Staff

Craig Hella Johnson
Artistic Director/Conductor

Renowned as one of the most influential voices in choral conducting in the United States, Craig Hella Johnson brings a depth of knowledge, artistic sensitivity and imagination to his programs. Founder and Artistic Director of Conspirare, Johnson has assembled some of the finest singers in the country to create a world class, award-winning ensemble committed to creating dynamic choral art. His performances with Conspirare have been praised for their superb artistry.

In addition to his work with Conspirare, Johnson serves as the Artistic Director of the Victoria Bach Festival, an annual event that draws musicians and critical praise from around the country. A native of Minnesota, Johnson studied at St. Olaf College, the Julliard School, Yale University, and the University of Illinois. He was also a student of Helmuth Rilling at the International Bach Academy in Stuttgart, Germany. Johnson served as Director of Choral Activities at the University of Texas at Austin, where he was head of the graduate program in choral conducting for 10 years. During the 1998-1999 season, Johnson served as Artistic Director of San Francisco Chanticleer.

back to top

Erich Vollmer
Executive Director

In joining Conspirare as executive director in March 2007, Erich Vollmer brings to that organization a successful and varied career in arts management that spans over three decades, in leadership positions in almost every genre of the performing arts.

Mr. Vollmer was executive director, 2004-2007, of the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, a professional choral ensemble. There he led an effort to more than double the budget, while at the same time establishing over-all fiscal health, including the creation of a $125,000 cash reserve. He was president and chief executive officer of the Caramoor Center for Music and Arts in Katonah, New York from 2001-2002. From 1995-2001, Mr. Vollmer was executive director of the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, and worked with the board and artistic staff to introduce several new programs, achieved organizational and financial stability, and launched a successful endowment campaign. During this period, he also helped to establish the Santa Fe Performing Arts Association, the first organized effort to create an ongoing dialogue among arts administrators in that city.

Before coming to Santa Fe, Mr. Vollmer served as executive director of several prominent Southern California performing arts organizations, including the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Philharmonic Society of Orange County, and the Young Musicians Foundation. He began his career in arts administration as a member of the administrative staff of his alma mater, the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music.

back to top

Katie Apple
Executive Assistant to the Artistic Director

Katie comes to Conspirare from her hometown of Schenectady, New York. She received her Bachelor of Music in Music Industry degree from Syracuse University in 2003. While a student, she studied the flute with John Oberbrunner and Deborah Coble and was active in several instrumental ensembles. Katie also studied in the Higher Education Master's degree program at Syracuse University and during that time, traveled to Brazil with the university's Brazilian Music Ensemble. In 2004, Katie was asked to join the music industry faculty at Syracuse University. The youngest and only female faculty member since the program's inception, she taught required courses at the freshman through senior levels, advised all freshman and sophomore music industry majors and designed and implemented the First Year Forum for incoming students. Her diverse background includes knowledge of copyright, licensing, publishing, concert planning, artist management and arts advocacy.

back to top

Will Culbertson
Production Manager

Mr. Culbertson began work with Conspirare on April 1, 2008. He recently served as a Box Office Events Manager for Austin's Paramount Theatre. From 2005-06 he was General Manager of the Nova Singers in Galesburg, Illinois. Prior to that, he was Operations Assistant for the Knox-Galesburg Symphony. In addition to his choral and conducting background, Mr. Culbertson is an accomplished instructor in martial arts. A native of Illinois, he graduated with a B.A. in music and theater from Knox College in Galesburg, where he was a member of both the Knox College Choir and the Knox College Chamber Singers.

back to top

Cynthia Densmore
Bookkeeper

Cynthia has worked as a financial management consultant in the Austin area for ten years, helping non-profits and small businesses thrive by helping them create dynamic operational systems that are suited to their individual needs and goals. She has a BA degree in Psychology and coursework toward an MBA. Her finance experience and education began in 1992 in the United States Marine Corps. She enjoys adventure and has traveled all over the world in her various pursuits. In her free time, she practices classical piano and dabbles in graphic design.

