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Kent Jon Fenske received his M.A. in Composition and Theory from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, having studied with Dominick Argento and Paul Fetler. His undergraduate work was completed at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, with instructors Conrad DeJong (composition), Lillian Tan (piano), and Elliot Wold (vocal/choral).

Versatile as a performer, Kent has been featured as baritone soloist with the University of Minnesota combined choirs and orchestra in Bruckner’s “Te Deum.” He was also one of eight soloists in the premier of “Quartet” by John Cage. As a pianist, Kent has soloed with the St. Croix Valley Orchestra in Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A Minor, and continues to enjoy accompanying various recitalists throughout the region.

Kent’s compositions have been performed throughout the Midwest, Canada, and Europe by such groups as the Bach Society of Minnesota, the Metropolitan Lutheran Chorale, the University of Minnesota Men's Chorus, the University of Wisconsin (River Falls Concert Choir and Chamber Singers). His works have also been featured on Minnesota Public Radio.

Mr Fenske is currently Director of Music and Liturgy at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lino Lakes Minnesota, a position he has held since 1988. In his spare time, he enjoys celebrating life with his family, and watching the wildlife on a duck pond in beautiful Mahtomedi, Minnesota.



Curtis Heard is active in the Los Angeles area as a pianist, musical director, composer and arranger. His career in music began in high school, accompanying, and playing for ballet studios. Over ensuing years, he has performed with renowned Southern California organizations such as the Pacific Symphony, the Cypress Pops Orchestra, Zephyr: Voices Unbound, and other professional ensembles. He has accompanied---and also performed as music director---for numerous musical theater and civic light opera productions. Additionally, he teaches music at Wilson High School (Long Beach), and directs the choir at Aldersgate United Methodist Church (Tustin).

Curtis has composed and arranged piano, choral/vocal, and instrumental works for concert stage, theatre, as well as church. His well-crafted compositions have been perfomed and recorded by numerous choirs and soloists. (Choral arrangements are also published through Delamo Music.) He lives in Seal Beach with his singer/actress wife, Lisa Bode Heard, and their son, Clayton.



Cory Johnson received his Master of Music Degree in Composition from CSU Long Beach. He has won numerous awards for composition, including the Irwin Kostal Award from The American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers. A number of his published pieces have been performed at venues across the country, including major choral festivals, and he has been commissioned to write for professional choral groups, universities, and churches. He presently teaches theory at Fullerton College (California), and also works as a pianist, organist, and jazz arranger. He lives in Huntington Beach with his wife Dawn. (For more information, visit Cory's website.)

Other published works of Cory Johnson

Pavane Publishing
- Order through Hal Leonard -
At Morning's Twilight (SATB)



Donald Neufeld has been a professor of music at Azusa Pacific University since 1972, where he has taught music theory, counterpoint, orchestration, arranging, form and analysis, techniques classes (woodwind, string, brass, and percussion), and advanced levels in many of the foregoing, including advanced analysis of form and style. 1998-99, brought him an additional assignment as interim dean of the School of Music.

Dr Neufeld has composed and arranged music for various university ensembles, and has served as a consultant and resource for various churches and musical organizations. (He even composed APU’s Alma Mater in 1991.) His compositions and arrangements have been performed both nationally and internationally. He has published and recorded more than 100 compositions or arrangements with Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), Glorysound, Lillenas, Telarc, Resmiranda, and Pauline Records, and has produced many--if not most--of the APU University Choir and Orchestra recordings.

Don received a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Pasadena Nazarene College (now Point Loma University), and a Master of Arts in Music Theory from California State University, Fullerton. Along with his university duties, he is an adjudicator for various local school districts, and directs the choir at Grace Baptist Church, Glendora.



Kenneth Neufeld is a Los Angeles-based composer/arranger, with well over 300 works to his credit. The range of his compositions currently extends from choral/vocal settings, keyboard and instrumental works, to full-scale musical theatre. His choral writing is characterized by exceptional voice-leading, rendering each vocal line highly singable. His solo songs often require wide vocal and dramatic ranges; and instrumentally, his work can, at times, be quite technically-demanding (...keyboardists, in particular will agree). His style stems primarily from classical roots---most notably, the Late Romantic to Early 20th Century English and French schools. While melodic, and tonal, his music is seldom without harmonic complexity, and often features distinct (but subtle) jazz flavorings.

