Director
Anna Atwater started singing with Concentus Women’s Chorus in 2016 and became Director in 2019. She earned a Master of Music in Vocal Performance at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN, and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from SUNY Fredonia. She teaches vocal music in the Victor School District. Anna is a certified NYSSMA Adjudicator, youth yoga instructor, and teaches private voice lessons. In addition to directing and singing with Concentus, she enjoys frequent engagements with First Inversion, Eastman’s Voices, and the early music ensemble Scivias.
Board of directors
Rebecca Kemp, Chair
Monika Reifenstein, Treasurer
Johanna Rehbaum, Secretary
Donna Himmelberg, At-large
Laura Jones, At-large
SINGERS
Sarah Casper (on leave) grew up in rural Wisconsin and received bachelors degrees in Music and Biology. Equally passionate about music and anatomy/physiology, Sarah chose to pursue a career in science, and completed Masters degrees in PA (Physician Assistant) and Anatomy/Physiology Education. Currently Sarah is an Anatomy/Physiology Professor at St. John Fisher University with multiple adjunct positions at area colleges and per diem PA positions at area hospitals. Sarah has pursued music throughout her academic and professional career and been involved with numerous vocal and instrumental ensembles. In her free time, Sarah enjoys spending time with her husband and son, along with gardening, reading, hiking, and creating multi-tracks in her recording studio. In addition to singing with Concentus, Sarah also sings barbershop a cappella with Rochester Rhapsody.
Kristen Dettman is a Rochester-area native who currently resides in Ogden, NY with her husband, their active preschool-aged daughter, and 2 goofy dogs. Kristen has been singing in choral groups since joining her church’s Junior Choir in 1st grade. It’s a lifelong passion that has taken her on trips to perform at Disney World, on a resort in the Bahamas, on a cruise ship, at a school in Mexico City accompanied by a steel drum band, and more. After singing with the Pal-Mac Select Choir and the Nazareth College Chamber Singers, she had a short stint with the Eastman-Rochester Chorus before joining Concentus around 2013. Kristen also enjoys photography, historical fiction novels, and being near water. Her day job is working in IT for the University of Rochester Medical Center.
Tansy Deutsch (on leave) has been privileged to sing with Concentus since 2005. She came to Rochester in the mid-90’s, originally from New Hampshire, via New Mexico (her heart), and Philadelphia (grad school in psychology). With no formal vocal training, she learned a love of musical collaboration as a clarinetist in school. Currently, she sings with several local groups, including a mixed SATB choir, First Inversion, and two smaller groups, Scivias and Sanctuary, both exploring early music repertoire for women. Widowed in 2021, she now lives in Irondequoit with her beloved sister.
Kathy Grant, a graduate of New England Conservatory, has performed opera and oratorio works in Switzerland, France and across the USA. A founding member of “The Three Sopranos” of Hot Springs, AR, Kathy has sung with Rochester Oratorio Society, Eastman Rochester Chorus, Madrigalia and Vox Lusciniae, and serves on the board of Heart Based Institute. Kathy’s other passions include her husband, gardening, biking, Pilates and March Madness.
Donna Himmelberg* has been singing in choirs since fourth grade and is honored to sing alongside the talented women of Concentus. She currently serves as Concentus Marketing Chair. She teaches chemistry at Fairport High School where she actively involves students in NASA research for exploration beyond our own planet Earth. Donna lives in Pittsford with her husband and enjoys traveling to visit her sons in Georgia and Northern Ireland. Whenever she has free time, she can be found on a pickleball court or in her garden, depending upon the weather.
Dede Holmes is the bee’s knees, and brings enthusiasm and joy to every project. A graduate of Syracuse University (Go Big Orange!) and Nazareth College, she is an anchor member of our alto section. Dede directs the Children’s Choirs at First Presbyterian, and sings not only classical music, but also jazz, blues and rock and roll.
Laura Jones* (on leave) has been a choral singer since grade school and credits the excellent music program of the Penfield School District for preparing her for a lifetime of making music. She has enjoyed singing with a number of choral groups in places she has lived over the years, including the Tufts University Chorale and Chamber Singers, the Susquehanna Valley Chorale, and the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus. She joined Concentus in 2015 and currently serves on the board. Professionally, Laura has worked in university settings for over 25 years in roles encompassing career development, academic advising, and alumni relations. Currently, she is a lecturer at the University of Rochester, where she teaches and oversees a series of professional communication courses. Her all-time favorite human is her son, a Brighton Class of 2023 graduate, who is studying history SUNY Plattsburgh.
Rebecca Kemp* has been a member of Concentus since 2017. She is a vocal music teacher at Barker Road Middle School in Pittsford and vocal directs various local children/teen theater productions. Rebecca has served on the board of directors for Concentus as well as the Greater Rochester Choral Consortium (GRCC). In addition to Concentus, Rebecca sings with a local a cappella group, enjoys listening to podcasts and attending music theater productions, loves all things vintage/antique, and has way too much fun taking dog selfies with her dog Lucy. Rebecca is grateful for all of the opportunities and friendships she has found within this group.
Kate McCurdy (on leave) is from Rochester but currently makes Rush, NY her home. Aside from singing in the car or shower, Concentus is the (one and) only group with whom she shares her musical talent. She keeps busy during the day taking care of legal matters for the Rochester elderly and their estates. When not traveling, hiking, skiing, kayaking or scuba diving, Kate can be found spending quality time with her dog and two cats.
