About Us
The Stand in the Light Memory Choir is led by a specifically trained music director and accompanist. It is a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible learning environment that helps provide a goal and a sense of accomplishment for each member. We provide music notebooks, sheet music, and a practice CD for each member. The choir has Dementia-aware volunteers to assist with the needs of the singers and care partners.
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Kate Larson, Artistic/Musical Director
​A native of Altoona, Wisconsin, Kate Larson holds a Master of Arts degree in Music Education from the University of St. Thomas and a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Music Education from St. Olaf College. Kate taught high school choir for 11 years and was honored as the Outstanding Young Choral Director of the year in 2014 by the American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota. She returned to the Eau Claire area in 2016, where she resides with her husband and three children. In addition to directing Stand in the Light Memory Choir, Kate is also the founder and Artistic Director of Chorale NouvEAU and the Choir Director at Christ Church Cathedral. She believes singing is a lifelong journey and an essential form of human connection, expression, and healing.
Anne Kubiatowicz, Accompanist
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Anne Kubiatowicz has a piano degree from UW-Eau Claire. She is a former home educator who now spends most of her time teaching a private studio of thirty piano students. Anne enjoys making music with colleagues, area school choirs, and UWEC music students. She has been blessed to be a part of her church music and teaching ministry over the years. To her, music is not only an art, but a language that meets the needs of the soul and connects people in a unique way. Anne loves seeing this power of music in the amazing Stand in the Light Memory Choir!
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Cathy Reitz, Founding Director
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For over 40 years Cathy has taught choral and vocal music in the Midwest. She holds a Bachelor of Music from St. Norbert College, a Master of Education from the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse and is a National Board Certified Teacher and Master Educator. She believes in the power of music and of singing together.
Board of Directors
Lynn is an Occupational Therapist at HSHS Sacred Heart/St Joseph's Hospital for the past 30 years. Lynn has attended Stand In the Light Memory Choir concerts for the past 3 years and witnessed the power of music. She looks forward to serving the organization, its members and the community. Lynn plays handbells and flute at Hope Lutheran Church.
Lynn Weber
President
A retired office manager, Jan has been a resident of Eau Claire since her time at UW-EC as a music major-oboe and education. She was a member of the Chippewa Valley Symphony for nearly 30 years and remains active in many choral and instrumental groups in the Valley including as a singing partner in the Stand in the Light Memory Choir.
Jan Smith
Vice President
Lou is the Business Intelligence and Analytics Manager at Royal Credit Union in Eau Claire. She has been blessed to be the Music Director for Zion Lutheran Church of Cleghorn for many years. Lou has several family members affected by Alzheimer's and Dementia and believes in the power of music to engage memory.
​Lou Heimstead
Treasurer
Music has always been a part of Kim's life. She has sung in church choirs, plays piano, guitar, and the French Horn in high school Professionally, Kim has been working in schools most of her life, having been a first grade teacher and elementary school principal. Currently she is a consultant serving principals and teachers in continuous improvement of professional practices that increase student learning.
Kim says that this choir warms her heart because memory loss affects all of us in some way, yet music lives on in minds struggling to remember other things. "It is an honor to serve on this Board to be a small part of the wonderful service this choir provides in so many ways."
Kim Hill Phelps
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Secretary
Lynn is a retired first grade teacher who now enjoys volunteering at her church and in our community. She loves to read, travel, do yoga and her daily walks. Having members on both sides of her family affected by Alzheimer’s, she is impressed with the joy and power of music with the Stand in the Light Choir. She is excited to serve on the Board of Directors.
Lynn Fering
Board Member
Euna Letendre
Board Member
Euna recently relocated to Wisconsin in 2024 from New England. With over 15 years of experience in senior living and geriatric healthcare, Euna is passionate about educating caregivers and families on how to best support those with memory impairment. She is a certified dementia practitioner.
Before moving to Wisconsin, Euna served as the Executive Director of a memory care assisted living facility, where she developed programs to enhance the quality of life for residents.
Currently, Euna works as a hospice care consultant for Moments Hospice, continuing to make meaningful connections with patients and their families. She is excited to be part of Stand in the Light Choir, fostering a sense of community and joy through the universal language of music.
Michael is a self described recovering IT tech who has been working in the Marketing field for the past few years. He and his wife are recent transplants to Wisconsin from New England. While his musical talents don't go past the kazoo, he has always loved being around music and musicians of all types. He has worked closely with Mighty Sam McClain on several projects and tours including his collaborations with the Iranian singer Mahsa Vahdat and Norwegian musician Knut Reiersrud.