Mr Neufeld's works, have been performed nationally and internationally, in such venues as the Walt Disney Concert Hall (Los Angeles), Carnegie Hall (New York), Covent Garden (London) and the Sydney (Australia) Opera House, to name a few. He has been represented by such publishers as Aberdeen/Plymouth, Allans/EMI Australia, Jenson/Hal Leonard, and Walton. Currently, his works are available though Boosey & Hawkes, Colla Voce, Gentry, as well as Kensington Choralworks. In the Los Angeles area alone, Mr Neufeld's compositions and arrangements have been performed by such diverse performers as: the Los Angeles Master Chorale (under both Grant Gershon and Paul Salamunovich), L.A. Chamber Singers (under Peter Rutenberg), Zephyr: Voices Unbound (a conductorless, 12-voice ensemble), the Roger Wagner Chorale (under Jeannine Wagner), the L.A. A Cappella Symphony (a cross between the Swingle Singers and Spike Jones), and Pacific Swingline (vocal jazz quintet).

Several honors have been awarded Ken's compositions. Many have been selected as featured works, and sung by combined choirs at choral festivals. In 2001, "Bring Me the Sunset" won the first statewide choral composition competition sponsored by the California chapter of the American Choral Directors Association, and “Veni, Sancte Spiritus” recently won the Juan Bautista Comes Choral Competition, out of Segorbe, Spain. Additionally, Mr Neufeld's second musical, "Before Never Never Land," was a finalist in two national competitions (The Richard Rodgers Production Award, and the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center's Music Theatre Conference), and was one of the winners of the international "Quest for New Musicals," receiving a showcase production in London. In Los Angeles, the musical was given a staged reading and placed under consideration for six months by the prestigious "Centre Theatre Group", which operates both the Ahmanson, and Mark Taper theatres. (For more information on Ken's musicals, visit ScottGuy.Biz and click on "Before Never Never Land" or "The Devil's Looking-Glass".)

Ken graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University at Long Beach, where he studied with Frank Pooler (choral music), John Prince (jazz), and Ken Remo (voice). Also in the L.A. area, he studied theory with Williametta Spencer, and '20th Century Techniques' with Rodger Vaughan.

Other published works of Kenneth Neufeld

Fred Bock Music Company
- Order through Hal Leonard -
My Song of Today (SATB)
Boosey & Hawkes, Inc.
- Order through Hal Leonard -
Cantique de Jean Racine (3-Part Treble Voices, Keyboard, and optional Strings)
The Rose of Sharon (SATB, Piano)
Shenandoah (SAB w/Solo, A Cappella)
The Smoothing Iron (SSA or TTB, Piano)
The Water is Wide (SATB, Piano)
Colla Voce Music, Inc.
4600 Sunset Avenue, Suite 83
Indianapolis, IN 46208
Phone: 317/923-5310 --- Fax: 317/923-5309
Be Thou My Vision (SATB, Piano)
Four Herrick Songs (SATB, A Cappella)
Herrick’s Carol (Unison or 2-Part Voices, Piano)
The Lamb (from “Three Songs of Innocence” - SATB, A Cappella)
Song of the Crib (Unison Choir or Solo Voice, Piano)
Three Songs of Innocence (SATB, A Cappella)
EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty, Ltd
1 Gurrigal Street
Mosman, NSW 2088, Australia
Phone: 011-61-29/960-5400 --- Fax: 011-61-29/960-5122
Waltzing Matilda (SSAATTBB, Piano)
Gentry Publications
- Order through Hal Leonard -
The Minstrel Boy (SATB)
Piles, Editorial de Musica, S.A.
Archena, 33
Apartado de Correos 8012
46014 Valencia, Spain
Veni, Sancte Spiritus (SSAATTBB, A Cappella)
(The Piles company is licensed to sell this work in all countries except the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Japan.)



After serving in World War II, Randy Van Horne enrolled in Baltimore's Peabody Conservatory of Music, later finishing up at Texas Western College (currently the University of Texas, at El Paso). In 1949, he moved to Los Angeles, taking a variety of studio music jobs prior to forming "The Encores" (Alicia Adams, Clark Burroughs, Bob Morse, Jack Elliot, Randy Van Horne), who toured with the Billy May band. (At the end of the Billy May stint, Clark Burroughs and Bob Morse met up with Gene Puerling and Bob Strasen, moving on to form "The Hi-Lo's.")

In the mid-1950's, Randy formed an ensemble from among the session singers with whom he frequently worked, and "The Randy Van Horne Singers" were born. Whether you recognize the name or not, you ARE familiar with this group! The singers have been heard on countless recordings, commercials, jingles, station identification spots ...and perhaps most noticeably as the musical voices that introduce us to The Flintstones and The Jetsons. In 1957, they appeared regularly on The Nat King Cole television show. Along with Randy, the group consisted of Marni Nixon, Sally Sweetland, Alicia Adams, Sally Terri, Sue Allen, B.J. Baker, Vangie Carmichael, Peggy Clark, Bob Stevens, Jay Meyer, Max Smith, Verne Rowe, Bill Lee, Jimmy Joyce, Thurl Ravenscroft and John Drake. This was the PREMIERE group of "studio singers," and for all intents and purposes, they invented the art!

