Meet the Staff
Fr. Anthony Ruff OSB, Founder and Director
Fr. Anthony has been a monk of Saint John’s Abbey since 1988. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1993. He teaches undergraduate and graduate theology in the areas of liturgy, liturgical music, and Gregorian chant. He is an abbey organist and directs chant. He did graduate studies at Saint John’s School of Theology·Seminary, and Yale University, and his doctorate in liturgy is from the theology department of the University of Graz, Austria. Fr. Anthony is on the advisory council of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians, and he served on the Music Subcommittee of the national bishops’ conference Committee on the Liturgy which drafted the bishops' 2008 music document Sing to the Lord. He has published many articles on liturgical music, and he frequently presents in this area across the country and in Europe. His 702-page book, Sacred Music and Liturgical Reform: Treasures and Transformations, was published in 2007 by Liturgy Training Publications. Fr. Anthony does priestly ministry to the neighboring community of Benedictine sisters and at the local county jail.
Fr. Anthony has been a monk of Saint John’s Abbey since 1988. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1993. He teaches undergraduate and graduate theology in the areas of liturgy, liturgical music, and Gregorian chant. He is an abbey organist and directs chant. He did graduate studies at Saint John’s School of Theology·Seminary, and Yale University, and his doctorate in liturgy is from the theology department of the University of Graz, Austria. Fr. Anthony is on the advisory council of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians, and he served on the Music Subcommittee of the national bishops’ conference Committee on the Liturgy which drafted the bishops' 2008 music document Sing to the Lord. He has published many articles on liturgical music, and he frequently presents in this area across the country and in Europe. His 702-page book, Sacred Music and Liturgical Reform: Treasures and Transformations, was published in 2007 by Liturgy Training Publications. Fr. Anthony does priestly ministry to the neighboring community of Benedictine sisters and at the local county jail.
Axel Theimer, Founder and Choir Conductor
Axel Theimer, a native of Austria, where he was a member of the Vienna Boys Choir, just completed his 44th year on the music faculty at Saint John’s University and the College of Saint 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 with a MFA in Choral Conducting (student of Dr. Thomas Lancaster) and a DMA in Vocal Performance (student of Roy Schuessler).
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 in the Far East.
At Saint John’s and Saint Ben’s he directs the CSB/SJU Chamber Choir and SJU Men’s Chorus and teaches choral conducting, applied voice, and vocal pedagogy.
In addition to his professional activities at SJU and CSB he is founder and music director of Kantorei, a Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul) choral ensemble, of Amadeus Chamber Symphony, a chamber orchestra for Central Minnesota musicians and audiences and is music director of the National Catholic Youth Choir. He is on the faculty, and is currently Executive Director of The VoiceCare Network. In 2001, he received the American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota (ACDA) Choir Director of the Year Award and in 2012 was given the F. Melius Christiansen Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2004 Axel was elected to the Minnesota Music Educators Association’s “MMEA Hall of Fame”.
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, a native of Austria, where he was a member of the Vienna Boys Choir, just completed his 44th year on the music faculty at Saint John’s University and the College of Saint 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 with a MFA in Choral Conducting (student of Dr. Thomas Lancaster) and a DMA in Vocal Performance (student of Roy Schuessler).
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 in the Far East.
At Saint John’s and Saint Ben’s he directs the CSB/SJU Chamber Choir and SJU Men’s Chorus and teaches choral conducting, applied voice, and vocal pedagogy.
In addition to his professional activities at SJU and CSB he is founder and music director of Kantorei, a Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul) choral ensemble, of Amadeus Chamber Symphony, a chamber orchestra for Central Minnesota musicians and audiences and is music director of the National Catholic Youth Choir. He is on the faculty, and is currently Executive Director of The VoiceCare Network. In 2001, he received the American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota (ACDA) Choir Director of the Year Award and in 2012 was given the F. Melius Christiansen Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2004 Axel was elected to the Minnesota Music Educators Association’s “MMEA Hall of Fame”.
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.
