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Who we are
Sapphire Chamber Consort
(Pictured: Heidi Johanna Miller, James Patrick Miller)
Sapphire Chamber Consort is a new presenting organization for chamber art music. Centered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, its mission is to engage the human mind and spirit through vital and visionary programs, connecting eras and genres of instrumental and vocal music for chamber ensemble.
The concept for Sapphire Chamber Consort began in the summer of 2006 as a collaborative artistic effort, unique in its program-driven foundation and its aim to draw upon the large talent pool of musicians in the Twin Cities metropolitan area on a project-by-project basis. Under the artistic leadership of Heidi Johanna Miller and James Patrick Miller, its primary goal is to energize audiences through a shared enthusiasm for new works by living composers, teasing out the common bonds between the historic and new music featured.
Elizabeth Paul, president
James Patrick Miller, artistic advisor and co-founder
Originally from Winona, MN, James Patrick Miller is currently completing
his DMA in conducting at the University of Minnesota. He holds the MM
degree in conducting from Ithaca College and a BM in music education magna
cum laude from St. Olaf College. From 2002-2006 he served as assistant director of bands and conductor of the University Chorale at Cornell
University, in Ithaca, N.Y., where he directed the Wind Symphony, Chorale
and Low Brass Choir. He has also served on the conducting faculty at Ithaca
College.
In 2003 Miller received national recognition by winning the American Choral
Directors Association National Conducting Prize at the graduate level. He
has also been involved in the commissioning of more than 30 works in the
last 10 years, and his ensemble's performances have been noted by such
composers as Shawn Allison, Abbie Betinis, Karel Husa, J. David Moore,
Jayce Ogren, Steven Stucky, Judith Weir and Dana Wilson. Miller's mentors
have included Steven Amundson, Craig Kirchhoff, Timothy Mahr, Stephen
Peterson, Robert Scholz and Scott Tucker.
Miller lives in Minneapolis, MN with his wife Heidi and their two cats Teus
and Gandalf where they cheer wildly for the Minnesota Twins.
Heidi Johanna Miller, artistic advisor and co-founder
Originally from Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, Miller holds an M.M. in conducting from Ithaca College in New York, where she studied with Stephen Peterson, and a B.M. in music education from the University of Minnesota, where she studied trumpet with David Baldwin and Gary Bordner. Currently, Miller is pursuing a D.M.A. in conducting at the University of Minnesota where she studies with Craig Kirchhoff, Kathy Romey, and Mark Russell Smith. Also active as a performer, Miller has studied voice with Thom Baker and John de Haan, and is a member of the Minnesota Chorale and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra Anniversary Chorale.
Miller served on the conducting and music education faculties at Ithaca College from 2005 to 2006, where she directed the Campus Band, taught undergraduate conducting, and supervised student teachers. Prior to moving to New York, she taught instrumental music at Spring Lake Park High School (MN) for three years where she created a private lesson program and started a local solo and ensemble festival. Miller has led world premiere performances of works by Stephen Hartke, Keir Neuringer, Carl Schroeder, James Patrick Miller, and Dawn Lenore Sonntag; in addition, her ensembles’ performances have been noted by composers Karel Husa, Steven Stucky, and Dana Wilson. She currently resides in Minneapolis with her husband James and their two cats, Teus and Gandalf.
Jennifer Greupner, co-founder
Jennifer Greupner has dedicated her career to music education. Since 2000, Ms. Greupner has taught at every level, from elementary band through high school. Before arriving at her current position as the Director of Bands at Harding High School in St. Paul, MN, she taught in the Wayzata, Minnetonka and Eden Prairie Public School Districts.
After graduating from Stillwater Area High School, Greupner attended the University of Minnesota, where she received a Bachelor of Music in music education and French horn performance in 2000. While attending, she was the recipient of the Liljenstople-Wenjnarch Award and graduated a School of Music Scholar. In 2004, she graduated with a Masters of Music in wind band conducting at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, as a student of Thomas L. Dvorak. During this time, Greupner conducted a variety of UWM ensembles, including the UWM Youth Wind Ensembles, and taught French horn fundamentals to music education majors.
Greupner was published in Best Music for Young Band, revised edition in 2005 through Manhattan Beach Music.
Paul Fraser, vice president and artistic advisor (website)
Paul Fraser received his Bachelor of Arts from Gustavus Adolphus College in 2005, majoring in music and computer science. He has written for many ensembles, including orchestra, band, chamber groups, pop bands, as well as electronic music. His music has been influenced by modern pop genres, and lately, has been programmatic and focused on timbre. This past June, Fraser studied with Alasdair Nicolson, Sally Beamish, and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies at the St. Magnus Composers' Course as part of the St. Magnus Festival in Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland. In addition, he was present for the World Premiere of his chamber work Dragonfly Electric. Currently, he is studying electronic music with Douglas Geers at the University of Minnesota.
J. David Moore, artistic advisor and co-founder (website)
Composer J. David Moore has had works performed and recorded all over the world. He received a Bachelor's degree in composition from Florida State University School of Music and a Master's degree in composition and choral conducting from the University of Cincinnati College–Conservatory of Music. He has studied composition with Roy Johnson, John Boda, Darrell Handel and Scott Huston, and conducting with André Thomas, John Leman, and Earl Rivers. David has founded and directed two professional a cappella ensembles, Cincinnati-based The Village Waytes and St. Paul's Dare To Breathe.
