hike, garden, craft, and hang out with her dog, husband, and daughter.
Anna Meyer
Director of Development
Anna is passionate about bringing communities together through shared arts experiences. Originally from Durham, NC, Anna grew up participating in a wide range of arts programs, which sparked her lifelong commitment to the field. Previously, Anna served as Executive Director of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, where she led efforts to expand the Symphony’s audience, deepen community partnerships, and grow individual and planned giving programs.
Anna holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and lives in Minneapolis with her husband and dog. In her free time, Anna likes hiking, cooking, and traveling.
In addition to working as a teacher, Erin’s involvement in liturgical music has spanned over two decades. As a church musician she often: accompanied church services, led adult and children’s choirs, and served as a cantor and song leader in a variety of faith denominations.
Erin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Carthage College, a Bachelor of Science in Vocal Music education from St. Cloud State University, and a Master of Music Education from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Erin is an active member of Minnesota Music Educators Association and frequent volunteer for Minnesota ACDA.
Erin resides in Albertville with her husband, Joseph Osowski, who is a fellow music educator and church musician; Joseph teaches at St. Michael-Albertville High School and leads the adult choir at Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. They enjoy “parenting” their two cats, despite knowing they will never have nice furniture again.
Erin Gaffaney
Director of Education and Community Outreach
Erin is thrilled to be connecting with church musicians and music educators, and expanding creative programming and educational opportunities for singers of all ages in her role as Director of Education and Community Outreach.
Previously, Erin spent 14 years as a music educator, working as a choir director at Buffalo Community Middle School and Buffalo High School, where she led and co-taught three curricular choirs and two co-curricular choirs. Prior to that, she worked as a music educator in public schools in the Twin Cities Metro and outstate Minnesota.
Shaun Halland
Assistant Conductor
Shaun has sung with The National Lutheran Choir since 2002 and assumed roles as Tenor Section Leader and Assistant Conductor in 2021. Shaun is also the Director of Worship Arts and Communications at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Shoreview, MN. There, he leads all facets of the music and worship life and curates a concert series that features a wide range of musical offerings. He has served many churches as a worship and music leader throughout the Twin Cities as well as taught high school vocal music for 18 years. He also works as a freelance collaborative pianist and choral clinician. He has also sung with The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra Chorale, Invocation, Pop-Up Choir and The Summer Singers. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for ACDA-MN and is a member of ALCM and AGO. He holds a Bachelor Degree from Luther College in Vocal Music Education and a Master of Sacred Music in Choral Conducting from Luther Seminary.
Kris Rongstad
Operations Manager
Kris Rongstad, operations manager, has been with the National Lutheran Choir (NLC) since August 2014. Prior to coming to NLC, she served for 10 years as the administrative assistant for the Master of Sacred Music program at Luther Seminary. Kris is a graduate of Luther Seminary (MSM), St. Olaf College (BA-Music) and Waldorf College (AA-Business Admin). Her favorite activities are reading, counted cross-stitch and spending time with family.
Sara Langworthy, PhD
Digital Content Producer and Communications Consultant
Sara is a video producer and digital engagement consultant for artists and arts organizations. In her role with the National Lutheran Choir, Sara develops NLC’s communications and marketing strategy, and specializes in video production for the NLC’s video series and management of NLC’s YouTube channel.
As a consultant, Sara helps her clients better understand and engage with their online audiences through strategic thinking, data analysis, and meaningful storytelling. Sara is an author, has extensive speaking experience, and has been a singer in the NLC since 2006.
Logan Combs
Marketing Manager
Logan (he/him) is Marketing Manger for the NLC. He is also a Twin Cities-based vocalist and choral conductor. He is a graduate of St. Olaf College, holding a Bachelor of Music in church music with a choral conducting specialty. In addition to his work on staff, he actively sings with the National Lutheran Choir and The Summer Singers. He is a former VOCES8 US Scholar and has a deep love of chamber singing.
He is excited to begin his Master of Music in Choral Conducting at the University of Minnesota this fall.
Logan lives in St. Paul with his husband, Justin, and his two dogs, Boss, and Eva.
Anne Wilson
Collaborative Pianist
Anne serves as the Collaborative Pianist for the NLC. She graduated from Luther College in 2020 with a BA in Religion and Piano Performance. Anne has been active in music since a young age, learning piano from her mother. While at Luther, Anne studied under John Strauss, professor of music, Nicholas Shaneyfelt, associate professor of music, and Xiao Hu, associate professor of music. In addition to her private studies, Anne also collaborated with a variety of vocal and instrumental students, as well as serving as the pianist for the Nordic Choir, Collegiate Chorale and Aurora. In 2019, Anne received the Lucille Stansberry Rosholt Award for Distinction in Accompanying and Collaborative Keyboard Performance.
Anne lives in Saint Paul with her partner and NLC baritone Josh, and their two cats. Anne continues to do freelance collaborative piano work around the Twin Cities area, while also working as an Event Specialist at Chowgirls Catering in Northeast Minneapolis. In her freetime, Anne enjoys cooking, attending live music events, and tending to her garden.
Get in touch with us!
Have a question about the NLC?