Shawn Westbrook, Lead Singer:
Shawn is a large person; large-in-stature, large-in-heart, large-in-love, and large-in-talent. Shawn not only is a lead singer in CHORDS - he is also, in many ways, our inspiration. Life has thrown Shawn a lot of curveballs, but he always comes back
around to home base - our Lord, Jesus Christ. Shawn lives in Battle Creek, Michigan, where is works as a Food Quality Engineer for Kraft Foods, Inc. He and his wife, Pam, make the trip down to Fort Wayne to participate in our monthly concerts. CHORDS
especially appreciates the many sacrifices Shawn and Pam make to be a part of our ensemble!
Auline Nyberg, Lead Singer:
Auline is the only female singer in CHORDS, but don't let that fool you. She holds her own with all the fellas quite well, thank you very much. She is a charter member of CHORDS, and also an accomplished pianist and soloist. Through the years, she has also directed several highly-successful choral ensembles. Auline's talent is immense. She is a devoted wife to Allan, mother of Rich, Roger and Rachelle, doting grandmother, and recently retired after many dedicated years of nursing at Towne House Retirement Center in Fort Wayne.
She is CHORDS director, James Zanker's, right-hand gal when it comes to organizing and booking the ensemble. We thank you, Auline, for all you do for CHORDS.
Nick Westerhausen, Baritone Singer:
The newest member of CHORDS is Nick Westerhausen – his joining our ensemble has really been a blessing. Not only is Nick a very fine singer, he has a wonderful, if dry, sense of humor. Never one to miss out on an opportunity to "zing" the director, his quips have really been appreciated by all the other members. Nick is also the youngest member of CHORDS by at least a couple decades! The son of singer, Mark Westerhausen, Nick is still a student at Leo, IN High School where he is active in both band and chorus, as well as drama and the Academic Math Superbowl. Most-importantly, he just recently received his driver's license, and really – what else matters after that? It's great having his youthfulness and enthusiasm in CHORDS!
Bill Anders, Baritone Singer:
Bill Anders is also a newer addition to our ensemble, but it doesn't feel like it because we have all known Bill for 20 years. He sang in the choir with many of us at Saint Joseph UMC, and it seems we just can't get away from him! Bill is an enormously-talented musician, singer, professional trombonist, bass guitarist, English Horn soloist, and conductor. As impressive as all this is, it pales in comparison to the fact that he is the father of five girls. Five girls. That's right, five girls, plus he is married to a girl. He has no retirement savings, but he does have a bunch of grandchildren! All kidding aside, Bill works as Principal of West Noble Middle School and is certainly the comedian of CHORDS. A devout Harley Davidson motorcycle enthusiast,
along with his lovely bride, Sharon, Bill brings great joy and fun to our ensemble.
Bruce Frederick, Baritone Singer:
Bruce Frederick is the hottie in CHORDS. Seriously. Every group needs a hottie, and Bruce fulfills that capacity well! Plus he is a pretty good singer.
Bruce and his wife, Joy, are the proud parents of two sons, David and Michael, and also enjoy spoiling their beautiful grandchildren. While now retired, and loving it, Bruce was formerly employed as a Tire Design Engineer at BF Goodrich Tire Company in Woodburn, which he used to tell us stood for "Bruce Frederick's Goodrich Tire Company." He is really smart. And, he is a magnificent ping-pong player. Most-importantly, Bruce is a passionate follower of Jesus Christ, and it is easy to see this in him as he lives his life.
The members of CHORDS are proud to call Bruce Frederick a friend and brother-in-Christ.
Mark Westerhausen, Tenor Singer:
Every organized group seems to attract one slacker. Someone who seems to lag behind, miss rehearsals, not pay attention, etc etc etc. Mark Westerhausen definitely IS NOT that person! He is quite possibly our most-disciplined and devoted member.
Perhaps that is a trait of being a CPA and a partner at DWD Accounting Services in Fort Wayne. Mark is also a charter member of CHORDS, and currently a member of leadership at Leo United Methodist Church where he sings in the choir, sits on several committees, and serves as substitute organist. Wow. And he also finds time to be a devoted husband to wife, Karen, and father to their children, Katie and Nick. Oh - he also plays softball fairly well, or at least he likes to believe he does.
