About The River City Chorale

The River City Chorale started in 2009 and was founded by artistic director Andrew Haase. In 2022, the 140+ voice choir included singers from the St. Croix River Valley and beyond.

The mission of The River City Chorale is to educate and
enrich the lives of both singers and audience members through exceptional
performances of high-quality choral literature.

Artistic Staff

Since 2022, Andrew Haase has served as the Music Director for St. Andrews Church in Mahtomedi, Minnesota. Prior to that he spent 20 years as the Director of Choral Activities at Hudson High School in Hudson, WI, where he led the Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, Exultate, Men’s Ensemble and served as Music Director for the annual musical. Additionally, Haase served as Artistic Director for Home for the Holidays, Hudson High School Choral Department’s annual holiday concert combined with The River City Symphony Orchestra. Home for the Holidays is one of the most popular concerts in the St. Croix Valley, attracting over 2,800 audience members annually.

In the spring of 2018, while on sabbatical, Haase served as the Interim Music Director and Conductor of the Reading Festival Choir, Reading, United Kingdom.

Haase received his Bachelor of Arts degree in vocal music education from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and a Master of Music degree in Conducting and Choral Literature from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ. Conducting mentors include: Dr. Timothy Peter, Dr. Sandra Peter, Dr. Edith Copley and Weston Noble. Choirs under the direction of Haase have appeared at various state music educator conferences and have toured internationally to Costa Rica, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Italy, Spain, France, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Joel began his piano studies when he was in 5th grade.  By 8th grade he was accompanying school music productions, and continued working as an accompanist all through high school and college.  He received his Bachelor of Music degree from Millikin University where he had a double emphasis in both classical and commercial music.  He graduated from Belmont University with a Master of Music in piano performance.  While at Belmont, he worked as a collaborative pianist, playing for undergraduate, graduate and faculty recitals

After 23 years in Nashville, Joel moved to the Twin Cities to raise his daughter in the mid-west.  He musical tastes and abilities are eclectic: he serves as Music Director at Ascension Episcopal Church in Stillwater, MN where he directs the choir and plays organ and piano.

He lives with his wife and daughter in Woodbury, MN and enjoys the outdoors, and music of all kinds.

Current Board of Directors

The River City Chorale is a non-profit vocal organization. A Board of Directors governs the operation and growth of the organization as well a helping maintain the mission.

The River City Chorale At a Glance

April 2009 – Andy Haase, director of Choral Activities at Hudson (WI) High School starts a new community choir for anyone who wants to sing. The response is overwhelming, and the choir performed two concerts that summer.

April 2012 – Sixteen volunteers form the first Board of Directors of The River City Chorale. 

February 2013 – The Board of Directors adopts by-laws, and The River City Chorale is incorporated in the State of Wisconsin as a tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) organization.

March 2013 – The River City Chorale’s Youth Choir welcomes 37 local elementary students to sing in the choir – a first of its kind in the area. 

September 2013 – The River City Chorale hosts its first Gala fundraiser. 

March 2014 – The River City Chorale formed The Ensemble Singers, for more skilled adult singers. Twenty-two men and women gave two concerts in 2014. 

September 2014 – Christmas with The River City Chorale started a new holiday tradition with two sold out shows in December 2014. 

May 2015 – The summer choir performs its first concert outside of Hudson, WI, in front of a few hundred guests at a July concert at Como Park in St Paul, Minnesota.