Who We Are
Our Staff
Randall meder - Artistic Director; Conductor of the Nicolet and Joliet Boy Choirs
Dr. Meder begins his first season with the Green Bay Boy Choir. He is Director of Choral Activities at the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay. He conducts the university's Concert Choir and Chorale, and teaches courses in choral conducting and music education. Dr. Meder holds a Bachelors degree in Music Education and a Masters degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, and the Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in Conducting and Literature from the University of Illinois. Dr. Meder has studied with Beverly Taylor, Fred Stoltzfus, Don Moses, Timothy Stalter, Scott MacPherson, Robert Fountain, and Robert Shaw. Before coming to Green Bay, he was Director of Choral Activities at North Carolina State University where he conducted their choral ensembles and taught sight-singing, choral literature, and music history. He is in demand as a clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor and has continued to work with high school choirs in Illinois, North Carolina, and Wisconsin.
Andrew Tolksdorf - Associate Director; Conductor of the Voyaguer and Marquette Boy Choirs
Mr. Tolksdorf has been a clinician numerous times with the Green Bay Boy Choir Summer Camp in the areas of solfege and music theory. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Green Bay Boy Choir and Girl Choir, Inc. prior to accepting the role of Associate Director for the training choirs. Professionally, Mr. Tolksdorf is on the music faculty of the Green Bay Area Public School District and serves as the Elementary Music Department Faculty Co-Chairperson. He was named Teacher of Distinction with the Golden Apple Awards program in 2006 and 2007, and honored as 2007 Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year.
Mr. Tolksdorf graduated from Silver Lake College in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, where he earned his Bachelors Degree in music with emphasis in general music and choral music education. He is certified in the Kodaly methodology for music education and was the charter president of the Association of Wisconsin Area Kodaly Educators. Mr. Tolksdorf holds a Masters of Education Degree in the area of curriculum and instruction with emphasis in technology in education from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He is a member of the National Education Association and the Northeast Wisconsin Education Association. Mr. Tolksdorf has been a soloist with and member of the Dudley Birder Chorale.
Karie Green - Artistic Director; Conductor of the Preludio, Arietta, and Licenza girl choirs
Ms. Green holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree with voice emphasis from the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh. After several years of teaching high school vocal music, she joined the Green Bay Boy Choir and Girl Choir staff in 1990. Ms. Green served as accompanist for the boys training choirs through 1997 and then became the boy choir Associate Director until 2003. After a two year leave, Ms. Green returned as Associate Director of the Green Bay Girl Choir and now conducts the Preludio and Arietta training girl choirs, and Licenza touring girl choir. She accepted the role of Artistic Director of the Green Bay Girl Choir in 2008.
For the past 18 years, Ms. Green has worked on the team that presents the Pulaski High School annual musical. Productions have included Fiddler on the Roof, Wonderful Town, Hello Dolly, and 42nd Street. Ms. Green also leads a children’s worship time and choir at First United Methodist Church, Green Bay. At Green Bay East High School, she was prominent in developing the Music & Drama Parent Organization and has been its co-chairperson since the organization's inception in 2005.
Linda Thill- Director Emeritus; Conductor of the Con Brio girl choir
Ms. Thill received her Bachelor of Arts in Music Education with a vocal concentration from the University of Minnesota and her Masters Degree in Music Education from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota. Ms. Thill has continued to further her studies at St. Thomas with a focus on conducting and choral music. She received certification from the Voice Care Network in 2001.
Ms. Thill had been Artistic Director of the Green Bay Girl Choir from 1999 until semi-retirement in 2008. Prior to joining the Green Bay Girl Choir, she directed the Oshkosh Children's Choir for three years including their performance before the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association convention. She has also worked with the youth and adult choirs of Pilgrim Congregational Church, Green Bay and currently directs their Handbell Choir. Ms. Thill was a guest clinician for the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association's "Singing in Wisconsin Festival" in 1994, 1998, and 2001. She was co-chair of the "Children's Honors Choir" for the WCDA convention in January 2001. In the summer of 2000 and again in 2008, Ms. Thill toured Europe with the Wisconsin Ambassadors of Music as section leader.
Ms. Thill has taught music for 36 years at all levels including 20 years in the Appleton (Wisconsin) Area School District. She is currently directing the Women's Choirs at Appleton East High School. Prior to Appleton, she taught in Minnesota, Iowa, and the Howard-Suamico (Wisconsin) District. Ms. Thill has taught education classes at the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay and Lawrence University, Appleton. In 1989, Ms. Thill received the Teacher of the Year Award in the Howard Suamico School District. She has performed with the Pamiro Opera Company of Green Bay and in musical productions in community theatre in Minneapolis. Ms. Thill serves on the Board of Directors for the Brown County Civic Music Association. In addition, she teaches voice and piano privately.
Molly Tomashek - Associate Director; conductor of the Cantabile Girl Choir
Ms. Tomashek is new to the Green Bay Girl Choir program in 2008. While attending St. Norbert College, De Pere, Wisconsin, Ms. Tomashek received the Lucille Meusel Scholarship for Vocal Performance and was invited to perform with the Collegiate Honor Choir at the Regional Wisconsin Choral Directors Association convention. After graduating with a degree in Music Education, she taught general music in the Oshkosh public school system, along with private piano and vocal lessons. She has held positions with the Lawrence Academy of Music as director of the Primo and Intermezzo girl choirs, as well as a position as Adjunct Professor of Piano with St. Norbert College. Ms. Tomashek is currently employed as the worship leader for Christ the Rock Community Church, Green Bay.
Audrey Olson - Founder and Director Emeritus; retired
Accompanists
Emily Slavek — From the age of 14, Ms. Slavek has accompanied a multitude of soloists and ensembles including the College of St. Catherine (St. Paul, MN) Women's Choir, St. Norbert College's Chamber Choir, Music Theatre, Knight Theatre, and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Choir. She is a 2007 graduate of St. Norbert College with a degree in piano accompaniment.
Emily Bielinski — Ms. Bielinski is a new addition to the Green Bay Girl Choir staff. She accompanies the Preludio, Arietta, and Licenza choirs under the direction of Karie Green. Before her involvement with the girl choirs, Ms. Bielinski accompanied churches in the Green Bay area. She has been an organist at Resurrection Catholic Parish since 2002 and was an Assistant Music Coordinator at UW-Green Bay's Ecumenical Center for two years. She received a scholarship from the Green Bay Diocese to pursue organ studies in 2003. In addition to her involvement with the Green Bay Girl Choir, she accompanies the Red Smith Middle School Choir under the direction of Judy Tepe. She will be studying elementary education, Spanish, and music in the Spring at St. Norbert College.