Sara Borgen, Assistant Director
Sara recently joined the staff in October 2013. She brings over fourteen years of experience, with various non-profits, in program management, with seven of those being at the College of Saint Benedict, our sister campus. Sara's program management skills include customer service, marketing, event planning, staff supervision, and many other administrative components. In conjunction with her high level of program experience is her graduate level education. Sara has a master's degree from the College of St. Scholastica in management and an undergraduate degree in community health education from the University of MN-Duluth.
When Sara is not at work she spends most of her time raising her two young children, engaging in their activities and watching them excel. She also enjoys volunteering in the St. Cloud area with her church, area youth programs and a local hospice home.
Sara is able to assist you with any questions regarding the NCYC program, applications, scholarships, camp, tour and concerts at sborgen@csbsjuedu.
Sara recently joined the staff in October 2013. She brings over fourteen years of experience, with various non-profits, in program management, with seven of those being at the College of Saint Benedict, our sister campus. Sara's program management skills include customer service, marketing, event planning, staff supervision, and many other administrative components. In conjunction with her high level of program experience is her graduate level education. Sara has a master's degree from the College of St. Scholastica in management and an undergraduate degree in community health education from the University of MN-Duluth.
When Sara is not at work she spends most of her time raising her two young children, engaging in their activities and watching them excel. She also enjoys volunteering in the St. Cloud area with her church, area youth programs and a local hospice home.
Sara is able to assist you with any questions regarding the NCYC program, applications, scholarships, camp, tour and concerts at sborgen@csbsjuedu.
Danielle Tossey, Office Assistant
Danielle is from Chisago City, MN (a small town North of St. Paul). She became the office assistant for the National Catholic Youth Choir in the spring of 2013, during her sophomore year of college. At CSB she will be majoring in Psychology. Her interests include hockey, softball, horseback riding, reading, participating in Psychology Club and Campus DJs, watching the TV show Supernatural, and hanging out with friends. She is also very excited to work as the office assistant for NCYC!
Danielle is from Chisago City, MN (a small town North of St. Paul). She became the office assistant for the National Catholic Youth Choir in the spring of 2013, during her sophomore year of college. At CSB she will be majoring in Psychology. Her interests include hockey, softball, horseback riding, reading, participating in Psychology Club and Campus DJs, watching the TV show Supernatural, and hanging out with friends. She is also very excited to work as the office assistant for NCYC!
Br. Michael-Leonard Hahn, OSB, Chaplain
Brother Michael Leonard Hahn, OSB is a monk of Saint John’s Abbey. He is a seminarian preparing for the priesthood. He also teaches Theology at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University.
Brother Michael Leonard Hahn, OSB is a monk of Saint John’s Abbey. He is a seminarian preparing for the priesthood. He also teaches Theology at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University.
Jamie Reynolds, Head Camp Leader and Summer Office Assistant
Jamie is from Mansfield, Ohio and is currently a senior at the College of Saint Benedict pursuing a major in Choral Music Education with the hope of returning to Ohio to advocate the arts in schools and communities in the area. She is a member of the CSB/SJU Chamber Choir, the Opera Workshop, the campus TV network Project 8. Jamie was a chorister in the National Catholic Youth Choir in 2008, 2009 and 2010. She is looking forward to being head counselor this year and is extremely excited to see returning choristers as well as meet new choristers. Her interests and hobbies include singing, reading, video games, volleyball, watching movies (especially animated ones), and creative writing.
Jamie is from Mansfield, Ohio and is currently a senior at the College of Saint Benedict pursuing a major in Choral Music Education with the hope of returning to Ohio to advocate the arts in schools and communities in the area. She is a member of the CSB/SJU Chamber Choir, the Opera Workshop, the campus TV network Project 8. Jamie was a chorister in the National Catholic Youth Choir in 2008, 2009 and 2010. She is looking forward to being head counselor this year and is extremely excited to see returning choristers as well as meet new choristers. Her interests and hobbies include singing, reading, video games, volleyball, watching movies (especially animated ones), and creative writing.
