About The Legacy Chorale

Our Mission: To ensure the legacy of excellence in choral music in the greater Minnesota area while enriching, inspiring, and renewing the communities in which we live.

The Legacy Chorale of Greater Minnesota was established by founding director Sarah Aamot in 2001. The organization was granted its nonprofit status in 2002 and has since supported the Legacy Chorale, an auditioned SATB choir, in the Brainerd Lakes area. The Legacy Chorale has presented more than 100 concerts to residents of central Minnesota and beyond.

In the fall of 2022, the organization expanded to offer youth programming. The Legacy Youth Chorale now includes choirs for singers in grades 3-10.

The Legacy Chorale of Greater Minnesota is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides participants and audiences from 20+ greater Minnesota communities access to quality vocal music programming.

Michael Smith, Artistic Director in Black Tux

Michael Smith

LEGACY CHORALE DIRECTOR

Michael has been the director of the Legacy Chorale since 2022. He has had a lengthy career as a high school and collegiate choral director, holding positions at Aitkin High School, Brainerd High School, Willmar High School, Brainerd Community College, and Concordia College-Moorhead. Michael received a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Olaf College, Master of Arts in Music degree from the University of Northern Colorado, and has completed all but the dissertation for his Ph.D. in Music Education from the University of Minnesota. In 2014, he was a recipient of the prestigious F. Melius Christiansen Lifetime Achievement award.

Kennedy Niska, MANAGING DIRECTOR & LEGACY YOUTH CHORALE DIRECTOR

Kennedy Niska

INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR &
YOUTH CHORALE CONDUCTOR

Kennedy Niska is the Interim Executive Director of the Legacy Chorale of Greater Minnesota. In 2022 he conceptualized the Legacy Youth Chorale, a program of LCGM that now supports two youth choirs for singers in grades 3-10.

Kennedy is also a frequent collaborator with area theater companies and maintains a small private studio. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Concordia College-Moorhead, and is an active member of the Minnesota Music Educators Association and American Choral Directors Association, currently serving as the Central District Chair of ACDA-MN.

Koreann Martin

Koreann Martin

ACCOMPANIST

Koreann Martin is a BHS graduate who obtained her Professional Music degree from The School for Music Vocations in Creston, IA. For a decade, she taught music privately in the Twin Cities area and served as Youth Choir Director at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Shoreview, MN. She now teaches virtual lessons from home and is involved in the community as the collaborative pianist for the BHS Music Department, Worship Leader for Lord of Life Lutheran Church-Baxter, and a frequent vocal music director for the CLC Performing Arts Center. 

Board of Directors

The Legacy Chorale of Greater Minnesota is overseen by a volunteer board of directors who collectively work together to implement the vision, goals, and objectives of the organization. Current members of the Board of Directors are:

President - Lori Stang - lori@legacychorale.org

Vice President - Jennifer Person – jenniferperson@legacychorale.org

Treasurer – Nick DeVries – nick@legacychorale.org

Secretary – Jenifer (Jen) Budnick – jenifer@legacychorale.org

Member – Becky Bergstrom – becky@legacychorale.org

MEETING MINUTES

Upcoming Meeting:

Monday, February 10 at 6:30 pm, 1001 Kingwood Street Suite 114 Brainerd