Staff & Board

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.

Elisa Chodan

Assistant, Music Program and 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.

Galen Kauffman

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

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 / Assistant, Carol and Concert choirs

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

Warner 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.

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 / Choir Manager
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.

LuDee

Assistant Music Librarian (volunteer)

LuDee is a parent of three alumni singers and one current singer. She attends Habecker Mennonite Church.

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.

Audrey Livengood

Editor (volunteer)
Audrey holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Millersville University and a master’s degree in education from Eastern Mennonite University. She taught at Lititz Area Mennonite School, served on the MCCL Advisory board, served on MCCL staff, and now homeschools her four children who are current MCCL singers. She has a small piano studio. In addition, she and her husband, along with their children, own and operate Livengood Family Farm, a regenerative farm in Lancaster, PA.