Jennifer Muniak is a native of upstate NY and alum of the University of Rochester, where she minored in Music and participated in Eastman-based vocal ensembles and voice lessons. Her passion for singing went on hiatus to pursue medical training and raising a family (kids now 6 and 8), but now is very excited to be again part of a musical community! Other interests include yoga, anything outdoors, and vegan cooking.
Annie Nichol grew up in Lawrence, Kansas and will forever be a KU Jayhawk! She has a bachelor’s degree in music education from St. Olaf College and a master’s degree in education with Kodaly emphasis from Anna Maria College. Annie works her dream job of teaching K-2 general music in Penfield. After living in many places, Annie is thrilled to call Rochester home! She lives with her husband John, toddler James, and Maine Coon cat Kirby.
Jennifer Phillips is a board-certified music therapist and early childhood music educator. She works in arts administration at The Hochstein School as chair of both the Expressive Arts and Music FUNdamentals departments. Jennifer is passionate about increasing access to and equity in the arts and works extensively in DEI efforts, both at and outside of Hochstein. She has been a member of Concentus’s soprano section since 2017. Outside of Concentus, Jennifer sings professionally throughout the Rochester area. Her family is also quite musical – they all sing, and between herself, her husband, and their two children, they play 8 different instruments!
Naomi Raymond is a Board-Certified Music Therapist and Licensed Creative Arts Therapist. She plays several instruments but her favorite musical pastime is singing while playing piano. When not playing music, Naomi loves spending time with her twin gray cats, Ben and Jerry (the latter of whom is pictured to the left).
Johanna Rehbaum* is a Northern California girl, transplanted to Rochester in 2011. She serves as the pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Pittsford, where she loves sharing her musical gifts in the form of singing, chanting, or playing ukulele and hand drums. Though her music degree from Gustavus Adolphus College (St. Peter, MN) is in oboe performance, Johanna has always loved singing. Previously, she has sung in various choirs at Yale Divinity School and Gettsyburg Seminary. Singing alto with Concentus is her weekly self-care. She enjoys pine-covered mountains, ripe avocados, writing theological reflections, devouring novels, and porch jam sessions with her husband and two children. She can often be caught mindlessly harmonizing.
Monika Reifenstein* is a graduate of Smith College, where she received a dual Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and the Study of Women and Gender. While not working as a Relationship Manager at ESL Charitable Foundation, Monika volunteers with a variety of non-profit organizations and sings with Concentus, Rocappella, and the Madrigalia Festival Singers. She co-founded Make Music Rochester, the local iteration of a global music festival celebrating the summer solstice. Monika is passionate about social justice and how it intersects with media and the entertainment industry.
Tessa Spencer is honored to make her debut with Concentus. Tessa was born and raised in Rochester, NY where she currently resides. She received a B.M. in Music Education and Vocal Performance from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam in 2021. She is currently an Elementary Music teacher in Penfield and loves sharing her love for music with her students. Tessa is a cantor for her church, St. Leo’s of Hilton, and enjoys singing with her cover band “Fragile Ego” in her spare time. When she is not singing, Tessa enjoys hiking, playing tennis, and spending time with her friends and family – especially her 7 nieces and nephews.
Maggie Symington^ grew up in Northern Virginia and lived most of her life in the tri-state area, but is happy to have made Rochester her home. While her education and business experience are in economics and financial systems, her first love is music. She has sung in amateur groups in college, New York City, Connecticut, and London. Maggie also directs Rocappella, a women’s a cappella group, and is a community volunteer. She is grateful for the gifts of music and friendships Concentus has given her.
Nina Varon admires everything beautiful and gracious, from arts to nature. Having sung in choruses her entire life, Nina appreciates singing in a small ensemble full of talented women. Originally from Slovakia, she worked in administrative positions in business/education and lived in multiple countries. She has been living in Rochester for the past 20 years with her musical husband and children. Her love and knowledge of languages enabled her to freelance as a translator and interpreter. Currently, she is finishing her second master’s degree – in education – and has started working as an English as a New Language teacher.
Helena Webster is a recent relocation to NY and now lives in Rochester with her fiancee, Ella. Helena grew up bouncing around the globe, but most recently came from Northfield, MN, where she graduated from St. Olaf’s with a Bachelors in Vocal Performance and toured with the St. Olaf Choir to Rochester—part of the reason she moved to the area. She has been delighted to get back to singing and explore a new musical community here! Helena also minored in Linguistics and has a love for all things language, from learning new pronunciations in choir to studying the history of Elvish in Lord of the Rings. She hopes to take herself and her music abroad again some day, but for now is making her home in the city at work and in volunteering with the Rochester Mutual Aid Network.
*Board Member
^Board Chair Emeritus
Rehearsal & Performance Pianist
Haeyeun Jeun is an accomplished performer in the United States and Korea, her homeland. Jeun’s achievements include a silver medal at the 2013 Seattle International Piano Competition, second prize in the 12th Osaka International Piano Competition, first prizes in the Eastman-Hamamatsu, Piano Society of Korea and the Music Association of Korea competitions. She was chosen by the Eastman piano faculty to represent the school at the 2007 Hamamatsu International Piano Academy in Japan. As a soloist, she made her orchestral debut at age 9 with the Busan Philharmonic and Chanwon Philharmonic Orchestras. She has performed with other prestigious orchestras such as the Prime Phil Orchestra and Vio-LINK-oto Ensemble. Jeun teaches at Finger Lakes Community College and is organist and accompanist at Greece United Methodist Church. She is a co-founding member of fivebyfive, an award-winning, artist-led ensemble in Rochester.
Concentus Women's Chorus 