Artistic Team

Kate Larson, Artistic Director and Founder

Kate Larson is a passionate choral conductor with 20 years of experience in music education. She earned her Master of Arts in Music Education from the University of St. Thomas, studying conducting under Angela Kasper, and holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Music Education from St. Olaf College, where she was fortunate to study conducting with Anton Armstrong and Robert Scholz. During her time at St. Olaf, she also had the opportunity to serve as student conductor of the Manitou Singers under the guidance of Sigrid Johnson.

Kate's teaching journey began in Davenport, Iowa, and developed over nine fulfilling years at Mound Westonka High School in Minnesota. Her choirs had the privilege of performing at various notable events, including the MMEA and ACDA of Minnesota state conferences, and twice at the Minnesota Choral Arts Finale at Orchestra Hall. In 2014, she was honored as the Outstanding Young Choral Director of the Year award by the American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota, reflecting her commitment to excellence in choral music.

After returning to her roots in the Eau Claire area, Kate embraced a new chapter focused not only on her family—enjoying every moment with her three children, Emily, Henry, and Annika, and her husband, Rick—but also on enriching her community through impactful music. She continues to work with high school students and has been grateful for the chance to conduct both the Cloverbelt Conference Honor Choir and the Dairyland Conference Honor Choir. In 2019, she founded Chorale NouvEAU and currently serves as the choir director at Christ Church Cathedral and Musical Director of the Stand in the Light Memory Choir.

Outside of her musical pursuits, Kate finds joy in boating, water skiing, gardening, tackling DIY home projects, and spending valuable time with family and friends.

Dr. Nick Poss, Accompanist

Nick Poss is a musician and educator from Eau Claire, where he serves as music director at St. James the Greater Parish and band director at Crestview Academy. After earning a Bachelor’s in music theory from UW-Eau Claire, Nick went on to earn an MA and PhD in ethnomusicology at the Ohio State University with a focus on traditional Hmong music and music cognition. While in Ohio, he taught at Ashland University and Ohio State while also playing piano in the Columbus area and working as a private music teacher and church music director. As his family grew, he returned to Wisconsin and eventually made it back to Eau Claire where he ran the Eau Claire Music School for many years.

Nick is a strong proponent of community music making and has accompanied choirs such as the Valley Gospel Choir, the Singing Statesmen, and the Eau Claire Male Chorus. With Cathy Reitz, he co-founded the Chippewa Valley Youth Choir in 2016, also serving as accompanist. He currently plays piano and accordion with area groups such as Cathy Reitz and 7 Swing, Quarteto Ousado (which performs Brazilian music), and the Glockenspiel performers at the Chippewa Falls Oktoberfest. He also leads a twice-monthly ukulele jam, teaches rock band camps for young children through Valley Rockademy, and helps to organize an annual porch concert series for the Eastside Hill Neighborhood Association.