St. John’s University Men’s Chorus

The Saint John’s University Men’s Chorus was organized in 1948 by Fr. Bartholomew Sayles, OSB, a monk of St. John’s Abbey. Until 1960 annual tours concentrated mainly on Minnesota and the surrounding states. In 1960 the choir began its international tours with a trip to Europe. While the choir continues to perform abroad on a regular basis, the majority of the performances are still scheduled in the North Central States.

Recent tours included concerts in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, California, Arizona, Colorado and Nebraska and a 23-day concert tour to Asia. During the 2007/2008 concert season, in addition to touring, to the choir was invited to perform at MN-ACDA State Convention, the MN Music Educators (MMEA) Convention and the North Central – ACDA convention.

Throughout its history the SJU Men’s Chorus has received numerous international prizes and awards – including first places at the International Music Eisteddfod in Llangolen - and has appeared regularly on regional and national broadcasts, such as Great Choirs of America and Voice of America.

Axel Theimer, Conductor

Axel Theimer, a native of Austria, where he was a member of the Vienna Boys Choir, is now in his 40th year on the music faculty at St. John’s University and the College of St. Benedict. He received much of his training in Vienna, continued his studies at Saint John’s University and completed graduate degrees at the University of Minnesota - MFA in Choral Conducting and DMA in Vocal Performance. At St. John’s and St. Ben’s he directs the CSB/SJU Chamber Choir and SJU Men’s Chorus and teaches choral conducting, applied voice and vocal pedagogy.

He is an active recitalist, has presented master classes, workshops and seminars for state, regional, national and international music conventions and conferences and has conducted All State Choirs, Choral Festivals and Honor Choirs throughout the United States and the Far East. In 2001, he received the MN - ACDA Choir Director of the Year Award and, in 2004, was inducted to the Minnesota Music Educators Association’s “MMEA Hall of Fame.”

Axel Theimer is founder and music director of the choral ensemble Kantorei and the Central Minnesota-based Amadeus Chamber Symphony. He also directs the National Catholic Youth Choir and is the executive director of The VoiceCare Network. His original compositions and arrangements for Men’s Chorus, Women’s, Mixed and Children’s Choir are published by and available from Alliance Publications, Inc. Fish Creek, WI.

Axel Theimer

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