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 Advancement
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.
Emily Bird
Director of Education and Outreach
Emily Bird holds a Master of Sacred Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Notre Dame. While at Notre Dame, she served as a director with the Notre Dame Children’s Choir, teaching and conducting its youngest choristers. Prior to her graduate studies, Emily worked as a choir director and arts administrator with several children's choir organizations throughout the Greater Toronto Area, including the Toronto Children’s Chorus, Bach Children’s Chorus, Canadian Children’s Opera Company, and Mississauga Children’s Choir.
Emily earned a Bachelor of Music (Honours Specialization in Music Education) from the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, and has completed Level I Kodály certification. From 2020 to 2025, Emily served as Associate Artistic Director of the Fort Wayne Children’s Choir and directed the Chamber Treble Singers at the Purdue University Fort Wayne School of Music. In 2023, she joined the staff of Trinity English Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana, as Director of Children’s Music.
In July 2025, Emily relocated to Minneapolis, Minnesota, with her husband, Dan, and their miniature schnauzer, Otis. She currently serves as Director of Education and Community Outreach for the National Lutheran Choir, where she leads educational and community engagement initiatives and directs the National Lutheran Children’s Choir. She also previously served as Associate Director of the American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota and as a Conductor’s Assistant with Angelica Cantanti Youth Choirs.
Ethan Kellum Johnson
Director of Artistic Operations
Ethan Kellum Johnson joined the team at National Lutheran Choir in the summer of 2026. As the Director of Artistic Operations, Ethan oversees the process of planning and executing the behind-the-scenes details of NLC concerts and events. Working with the National Lutheran Choir roster and guest artists from all over the world, Ethan loves to dive into the work making programs come together without a hitch.
Prior to joining the NLC staff, Ethan served as Director of Artistic Operations at VocalEssence for seven years and has also spent time as an English Teaching Assistant in northern France. He graduated magna cum laude from St. Olaf College with a degree in Music, Political Science, and French. While there, he played and worked for the St. Olaf Orchestra—gaining his first experiences in arts management as the student manager of the ensemble—and sang in the Viking Chorus and Cantorei.
A native of Austin, Minnesota, Ethan enjoys getting to travel to places new and old with his husband Drew, spending all the time he can with his friends and family, and practicing viola when he gets the chance.
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.
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.
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