Bruce Haines, Tenor Singer:
Bruce Haines is no stranger to fine-music lovers in the greater Fort Wayne area. After serving over 21 years as on-air personality and General Manager of Northeast Indiana Public Radio, Bruce has recently been named General Manager of Fort Wayne's Public Television Station, WFWA, PBS39. Additionally, he holds about a hundred other board directorships and positions of responsibility on local, regional and national organizations, so having him shove CHORDS rehearsals and performances into his enormously-busy schedule is a real blessing. Bruce and his wife, Melinda, along with their two girls, Hannah and Rachel, do get away each summer to the "shore," as they put it, in Ocean City, NJ where Bruce's family enjoys a beautiful ocean-side condo.
Come to think of it, CHORDS should visit and sing a few concerts ocean-side!
Gary Border, Bass Singer:
CHORDS is proud to have Gary Border singing bass with us. Well, most of the time. You see, Gary has a tendency to misbehave. And when Gary misbehaves, his fellow bass, Carl Reuter, begins to laugh.
And then Gary begins to giggle. And then pretty much he and Carl totally lose it. Most-often, this occurs about one minute before we are being introduced to perform! It makes for some interesting moments. Not only is Gary a talented bass singer, he is also a great friend of CHORDS, always ready to pitch in at a moment's notice to help out in any way possible.
Gary and his wonderful wife, Lana, are parents of not only two lovely daughters, Angi and Amanda, but also to their rescued greyhound dogs, Carol and Loretta. When not playing with his sweet dogs, or his grandchildren, Gary can be found riding the back roads on his mammoth Honda VTX 1800, his second love.
Carl Reuter, Bass Singer:
Carl is a beautiful human being. Seriously. We don't know what he is talking about or is doing most of the time, but we are sure he is a wonderful person. If every group needs a cut-up, there is no doubt that Carl is that for CHORDS. Sit him beside Gary, and rehearsals often become little more than a silly-fest. But we wouldn't want it any other way! Carl is a Senior Systems Engineer at Raytheon in Fort Wayne. And he is really good at it, or so he tells us.
Just kidding. In all honesty, one of Carl's greatest attributes is his humbleness. We have never heard him brag about anything except his lovely bride, Jaci, their two girls, Amanda and Nicole, and their several grandchildren.
He is an exceptionally-talented singer both with CHORDS and with his church's adult choir at Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church in Fort Wayne. Thanks, Carl, for keeping us laughing!
Colleen Zurcher-McGauran: Keyboard Accompanist:
The CHORDS ensemble has been very fortunate to have as their accompanist several very talented pianists throughout our years together, though none more so than our current keyboardist, Colleen.
She is a magnificently-talented musician who constantly thrills and impresses us with her virtuousity and passion-filled accompaniment. We are truly-blessed to have her with us. During the day, Colleen works as a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, and also serves as piano/organist at Saint Joseph UMC in Fort Wayne. Her husband, Brendan, and daughter, Maureen, often join Colleen for CHORDS concerts and we love having them both in attendance. Recently, during three four-hour sessions on one weekend for our recording project, Colleen played literally flawlessly. We are most proud of her beautiful playing on our new CD, and hope you will get yourself a copy so you can enjoy her beautiful piano and keyboard accompaniments. Thank you, Colleen!
James Zanker, Director:
James Zanker has been known as a dedicated, enthusiastic and talented choral director in the Fort Wayne area since moving here from his home state of Iowa in 1986. A taskmaster, he strives for perfection. Unfortunately, since he is certainly flawed himself, he has yet to neither find nor expect perfection in others. However, his choral, instrumental and handbell ensembles are recognized as having been some of the finest in our area. CHORDS is his passion, and he enjoys immensely the rigors of directing, scheduling, booking and organizing the ensemble.
By day he is an insurance/investment advisor as part of Resource Financial Company, Inc. His wife, Kyle, and their boys, Joshua and Paul, enjoy a hearty and blessed family life along with Kyle's parents and brother's family who also live in the area. James' second passion is toy collecting, and his and Kyle's pressed-steel toy collection is considered one of the finest in the entire United States.
|
|
