Our Staff

Artistic Director

Mary Bussman

“I believe in the power of music to heal, to nurture, to revive the spirit, and to spread joy.”

Mary Bussman brings considerable directing, arranging, teaching, and performing experience to her role as Artistic Director of the Twin Cities Women's Choir, which she founded in 1997.

Ms. Bussman graduated from the College of St. Benedict with a music degree emphasizing choral education, received her Masters degree in Music Education at the University of St. Thomas and her K-12 Administrative Licensure from the University of Minnesota.

A music teacher for thirteen years in the public schools, Ms. Bussman's children's choir from Tuttle Community School in Minneapolis was invited to perform at the 2001 Minnesota Music Educators Association state convention. She now serves as Principal of Central Middle School, Columbia Heights Public Schools.

Prior to conducting the Twin Cities Women's Choir, Ms. Bussman conducted Calliope Women's Chorus. As well as directing music, she was a member of the duo Kindred Spirits, and recorded an original folk music CD with her partner, Tracy E. Tracy.

Ms. Bussman is a member of the American Choral Directors Association and has completed extensive training with The VoiceCare Network. She brings abundant energy to her work and loves to provide a "time-out" from the busy lives we all lead to make music together.

Click here to read an article about Mary published in her hometown newspaper, the Stewartville Star.

Executive Director

Pat Teiken

Pat Teiken is the Executive Director and one of the founding members of the Twin Cities Women's Choir. She has served on the Board of Directors as a non-singing member since its inception. She has also served as concert producer and project coordinator for the last two years.

Pat brings 35 years of experience to the position. She has founded and served as the executive director for several non-profit organizations. She consults with local organizations specializing in working with non-profit boards especially in the areas of staff and volunteer roles and responsibilities, finances, fundraising, policy development, program and strategic planning. As an added bonus, her legal background adds an important dimension to the choir as she is well-versed in non-profit, contract and employment law. Pat continues to pursue her quilt art by creating several commissioned quilts each year. She may be reached at 612.333.8292 (TCWC) or at patteiken@comcast.net.

ENCORE! Artistic Director

Randi Grundahl Rexroth

Randi is pleased to be working with the Twin Cities Women's Choir as the Artistic Director for ENCORE!. As the upper school choir director at Visitation School, a college preparatory school for 7th-12th grade women, she is thrilled to be working with this exceptional women's ensemble. Randi has taught middle and high school choir for 15 years, the last eight at Visitation. She is also the Ensemble Coach for OVation, a small ensemble from One Voice Mixed Chorus in St. Paul.

In addition to conducting choirs she is a newly published composer and arranger. Her piece, “My True Love Hath My Heart” was first performed at her wedding and published with Yelton Rhodes. Her newest arrangement “Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burnin’” will be published in 2012 by Hal Leonard and was performed by ENCORE! at the 2011 Illuminations concert with TCWC.

Randi is grateful to her many professors and teachers at St. Olaf College and Michigan State University and to her mother, Nancy Grundahl, from whom she has learned the most.

Accompanist

Rosie Romportl

Rosie Romportl is a skilled and versatile musician who has been accompanist for the Twin Cities Women's Choir since 2003. She has been an elementary music educator and piano instructor for over 25 years and currently teaches K-5 music at Highland Catholic School in St. Paul. Ms. Romportl trains and conducts the Highland Catholic School Children's Choir which recently recorded its first CD, "Sing A Joyful Song." She is co-director of an annual all-school Christmas Program, a creative endeavor highlighting every child in the school, and director of other school musical programs.

Her musical activities outside of teaching include being music minister, liturgical accompanist, ensemble leader and cantor at Corpus Christi Church in Roseville. Ms. Romportl received her B.A. in Music Education from the College of St. Catherine and her Master of Music in Piano Performance degree from the University of Minnesota.

Our Board of Directors

2011-2012 Board of Directors

Erica Mauter, President
Susan Terry, Vice President
Sage Walen, Treasurer
Sue Pohlod, Secretary
Mary Bussman, Artistic Director
Pat Teiken, Executive Director

Amanda Balagur
Barb Gacek
Anna Gehres
Susan Harris
Carol Lohman
Gillian Reynolds