Rosemary Siegrist Blessing

Artistic Director / Director, Chamber Choir
Rosemary holds degrees in piano performance and business administration from Eastern Mennonite University and has pursued graduate study in choral music. She is an adjunct instructor of piano at Franklin and Marshall College, maintains a thriving private piano studio, and has taught piano through Eastern Mennonite University’s Preparatory Program and was on music staff at the former Pennsylvania Academy of Music. Rosemary is an active pianist in the Lancaster area, having accompanied choral groups, musical theater groups, and currently plays with the Allegro Orchestra Lancaster.

Leah Bowman

Assistant, Carol, and Concert choirs
Leah is a 2024 graduate of Bluffton University with a bachelor’s degree in social work and a minor in Spanish. During college, she sang in the University Chorale and the Camerata Singers at Bluffton. Currently, she works as an Assistant Teacher at the Diamond Street Early Learning Center. Leah is an alumna of MCCL and has previously contributed as the student assistant for the Carol Choir, as well as serving as a singing chaperone for the Chamber Choir’s summer 2024 tour.

Elisa Chodan

Voice Lesson Instructor

Elisa is a full-time graduate student at Drexel University studying Music Therapy. She teaches private voice lessons at the Philadelphia Piano Institute. Previously she served as music educator, teaching choir and general music at Veritas Academy and as the Choristers director for MCCL. She led the women’s chorus at Lancaster Bible College. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education and a Master’s degree in Voice Performance from Bob Jones University with additional graduate credits from Westminster Choir College. She was a 2019-20 VOCES8 US Scholar and two-times summer intern with VOCES8 in Europe.

Roxanne Dixon

Interim Assistant Director, Carol and Concert choirs

Roxanne holds a Masters in Music Education from University of St. Thomas and a bachelor’s in Music Performance from Miami University. She has more than 20 years experience teaching public school K-8 general and vocal music, in addition to teaching Music Education and Interdisciplinary courses at Messiah University. Her professional education includes training in the Orff Schulwerk Approach, the Kodaly Concept, Dalcroze Education, and teaching children’s choirs. Roxanne is an active writer and editor and currently serves on the editorial board of The Orff Echo.

Pat Gruber

Musicianship Instructor

Pat earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Millersville University. Currently, she is the choir director at Florin Church of the Brethren in Mount Joy. Her experience as a music educator includes roles as the music teacher at Diamond Street Early Learning Center and Kraybill Mennonite School. In her capacity as a church music leader, she has acted as the Minister of Worship and Music at Akron Mennonite Church and served as the Director of Church Music at St. Paul Evangelical Church. Alongside her musical endeavors, Pat has also pursued studies in sign language and pastoral studies.

Galen Kauffman

Director, Men’s Ensemble / Assistant Instructor for tenor and bass voices / Musicianship Instructor

Galen holds a bachelor’s degree in Music (vocal concentration) from Malone University. For the past four years, he directed the middle and high school choirs at Grace International School in Thailand. Before that, he served as a school principal at a private school in Ohio, where he also directed musical performances. He sings locally with the Wheatland Chorale. Galen and his wife Jeanette enjoy raising their four children.

Laura Metzler

Assistant, Choristers

Laura holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education (Spanish concentration) from Houghton College and a Masters in Education (ESL track) from Eastern Mennonite University.  She taught 4th grade at Lititz Area Mennonite for 5 years followed by one year of teaching ESL with Youth With a Mission in St. Marc, Haiti.  She has enjoyed teaching private piano, guitar, and violin lessons over the last 20 years and leads worship in her home congregation.  Laura works part time as manager at the Mennonite Life Visitors Center (and Biblical Tabernacle Experience).  She enjoys adventuring and exploring the natural world with her husband and four children.

Sarah Smith

Director, Choristers

Sarah holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education (voice concentration) from Grove City College. During college, she was a member of the Grove City College Touring Choir for all four years and served as the student conductor for the group as well as received the Music Education award her senior year. Sarah teaches lower elementary music and is the sixth grade classroom assistant at Veritas Academy.

Carrie Warner

Accompanist, Carol and Concert choirs / Music Program Assistant / Tour Planner

Carrie holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education (piano concentration) from West Chester University. She has taught general music and directed middle school and high school choirs at West-Mont Christian Academy, Berks Christian School, and Conestoga Christian School. For the past several years, she served as accompanist for school musicals at Berks Christian School and has accompanied productions for other organizations throughout her music career. In addition, Carrie was the accompanist for an MCCL summer tour in 2004.

Phil Warner

Musicianship Instructor / Assistant Carol Choir

Phil holds a Master’s in Education from Liberty University, undergraduate degree in Music Education from West Chester University, and his Pennsylvania K-12 Teaching Certificate and Principal Certification. He has spent the past 20 years in education and educational leadership. He taught K – 12 general music, choir, band, and ensembles at Berks Christian School and served as the director of Fine Arts in the Alliance Christian School District.

Sarah Wingard

Director, Carol and Concert Choirs
Sarah earned her bachelor’s degree in music education from Messiah College with a concentration in voice and extensive study in piano. Growing up in Virginia, Sarah gained early musical experience singing with the nationally acclaimed Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir. Sarah teaches elementary general music at Lancaster Mennonite School and has more than ten years of experience teaching middle school classroom music and choir. In addition to helping with local music camps and events, she has taught private voice and piano lessons. Sarah local choral experience includes singing with the Susquehanna Chorale and Wheatland Chorale.

Maria Bowman

Managing Director
Maria holds a B.A. with concentrations in psychology, education, and English from Eastern Mennonite University. She is pursuing graduate work in nonprofit management and leadership through Eastern Mennonite University. Previously she worked in Human Resources, served as a Family Life Educator at COBYS Family Services, and taught in a middle school special education classroom.

Jeremiah Denlinger

Volunteer Coordinator
Jeremiah holds a Master’s of Arts in History and a B.A. in History Education with a minor in Spanish. In addition to his role with MCCL, he is an educator with Compass Mark. He has served in various educational settings as a History and Spanish teacher. Most recently he worked for Lancaster Mennonite School as a Guidance Counselor, Spanish teacher, and Chapel Coordinator.

Kendra Guengerich

Bookkeeper
Kendra serves at the Office Administrator at Blossom Hill Mennonite Church in addition to her role with MCCL. She previously worked for the Hempfield School District and for Williams Apothecary and served at the treasurer for a school PTO.