2025-2026 GUEST CONDUCTOR

Dr. Eric Rubinstein is Associate Director of the School of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Nazareth University. Prior to his appointment at Nazareth, Dr. Rubinstein served as Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education at Queens College (CUNY), and amassed a decade of high school teaching in Monticello and Westhampton Beach, NY.

Ensembles under Dr. Rubinstein’s direction have presented performances in significant venues in the United States, England, and Poland, through recordings on the 1809 Studios label, and with acknowledgement by The American Prize. He has also led ensembles to invited performances at major conferences, including the American Choral Directors’ Association Eastern Region, National Association for Music Education Eastern Region, New York State School Music Association, and New York-ACDA.

Dr. Rubinstein’s scholarly interests lie in the study of progressive practices in choral music and conducting pedagogy, including popular and commercial styles and approaches to conducting inspired by dance forms. His work has appeared in such publications as Music Educators’ Journal, The Choral Scholar, SmartMusic, and Anacrusis (Choral Canada), as well as through regional, national, and international conventions of NAfME, ACDA, College Music Society, the European Association for Music in Schools (EAS), and the International Society for Music Education (ISME).

Throughout his career, Dr. Rubinstein has received many accolades for his contributions to music education. He is the recipient of a 2024 Distinction in Teaching Award from Nazareth University, as well as a named quarterfinalist for the 2026 GRAMMY® Music Educator of the Year.

Dr. Rubinstein holds Choral Conducting and Music Education degrees from Louisiana State University (D.M.A.), Michigan State University (M.M.), and the State University of New York at Fredonia (B.Mus.).

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.

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.

Susanna Guarino (on leave) is excited to participate in Concentus. She feels grateful for her high school experience with the music program at Irondequoit High School, where she got to participate in Chorale and Sweet 16 (all girls a cappella group). In college, she learned guitar and started writing her own songs. Since then, Susanna has played regionally both solo and with a band as Susanna Rose. You can check out her music at https://susannarose.bandcamp.com/music.

Rita Harris Proctor began studying voice at 9 and has performed in choirs, music groups, and bands since her teens. Rita is a Spanish teacher locally who enjoys singing in languages other than English.

Donna Himmelberg has been singing in choirs since fourth grade and is honored to sing alongside the talented women of Concentus. 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 retired greyhound. She looks forward to spending her summers traveling and whenever she has free time, she can be found on a pickleball court or in her garden.

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.

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.

Maggie MacArthur is honored to be joining Concentus as an alto for the Fall 2025 season. Originally from Farmington, CT, Maggie first came to Rochester to pursue a degree in music education at the Eastman School of Music. She later transferred to the University of Connecticut, where she completed her bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies. Her passion for music brought her back to Rochester, where she earned a Master’s in Music Therapy from Nazareth University. Maggie is now a professor of music therapy and a clinical supervisor at the York Wellness and Rehabilitation Institute (YWRI) at Nazareth. In addition to singing, she is an active violinist, performing with various duos and bands in the Fairport area, where she lives with her two sons. She also plays viola, piano, and guitar. Outside of music, Maggie enjoys running, hiking, traveling, cooking, time with her dog, gardening, and embracing all that life has to offer.

Natalie Mai-Dixon grew up in Seward, Alaska and currently lives in Fairport. She sang with the Radcliffe Choral Society and the University Choir while in college, the Ditchling Choral Society (Sussex, UK) while in graduate school, and several church choirs since. Natalie works as a research/grants administrator in the Department of Psychiatry at URMC. Aside from working and singing, Natalie enjoys spending time with her family, travelling to the family farm in Southwest Kansas, reading, cooking and gardening.

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 is from Lawrence, Kansas and is proud of her Midwestern roots. 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 loves spending her days singing, dancing, and teaching fundamentals of music literacy as a K-5 general music teacher. After living in many places, Annie is thrilled to call Rochester home. Along with her husband and two young children, she enjoys tent camping, eating a delicious meal, exploring new places, and bargain shopping. Their beloved fourteen year old Maine coon cat observes their happy chaos from a safe distance.

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!

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.

Amy Schrlau joined Concentus as a Soprano I/II in 2024. Originally from Pennsylvania, Amy moved from the Philadelphia-area to Pittsford, NY in 2011. Amy has a bachelor’s degree along with secondary education certification in Biology from Muhlenberg College and a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Environmental Biology.

In her professional career, Amy has worked in private consulting firms and research labs including CH2M Hill as a Staff Scientist, the University of Pennsylvania as a Research Specialist in Radiation Oncology and the University of Rochester as a Study Coordinator at the Eastman School of Music. Her work has contributed to several published journal articles. Amy is currently working in special education at Brighton High School.

Amy is a member of the choir at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Pittsford. She is also an active participant with community choirs including membership in the Genesee Valley Orchestra and Chorus. Along with her music vocation, Amy can also be found tending her gardens, reading a good novel or hiking the beautiful trails of western NY with her family.

Tessa Spencer (on leave) 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.

Julia Tellerman was born and raised on Long Island and settled in Rochester after falling in love with Western New York following her graduation from SUNY Geneseo. Her love for music started in her elementary school choir and continued on through 8 years of playing the clarinet, high school musical theater and choir, and the Geneseo Chamber Singers. Since earning her MPH at the University at Albany, she has worked as an infectious disease epidemiologist at URMC. Outside of work, she occasionally sings with First Inversion and loves to travel and spend time with her dog, Cooper.

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 22 years with her musical husband and children. Her love and knowledge of languages enabled her to freelance as a translator and interpreter. In 2024, she earned her second master’s degree – in education – and is working as an ENL/ESOL teacher.

Megan Watson (on leave) is a Finger Lakes native newly transplanted to Rochester in 2021 and recently completed her third college degree. She has sung in church and community choirs since 2010 and fronted a folk duet Threads of Gold from 2011-2013. She is a very proud alto and enjoys learning songs in new languages, the more challenging the better! She is very excited to join Concentus and get back to singing. When she is not working or singing she enjoys hiking, checking off her list of North American birds, heavy lifting, playing games and traveling to see friends.