Michael Letendre
Board Member
Wanda Miller has admired the work of The Stand in the Light Memory Choir since its inception and is honored to be a part of making lives richer, through music, in the Chippewa Valley. Wanda teaches music at Northwoods Elementary School in Eau Claire, where she loves making music with her students. She has sung with Master Singers of Eau Claire and currently sings in a local duo, Wandarlie. Wanda also enjoys playing French Horn and singing at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Eau Claire.
Wanda Miller
Board Member
Sarah is a retired nurse with the majority of her career spent in the operating room. Throughout her life she has been both the recipient of, and borne witness to, the healing power of music. And like many, she has been touched by the devastation of losing a loved one to Alzheimer’s disease. Never having been blessed with children of her own, she adores being an “Auntie Mame” to her nephews and niece. Aside from music, books, daily walks, mahjongg, volunteer work and travel, her biggest joy is her beloved pup, Stella, who provides unconditional love and endless entertainment. Sarah feels honored to serve as a SITLMC board member.
Sarah Robertson
Board Member
With a Bachelor’s degree in Instrumental Music Education from UW-Eau Claire, Sharon was the band director for Fond du Lac School District where she also taught instrumental instruction, jazz studies, music theory, general music and marching band. Sharon has performed throughout the United States, Canada and parts of Europe with several orchestras, concert bands and wind ensembles. In Eau Claire, she substitute teaches music and art for area schools and also established the Seymour Studio for Winds where she taught private lessons. Sharon has been on the boards of the Eau Claire Chamber Orchestra, the UW-Eau Claire Alumni Association, the Fond du Lac Symphonic Band, and a founding member of the Wisconsin Youth Band Directors Association. Having had several family members with Alzheimer’s and Lewy Body dementia, Sharon is thrilled to have the opportunity to share her love of the arts to enrich the lives of those who live with dementia through Stand in the Light Memory Choir.
Sharon Seymour
Board Member
Terre and her husband Ken have been singing with the Stand In The Light Memory Choir for the past two years and have found the experience to be transformative. Each rehearsal and concert has allowed us to experience the power of music to nurture the spirit, create connection and bring joy into our lives and the lives of others.
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Terre is retired from her career at CVTC as a Psychology Instructor. She has always been an active volunteer in community organizations and an advocate for social justice. She is honored to share her time and energy supporting the choir as a member of the Board of Directors.
Terre Sullivan
Board Member
Emily is a board-certified music therapist who aims to foster creativity, self-expression and self-empowerment through music. Emily received her Masters degree in Music Therapy from the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities and her Bachelors degree in Music and Psychology from Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois. Emily has experience providing person-centered music therapy services for neurodiverse individuals of all ages, within skilled nursing and assisted living communities, and currently, she is the music therapist for Moments Hospice in Eau Claire. Emily is thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of an organization that shares her passion for cultivating connection through music making.
Emily VanOpdorp
Board Member
Admininstrative and Support Staff
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Lisa has been with the Aging & Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire County, WI for 17 years and has been in the aging/dementia field for more than 32 years. Ms. Wells provides support for individuals with dementia and their caregivers, offers memory screenings, evidenced based-programs, assistance with care planning and connections to support and resources. She assists in developing dementia friendly communities, civic awareness of dementia related issues, and trainings.
Lisa Wells, MA,CDP
Dementia Care Specialist Liaison
Kobi has been a professional performer the bulk of her life, with music being at the core for many years. She has also been a writer, a storyteller and a teaching artist among many other things. She currently works with her husband as a comedy juggling duo, presenting their educational Circus Science Spectacular show throughout the country. Kobi has had multiple family members affected by Alzheimer’s and truly believes in the healing power of music.
Kobi Shaw
Administrative Assistant
Barb coordinates the refreshments for social time for the choir, both weekly and at the concerts. Barb & her husband, Larry, own the Bed, Bath & Drapery in Eau Claire. She is retired from Premium Finance Corporation.
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Barb Kleist
Volunteer Coordinator
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Singing Care Partners
Do you love to sing and help others? Some choir members may not have a care partner and could use a little help. A singing care partner is paired with a person living with memory loss and assists the member during rehearsals and performances. Training is provided before the start of each semester for singing care partners.
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Supporting The Choir
Stand in the Light Memory Choir is a 501 (c)(3) supported by generous donations from the community and many volunteers. Donations are tax deductible. Stand in the Light Memory Choir is a part of the Giving Voice Initiative (GVI) in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. GVI inspires and equips organizations around the world to build choruses for people with dementia and their care partners. For more information visit: www.givingvoicechorus.org