Artistic Director
Dr. Nathan Payant, Artistic Director
Nathan Payant is a devoted conductor, educator, and professional singer who strives to cultivate long-lasting connections with others through the choral arts. He has choral teaching and conducting experience at the middle school, high school, college, and professional levels. Currently, Nathan is an Instructor of Music at Colorado State University, where he directs the Concert Choir, mentors student teaching candidates, and teaches Voice Skills for Music Therapists, Foundations of Music Education, and Music Appreciation. He is also on the choral faculty at the University of Denver and conducts the Lamont Women’s Chorus and teaches Choral Literature.
A dedicated advocate for choral music education, Nathan is involved in NAfME, CMEA, ACDA, and CoACDA, placing special emphasis on encouraging lifelong singing. He is frequently invited to present lectures and reading sessions at state conferences, as well as visit and clinic at local high schools throughout the Front Range in Colorado. He has served on the Colorado All-State Choir Board, the Vocal Music Council of CMEA, and the Colorado ACDA Council as the Women’s Choir R&R Chair. He fully believes in promoting standards of the choral repertoire, as well as discovering and supporting newly composed works.
Nathan is a very active member of the professional choral community in Colorado. In addition to his work with Laudamus Chamber Chorale, he is the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Anima Chamber Ensemble, General Manager of Colorado Bach Ensemble, and sings professionally with St. Martin’s Chamber Choir and Colorado Bach Ensemble. He is also honored to have several choral arrangements published through Hal Leonard Publishing.
A native of South Dakota, Nathan is a proud alumnus of Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD, where he earned a Bachelor of Music Education. He received his M.M. in Choral Conducting from Colorado State University and D.M.A. in Choral Conducting and Literature from University of Colorado, Boulder. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Nathan enjoys traveling and spending time with his beautiful wife, Natalie, and three daughters, Faythe, Ava, and Lilian.
Organ
Dr. Joel Bacon, Organ
A native of N.J., Dr. Joel Bacon holds degrees in mathematics and organ performance from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, where he was a student of Joyce Jones, and an artist diploma in organ from the Konservatorium der Stadt Wien (Vienna, Austria), where he studied with Michael Gailit. With a dissertation on the use of organ in selected orchestral works, he earned his PhD in historical musicology through a joint degree program of Vienna’s University of Music and Performing Arts and the University of Vienna.
Joel Bacon has a growing reputation as a performer, teacher and scholar in North America and Europe. He has been heard in recital in Germany, Austria, France, Switzerland, Canada, and the US, and live performances have been broadcast on Austrian Radio (1) and Public Radio International. He has taught at the prestigious Oundle International Festival (Cambridge, UK), at several Pipe Organ Encounters of the American Guild of Organists, and at other courses in the US and Canada. With the principal violist of the Munich Philharmonic, Albrecht Rohde, he has recorded a CD of music for viola and organ.
Joel Bacon currently holds the Stewart and Sheron Golden Chair in Organ and Liturgical Studies, the first endowed chair in the College of Liberal Arts. Before coming to CSU, he was assistant organist of St. Thomas Lutheran Church, Munich-Grunwald, and served as frequent guest organist at the former Hapsburg imperial church, St. Augustine, Vienna.
Mezzo-Soprano
Dr. Nicole Asel, Mezzo-Soprano
Nicole Asel is a mezzo-soprano, educator, and has a deep commitment to connection through music. She’s an Associate Professor of Voice at Colorado State University, where she teaches all things vocal: from technique and artistry to pedagogy and art song.
Nicole’s performance career has taken her across the U.S. and beyond, from Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 to Rufus Wainwright’s Songs for Lulu. Recent gigs include Messiah, Beethoven 9, and Corigliano’s Fern Hill. Her recording of Robert Livingston Aldridge’s LoveSongs is streaming wherever you listen.
When she’s not performing or teaching, Nicole is championing new music—especially American opera and art song. She is currently developing The Baby Book Project—a filmed performance of Lauren Spavelko’s Baby Book, a cycle exploring early motherhood—with Art Song Colorado.
Whether mentoring young singers or exploring untold stories through music, Nicole centers care, curiosity, and advocacy in her musical and educational life.
Laudamus Singers
Soprano
Josie Brill
Evelyn Bruxvoort
Faith Crill
Ashley Eckroth
Brittany Hennings
Laura Horn
Erin McFall
Kerry Miller
Marian Railsback
Susan Reuth
Hannah Rogers
Jen Sajbel
Barbara Sebek
Barbara Shaw
Maisie Sky
Emilee Smith
Julie Spencer
Ivy Taylor
Montana Waters
Kathleen Zimmerman
Alto
Betsy Bedient
Jessica Bernett
Samantha Brewer
Elise Cangro
Nicole Ceciliani
Mary Dolce
Arlene Hoffman
Judy Leatherman
Ginger Martin
Alyx Martin
Sophie Matthews
Julia Méndez
Jeannie Merkel
Kaitlin Miles
Kaia Monson
Andrea Montgomery
Kiki Olsson
Kelley Pichel
Alexa Reuth
Aspen Ulibarri
Mallory Wilson
Tenor
Jonathan Boeke
River Brooks
Josh Colonnieves
Dakota de Irueste
Jonathan Dings
Andy Firebaugh
John Friskney
Oliver Knudson
Brandon Michael
Josh Murphy
Matthew Porter
Frank Reid
Kenneth Wicklund
Joel Wilson
Bass
Bob Brite
Angel Bustillos
Charlie Carlton
Tim Costello
Paul Eckoff
Alessandro Hernandez
Steve Lundeen
Aaron McGrew
Shane Miles
Mark Nelson
Joe Perron
Will Reents
Shawn Reuth
Bradley Roon
Maxwell Tiedemann
Roydan Tomlinson
Collaborative Pianist
Linda McGinn, Collaborative Pianist
Linda McGinn received Bachelor of Music Education and Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance degrees from Colorado State University, studying with James McCray and Robert Cavarra. She received an MA in Teaching from Grand Canyon University. Her 31 years of choral teaching included Thompson Valley HS in Loveland, Gunnison HS, Alamosa HS and Pueblo South HS. In addition to her teaching experience, Linda served as staff accompanist at Western State Colorado University, Adams State University and Colorado State University-Pueblo, and choral director at the Gunnison Community Church. Linda was a board member for both the Colorado Music Educators Association and the Colorado American Choral Directors Association and now serves as a judge for the Colorado All-State Choir auditions. Currently, she is collaborative pianist for the Loveland and Thompson Valley high school choirs. In 2013, Linda and her husband Wayne (retired college and high school football coach) returned to Loveland where they first met! They are most fortunate to have their grown children (Zack and Caitlin and her hubby Zach) and grandkids, Killian and Ella also in the NoCo area