Matt Jakubisin, Camp Leader and Accompianist.
Matt, a Chicago native, will graduate in May 2015 from St. John's University with a major in Liturgical Music and a minor in Hispanic Studies. He has been active in music ministry since his first year in high school. At St. John's he has been involved in Campus Ministry, Prison Ministry, Gregorian Chant Schola, and Chamber Choir. He serves as an organist at the Church of St. William in Fridley, MN and works in Alcuin Library's Richard Proulx Collection, archiving published works and manuscripts. During the summer, he accomanies a musical in St. Cloud, MN, the last one being a production of Rent.He stays plenty busy by practicing and constantly enjoys looking for new (and old!) organ music.
Matt, a Chicago native, will graduate in May 2015 from St. John's University with a major in Liturgical Music and a minor in Hispanic Studies. He has been active in music ministry since his first year in high school. At St. John's he has been involved in Campus Ministry, Prison Ministry, Gregorian Chant Schola, and Chamber Choir. He serves as an organist at the Church of St. William in Fridley, MN and works in Alcuin Library's Richard Proulx Collection, archiving published works and manuscripts. During the summer, he accomanies a musical in St. Cloud, MN, the last one being a production of Rent.He stays plenty busy by practicing and constantly enjoys looking for new (and old!) organ music.
Tim Dusenbury, Camp Leader and Summer Office Assistant
Tim (b.1982) grew up near Washington, D.C. He studied composition with Howard Frazin at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MN where he also sang with the Harvard-Radcliffe Collegium Musicum. Since graduating he has served as music teacher and choral director at Trinity School at Meadow View in Falls Church, VA. He is currently completing his MA in Liturgical Music at St. John's School of Theology-Seminary.
Tim (b.1982) grew up near Washington, D.C. He studied composition with Howard Frazin at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MN where he also sang with the Harvard-Radcliffe Collegium Musicum. Since graduating he has served as music teacher and choral director at Trinity School at Meadow View in Falls Church, VA. He is currently completing his MA in Liturgical Music at St. John's School of Theology-Seminary.
Karen Mize, Camp Leader
Karen hails from Topeka, KS and will graduate from St. Ben's in May 2016 with a dual degree in Music Studies and German Studies. She hopes to continue her musical studies in graduate school, pursuing higher degrees in Musicology. She is the Ensemble Assistant for the CSB Women's Choir and an active member of the Opera workshop, 24-Hour Play Festival, German Club, Swing Catz, and Buddhist Meditation Club. Outside of school she enjoys reading, dancing, going to the opera, listening to music, writing poetry, and of course, singing.
Karen hails from Topeka, KS and will graduate from St. Ben's in May 2016 with a dual degree in Music Studies and German Studies. She hopes to continue her musical studies in graduate school, pursuing higher degrees in Musicology. She is the Ensemble Assistant for the CSB Women's Choir and an active member of the Opera workshop, 24-Hour Play Festival, German Club, Swing Catz, and Buddhist Meditation Club. Outside of school she enjoys reading, dancing, going to the opera, listening to music, writing poetry, and of course, singing.
Jenny Dusenbury, Camp Leader
Jenny is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. For the last fourteen years she has lived in the Northern Virginia area. Initially, she enjoyed working as a lobbyist, but soon found herself drawn to teaching. In 2003 she joined the faculty of Trinity School at Meadow View and for ten years taught history, literature, and Scripture to middle and high school students. She moved to Minnesota last summer with her husband who is finishing his Master's degree at the School of Theology. They will return to Northern Virginia in July.
Jenny is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. For the last fourteen years she has lived in the Northern Virginia area. Initially, she enjoyed working as a lobbyist, but soon found herself drawn to teaching. In 2003 she joined the faculty of Trinity School at Meadow View and for ten years taught history, literature, and Scripture to middle and high school students. She moved to Minnesota last summer with her husband who is finishing his Master's degree at the School of Theology. They will return to Northern Virginia in July.