Timothy Jon Tharaldson
Artistic Director

Timothy Jon Tharaldson is the Director of Choral Activities at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas where he conducts four choral ensembles, teaches private voice, conducting, and vocal pedagogy. Prior to his current appointment he taught at Rocky Mountain High School, Smoky Hill High School, and Ponderosa High School in Colorado.  Active with community ensembles he was the Artistic Director of Longmont Chorale for five seasons and member of the nationally acclaimed Kantorei of Denver for ten seasons.

Timothy has recently been commissioned by Kantorei (Denver), Ritterchor of Wartburg College, the Alexandria Area High School Concert Choir, St. Cloud State University, and the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. His composition Rest was featured by the 2015 Colorado All State Mixed Choir and was also the contest piece performed by seven different choirs as part of the 122nd Queensland Eistedfod in Brisbane, Australia.

His compositions are published through MusicSpoke, Hal Leonard, and Santa Barbara Music Publishing. Timothy is a member of the American Choral Director’s Association, American Composers Forum, Colorado Music Educators Association, and the Kansas Music Educators Association. Dr. Tharaldson holds degrees from St. Cloud State University, University of Northern Colorado and the University of Kansas.

Christie Ottinger
Assistant Conductor

Mrs. Ottinger received her master’s degree in secondary music education from Northwest Missouri State University in 2004 where she studied voice with Dr. Sheila Phillips and conducting with Dr. Brian Lanier. She received her bachelor’s degree in music education from Missouri Western State University in 1992. Her studies there included an emphasis in both vocal and piano performance under the tutelage of Ms. Sharon Gray and Dr. David Bennett, respectively, and choral conducting under Mr. Frank Thomas. She recently began her 29th year as a music educator and her 26th year teaching at Bishop LeBlond High School where her duties include vocal music, instrumental music, theatre, and liturgical music. She served for six years as both the Northwest Missouri Music Educators Association Vice-President of High School Choirs and the MCDA Northwest All-District Choir Coordinator and was recently reelected as the Northwest Representative for the Missouri Choral Directors Association & Choral Treasurer for the Northwest District of the Missouri Music Educators Association. In 2017, Christie was honored with the Cathedral School Ceil Breslin Teacher of the Year Award. In 2004, she was honored by St. Patrick School as their nominee for the Ancient Order of the Hibernians Catholic School Teacher of the Year Award. Previous teaching has included Cathedral School (1992-1995, 2006-2017) and St. Patrick’s School (1992-1995, 1998-1999, 2001-2006).

Christie has been actively involved as a music minister in the Catholic Church for thirty-nine years. She serves as the Director of Music for her home parish, St. Joseph’s in Easton, MO, assists with music at St. Ann’s Parish in Plattsburg, MO, and previously served as music director at St. Patrick’s Parish (1998-2006). She also enjoys filling in for fellow church musicians in the area when she is able. A regular participant in Deanery & Diocesan Choirs she has served as singer, cantor, organist, pianist, and conductor. She serves as the St. Joseph area representative on the Diocesan Liturgical Commission, the Deanery IX Music Liaison, and has presented workshops to support musicians in rural parishes.

A long-time member of the St. Joseph Community Chorus and its auditioned ensemble – the St. Joseph Chamber Choir, Christie has served on the organization’s board of directors as secretary, membership chair, president, and student representative. This past season she took the position of Assistant Director & looks forward to continuing in that roll. She has been a featured soprano soloist for the SJCC in Rutter’s “Mass of the Children,” David Conte’s “The Nine Muses” and as the mother in Menotti’s “Amahl and the Night Visitors.” She is an alumni member of Sigma Alpha Iota, a member of the American Choral Directors Association, Missouri Choral Directors Association, Missouri Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, National Pastoral Musicians Association, and National Catholic Education Association. Christie & Doug, her husband of 28 years, enjoy life in the country with two handsome adult sons, Johnathan and Duncan, along with Edgar the beagle.

Lorrie Dixon
Collaborative Pianist

Lorrie Dixon is the rehearsal accompanist and collaborative pianist for the St. Joseph Community Chorus. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education (Choral and Piano Emphasis) from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. She has over 25 years of experience accompanying university, high school, and junior high choirs in Tennessee, Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas. Her experiences cover a wide range from all-district choirs to music theatre, soloists to large ensembles. She is accompanist for the choirs of Missouri Western State University.