An active educator and clinician, David has coached vocal ensembles and served as composer-in-residence at elementary, middle and high schools in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio. He is a two-time recipient of the American Composers Forum's Faith Partners program and has written a wide variety of music for worship, concert halls and dance for groups from elementary school to professional. He lives in St. Paul, where his life as a composer, arranger, conductor, music engraver and father keep him busy and happy.
Edie Hill, artistic advisor and co-founder (website)
From orchestra to solo, epitaph to epic, Edie Hill's music unfolds itself seamlessly in all spaces and idioms. Presenters include Lincoln Center, LA County Museum of Art, Walker Art Center, Cape May Festival (NJ) and the Downtown Arts Festival (NYC). A 2006 McKnight Artist Fellow, Hill has been awarded grants from the Bush Foundation, Jerome Foundation, ASCAP, Meet the Composer and Chamber Music America.
Hill earned a B.A. in music composition and piano performance at Bennington College where she studied with Vivian Fine, then earned her MA and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Minnesota with principal composition teacher Lloyd Ultan. She has also studied extensively with Libby Larsen. Currently she serves as composer-in-residence at The Schubert Club in St. Paul, MN, and resides in Minneapolis where she works as a freelance composer.
Carrie Henneman Shaw, artistic advisor (website)
Minneapolis-based soprano Carrie Henneman Shaw is one of the country’s emerging talents in contemporary and Baroque repertoire, collaborating with numerous vocal and instrumental ensembles, such as dal Niente (Chicago), Oregon East Symphony, Orchestra Seattle, the Rose Ensemble, Consortium Carissimi, Sapphire Chamber Consort, the Zuchowiczi Consort of Viols (Houston), Bach Society of Minnesota, and the Deviated Septet. Carrie received a master's degree in performance from the University of Minnesota, studying with tenor John De Haan and coaching with acclaimed collaborative pianist Margo Garrett. This season, Carrie will be heard in Houston, Chicago, Seattle, Minneapolis, and beyond, singing works by composers ranging from William Byrd to Giacomo Carissimi to Dimitri Shapovalov, whose new work for chamber ensemble, male choir, and soprano solo, “Prayer,” she will premiere this spring in collaboration with Sapphire Chamber Consort.
Shawn Allison, artistic advisor (website)
Composer and saxophonist Shawn Allison has been commissioned by a variety of large ensembles, as well as numerous chamber ensembles and individual instrumentalists. He has recently received grants from the New York State Council on the Arts, Cornell Arts Council and the American Composers Forum's Jerome Composers Commissioning Program. Upcoming performances in Chicago include a performance of his song "El Rio Naciente" by the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) and a premiere by eighth blackbird.
A staunch advocate of new music, Shawn helped start the Ithaca, NY-based new music group Tabula Rasa, and has also performed with Ensemble X, the CCCP (Cornell Contemporary Chamber Players) and the Ithaca College New Music Ensemble. A former saxophone instructor at Cornell University and Ithaca College, he has performed in a variety of national venues with the New Heritage Saxophone Quartet.
Shawn holds degrees in saxophone performance and composition from St. Olaf College (BM) and Ithaca College (MM). A Javits Fellow, he is currently working on his Ph.D. in composition at the University of Chicago and serves on the steering committee of the Chicago Composers Forum.
Robert Whalen, artistic advisor
Robert Whalen, a native of Tivoli, NY, is currently pursuing a D.M.A. in conducting at the University of Minnesota where he studies with Craig Kirchhoff. In 2008 he completed an M.F.A. in conducting at the Bard College Conservatory under the tutelage of Harold Farberman and Leon Botstein. Robert also completed studies in music at Cornell University, from which he graduated with a B.A. cum laude in 2006. In his time at Cornell, Robert was the student assistant conductor for the Symphonic Band and Chorale, with whom he premiered his choral composition Out on the Lawn I Lie in Bed. Robert also founded and served as music director of CAgE, the Cornell Avant-garde Ensemble, leading eight world premieres in three concert seasons, including his award-winning ballet, Very Truly Yours…
After graduating from Cornell, Robert was selected as a Conducting Fellow at the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival and Bard Conductors Institute, worked as an Editorial Assistant for Musical Quarterly and was Operations Manager with the Bard Music Festival. At Bard, Robert conducted the Conductors Institute Orchestra, the Bard College Conservatory Orchestra, and was an Assistant Conductor for the Bard College Orchestra and the Bard Chamber Singers.
Sara Halberg, arts management intern
Sara Halberg will graduate in May from Gustavus Adolphus College with degrees in music and management. During her time at Gustavus, Sara has been involved with the Gustavus Wind Orchestra, Chapel Ringers and organ lessons. She is a recipient of several music scholarships, including the Gustavus Music Award, Edwin and Edith Byquist Norberg Scholarship, Verna Leona Anderson Scholarship, Mabel and Nils Anderson Scholarship and Ethel Pehrson Applied Music Scholarship. Sara spent the summer of 2008 as an intern with the Minnesota Orchestra in development, marketing and artistic planning. She is currently looking to start a career in an arts related nonprofit.