Our Symphonic Choir singers have been shaped by a variety of musical experiences that infuse their Conspirare performances. With the St. Olaf Choir in Austin this week as part of their 2026 Midwest and Texas tour, we wanted to highlight three of our Symphonic Choir singers who are also alums. Jeanne Foels, Emily Chandler, and Geoff Carlisle were all part of the St. Olaf Class of 2010, and shared the impact of their varied musical experiences and several shared values that they have carried into a lifetime of singing.
“Singing with the St. Olaf Choir taught me that above all else, the music deserves our full and honest attention. Our work was never about ego or personal recognition, but about honoring the composer’s intention by removing every possible distraction or flaw from the performance. When we do that work fully, we create space for the audience to listen openly – to be moved, challenged, or changed by the music itself. That philosophy has carried directly into my singing with Conspirare, where programming and performance continue to reflect the world around us and invite deep listening and shared humanity.”
– Emily Chandler, St. Olaf Class of 2010 and current member of the Symphonic Choir Alto Section
Dr Anton Armstrong and Emily Chandler. Dr. Armstrong has led the St. Olaf Choir since 1990.
“St. Olaf’s motto, ‘Lives of Worth and Service,’ closely parallels our engagement with Conspirare’s Symphonic Choir. While choir members are deeply committed to their own professional and artistic pursuits, they share a belief that music should extend beyond the concert hall and into the community. At Conspirare, there is a collective sense of mission and purpose that goes beyond delivering a great performance. Whether singing at an interfaith service, for people who are incarcerated, or for the AIDS Memorial Quilt, the work is guided by intention and service. In this way, St. Olaf and Conspirare are aligned not only in musical excellence, but in a shared commitment to using music in service of others.”
– Geoff Carlisle, St. Olaf Class of 2010 and current member Symphonic Choir Bass
Craig conducted the St. Olaf Orchestra at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis in 2010, with Geoff Carlisle in the viola section.
“One of the reasons I chose to go to St. Olaf was the music program. I knew I wasn’t going to major in music, but it was such an important part of my life growing up, and I wanted to continue participating at a high level (same reason I now sing with Conspirare!).
I have very fond memories of that particular flow state, that dissolution of self into the larger whole, while singing in the choirs during my four years at St. Olaf. And the beautiful thing is that it felt like a natural extension of the college’s central value of community.”
-Jeanne Foels, St. Olaf Class of 2010 and current member of the Symphonic Choir soprano section.
Look for Jeanne, Emily and Geoff in this May’s Symphonic Choir performance. Artistic Director Craig Hella Johnson is also a St. Olaf alum!
You can experience the St. Olaf singing tradition in Austin! The St. Olaf Choir, conducted by Anton Armstrong, will perform at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas on Wednesday, February 4 at 7 p.m. For more than a century, the St. Olaf Choir has set the gold standard for choral singing, performing for millions around the world. Tickets are available online or by phone at 800-363-5487.
