The Lutheran Chorale

Our Director is David Hodel, who has a Bachelor in Music Degree from Valparaiso University, with an emphasis in voice and conducting.  David is an alumnus of the Colorado Children’s Chorale and sings with the Colorado Symphony Chorus. He also loves community theater and has sung such diverse rolls as Captain Corchoran in HMS Pinafore, Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar, and Charlie Brown in You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.

David serves as the music director for the Empire Lyric Players and is the Upper School Choir director and musical director for the annual musical at Kent Denver School.  David has directed The Lutheran Chorale since September, 2010.

Coreen Wells, our Accompanist, for 7 years, has retired.  We thank her for her beautiful accompaniment music!

Our new accompanist, beginning in our season 2022-2023, is Helene McGuire.

Helene was born in Emden, Germany.  When she was one year old, her parents decided to come to the United States, the great land of opportunity. What an opportunity it was for Helene and her love of music. At age ten, Helene started studying piano. She did that for a year and decided she really did not like it, so she started learning to play the organ at age eleven. This  was love at first sight!  Her early teen years were wonderful years where she got to practice organ eight hours a day.  At twelve, she became director of music at St. Timothy Lutheran Church in Golden. From there, she became organist and/or choir director at numerous churches throughout Nebraska and Colorado. She has given numerous recitals in Colorado and surrounding states. While in Germany, Helene also had the opportunity to perform on a very old organ, one on which J.S. Bach also had played. She also had the opportunity to perform in numerous cathedrals throughout the country. In Denver, Helene studied organ with DeLoy Goeglein, a long time Chorale member and former director. She attended Concordia Teachers College in Seward, NE, where she studied under Dr. Charles Ore and Dr. Theodore Beck. Here she  received her BA degree in music and organ performance. In addition to performing recitals, Helene has also done live recordings, one of which was on the world famous touring Black Beauty Rodgers Organ. Helene was also staff organist at the Organ Grinder Pizza Restaurant during the last two years the restaurant was open. Helene believes that music is the international language that can speak to God--for He hears our songs of sorrow and songs of praise.

Jonathan Hodel, Concert Conductor,  joined the Lutheran Chorale in 1982 when he was fourteen and he is happy to be returning again as this year’s conductor. He conducted the Chorale in 2016 for two performances during their 40th anniversary year, and has continued to share in directing the Chorale with his brother, David Hodel.  Dr. Hodel was a lecturer in voice at Frostburg State University and oversaw opera workshops at Frostburg State and San Jose State Universities.  He has conducted opera performances with Opera San Jose, Asheville Lyric Opera, Empire Lyric Players, and Frostburg State University.  He also has adjudicated several Maryland state middle school and high school choir festivals and has conducted several church choirs.  Jonathan attended Valparaiso University and holds advanced degrees from Indiana University and The University of Iowa in choral conducting and voice.  He is also a tenor soloist and has performed multiple opera roles and concerts with opera companies, orchestras and choirs in the United States and in Europe.