Our Musical Staff

Music Director/Conductor

Thomas Paulson has been Music Director/Conductor of the Edina Chorale since 1995. During his tenure, Paulson has worked with the Chorale board to establish the Edina Chamber Chorale; the highly popular Spring Cabaret; relationships with other regional music organizations such as Minnesota Mormon Chorale, I Cantanti (Northfield), the Wayzata Symphony Orchestra, Music at Wayzata, and Edina and Minnetonka high schools; and a growing, auditioned membership base of over 80 voices. The chorale has also developed an enviable reputation for the high quality of its performances and the variety of its repertoire from Mozart & Bach to Paul Simon and Elton John. Paulson has led the chorale in performances in Washington, D.C., Austria and Hungary.

Paulson presently also serves as Director of Music Ministry at Wayzata Community Church. He directs the Chancel Choir and Celebration Singers, and he leads a music ministry program involving over 250 people in 10 choirs and instrumental ensembles. He guest conducts WCC orchestra-in-residence, The Wayzata Symphony Orchestra and the Chancel Choir in twice-yearly large work collaborations, most recently the Brahms Requiem and Beethoven C Major Mass. Previously he was Director of Worship and Music at Incarnation Lutheran Church in Shoreview, and Section Leader/Soloist/Assistant Conductor of the Bach Society of Minnesota and Sebastian Singers. A published composer and arranger, he holds an MM degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Minnesota and a BA in Music Theory and Composition from St. Olaf College, Northfield.

Accompanist

Jim Lansing has been accompanying the Edina Chorale since 2010. He is an freelance accompanist for choir concerts and musical theatre productions working primarily with middle schools in the Wayzata, Robbinsdale, Hopkins & Mound-Westonka school districts. Jim works as Music Director/Organist/Hand Bell Choir Director for Edina Morningside Community Church (UCC) and also accompanies the Morningside Theatre Camp productions held there each summer. In addition, Jim maintains a studio where he teaches private lessons to12-15 students.

Assistant Conductor

Paul McKenzie joined us as the Assistant Director in 2007. He holds a BA from Concordia-Moorhead in music education and theater, and a MM from Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ in church music. Paul is a free-lance percussionist, theater musical director and handbell clinician. Paul has served in Presbyterian and Lutheran churches and is now the Director of Music and Fine Arts at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Hopkins, MN.

Assistant Accompanist

Suzy Schultz was appointed Assistant Accompanist in the fall of 2006. She has sung with the Edina Chorale for over 10 years, previously serving as Co-Soprano Section Leader, and soloist. She holds a BA in Vocal Performance from the University of Minnesota-Morris and worked for 20 years as a district manager for B-Dalton Books. Currently she is Director of Outreach at Christ Lutheran Church, Blaine.

Manager

Laurie Tanner has served as our Manager since 2009. She has performed extensively as a member and soloist in several professional choirs, including the Minnesota Chorale, the Elizabethan Syngers, the Bach Society of Minnesota, the Sebastian Singers and the Edina Chorale.

Her theatrical experience includes roles in The Music Man, Hello Dolly, The Odd Couple, Reviewed to Death, Joseph, The Happy Hour, Ole and Lena's Big Apple Adventure, An Ole and Lena Christmas, and Mr. Mystery's Productions. She has served as a drama director, vocal coach and stage manager/assistant director for several shows, most recently with Anything Goes and Plaza Suite.

She holds a BA in Sacred Music from North Central University, where she received the J.P. Gustafson Vocal Scholarship, was selected for the ACDA College Honors Choir, and was a featured soloist at Music Minnesota. Laurie is currently pursuing her MA in Arts and Cultural Management from St. Mary's University in Minneapolis.