On rare occasions, this ensemble of legendary singers made "live" appearances, but they remained predominantly a studio group. Initially signed to RCA, they recorded their own albums, but also sang backgrounds for "Hi-Fi" artists such as Esquivel, the innovative and experimental composer/arranger from just south of our border; Martin Denny, with his exotic sounds; along with Bob Thompson, a jazz version of the talented Leroy Anderson. Randy kept his own compositional skills in tune by writing (over 200) jingles, as well as creating arrangements for the group's albums.

When the ensemble disbanded in the early '70's, some members began singing with Ray Conniff, Johnny Mann, or Percy Faith. Others continued on their own solo careers: Marni Nixon concertized, and sang voiceovers for Natalie Wood (West Side Story), Audrey Hepburn (My Fair Lady) and Deborah Kerr (The King And I). B.J. Baker sang for Nancy Kwan in Flower Drum Song. Jimmy Joyce (who also had his own group of singers) overdubbed for Stephen Boyd in the motion picture extravaganza, Jumbo. Randy, himself, actually replaced Bobby Darin's own singing voice in the movie, Captain Newman, MD. And while frequently gigging as the voice of Kellogg's "Tony the Tiger" or Dr Seuss' "Grinch," Thurl Ravenscroft remained L.A.'s consummate studio bass until his death in 2005.

In later years, Mr Van Horne focused more on composition. He has written a number of pieces that have been performed by Southern California orchestras and choirs, including a symphonic suite entitled, "The Running of the Bulls."

Randy's compositions and arrangements are crafted with great musical skill! To this day, the charts he wrote for his "Singers" reveal a fresh inventiveness, and a light, easy swinging style, demonstrating the air-tight ensemble work you'd expect for some of the best session singers in the business. (Many of these charts will be available soon in "The Randy Van Horne Choral Series.")

IN MEMORIUM: RANDY VAN HORNE (2/10/24 - 9/26/07)
We are sorry to report that Randy Van Horne passed away Wednesday, September 26th, after a battle with cancer. On October 4th, a joyful memorial service was held, overflowing the venue at the Motion Picture & Television Home in Woodland Hills, CA. Remembrances were offered by Marilyn King (youngest of the singing "King Sisters" ensemble), Clark Burroughs (of "Hi-Lo's" fame), and arranger and close friend, Ron Harris, among others. Randy's son, Mark, shared both touching and humorous slices of family life, as well as a video montage of commercials, TV shows, and photographs, underscored by, or exhibiting Randy's jingles, arrangements, and other music. Randy was an important voice in the birth of commercial music, and especially where studio singers are concerned. A humble, but enthusiastic and fun-loving gentleman, both he and his musical talents will be greatly missed!

FYI: One of the Randy Van Horne Singer's original albums, "Sleighride", has been remastered and released by Hitchcock Media. It's available through several online outlets, including Amazon.com and Tower.com. Additional Van Horne CD's are scheduled for release in the near future. Visit Hitchcock Media for more information.



Peter Williams was born in New York City, in 1952. A graduate of California State University, Long Beach, he is a teacher, clinician, as well as a phenomenal pianist and composer. Comfortable and adept in many musical styles, his compositions and arrangements range from deeply moving and wondrous serious works (sacred and secular), to stunningly creative jazz and pop charts.

Mr Williams has been published by Aberdeen/Plymouth, Colla Voce, Jenson/Hal Leonard, Twin Oaks and Walton, and his music is performed across the U.S. and Canada. He resides, with his wife, in Seaside, California.

FYI: If you have enjoyed Peter's three "Carols of the Heart", please look into purchasing "All Men Draw Near", "In the Bleak Mid-Winter" and "Lute-Book Carol" (published by Colla Voce---see below). These six carols are equally marvelous, and work together well in any grouping, or as a complete set.

Other published works of Peter Williams

Colla Voce Music, Inc.
4600 Sunset Avenue, Suite 83
Indianapolis, IN 46208
Phone: 317/923-5310 --- Fax: 317/923-5309
All Men Draw Near (SSA, Piano)
Don't Come Followin' Me (SATB, Piano)
In the Bleak Mid-Winter (SSA, Piano)
Lute-Book Carol (SSA, Piano)
Silence (SATB, Piano)
Twin Elm Publishing
1803 26th Street
Greeley, CO 80631
Phone: 303/356-2172
Agnus Dei (SATB, Piano)
Missa Brevis (SATB)


Walton Music
- Order through Hal Leonard -
O Mistress Mine (SATB)

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