back to top

Rick Gabrillo
Assistant Director and Administrator, Conspirare Youth Choir

Rick is currently the Assistant conductor of Conspirare and performs with the professional ensemble throughout the season. For the past 8 years, he taught at Clint Small Middle School in the Austin ISD, where he established a choral program recognized statewide for artistic excellence. Rick was Clint Small's Teacher of the Year in 2003 and was an AISD finalist for this coveted honor. Rick holds both Bachelor and Masters degrees in Music Education from the University of Texas at Austin. He left teaching in 2005 to care for his newborn son and work with the Conspirare Youth Choir. He is responsible for the administrative activities of the Youth Choir and serves as the liaison to the parent's committee and Conspirare.

back to top

Meri Krueger
Artist Contractor

Meri is a native of Aberdeen, South Dakota, and is experienced as a studio and classroom teacher and as a solo and ensemble performer. She holds the degrees of Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Texas at Austin. In the course of fifteen years as a professional musician, Ms. Krueger has served as a music and movement instructor at the preschool and elementary level, as a solo and ensemble coach for middle school children, as a classroom music theory and musicianship teacher for high school students, as a conductor and private-lesson teacher for college-level music majors, and as an instructor of world and ethnic music. As a performer, Ms. Krueger serves as an on-call percussionist with the Austin Symphony, Austin Lyric Opera, and the San Antonio Symphony.

back to top

Chuck Lutke
Development & Communications Manager

Chuck Lutke, who joined Conspirare in June 2007 as Development and Communications Manager, held senior management positions at Houston's Alley Theater, Houston Grand Opera and Austin Lyric Opera. In the late 1990s, he served as Communications Director for Texas Baptist Children's Home in Round Rock. Chuck most recently served as Annual Fund Manager for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas. A native of Oklahoma, he was educated in Houston schools and at Texas Tech University. During Conspirare's 06-07 season, Chuck produced press releases and Conversations e-newsletters on a contract basis.

back to top

Monica Maher
Operations Manager

Monica moved to Austin from Indianapolis, Indiana in 1985. After becoming a licensed cosmetologist in 1989 she worked in the health and beauty industry for several years. In 1997 she began working with Workers Assistance Program & The Texas HIV Connection, a non-profit organization that provides statewide HIV and substance abuse prevention trainings for healthcare professionals. She eventually became their Events Director and Support Services Manager, overseeing four national conferences and supervising the administrative support team. She joined Conspirare as Operations Manager in September 2006.

back to top

Nina Revering
Director, Conspirare Youth Choir

Nina has been a member of Conspirare since 1995. Her choral music experience began at an early age. While growing up in Brazil, she performed in the Coro Infantil do Teatro Municipal under the direction of Elsa Lakschevitz. After moving to Canada, she joined the Toronto Children's Chorus, directed by Jean Ashworth-Bartle, and performed with noted directors Andrew Davis and Sir David Willcocks. Ms. Revering's musical training included six years of study in Toronto's Royal Conservatory of Music in baroque recorder as well as piano. Ms. Revering holds diplomas and degrees from the Royal Conservatory of Music, the Youth Performing Arts School, and Boston University's School for the Arts. She studied baroque recorder with John Tyson of the New England Conservatory and performed with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus under conductors Seiji Ozawa, John Williams, and John Oliver.

back to top

Nicki Turman
House Manager

Nicki has been volunteering for Conspirare since attending the Hope concert in 2005, and recently joined our staff as House Manager. She sings soprano with First Presbyterian Choir, and is a native of Austin. She graduated from Austin High, and holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in Radio-TV-Film from the University of Texas at Austin. Nicki is also employed by Barbara Miller Communications, and serves on the board of the Texas Christian Ashram, volunteers for Habitat for Humanity, and sews for the McNeil High School Chorale. She is married with two grown daughters.

back to top