Music Staff
Kirsten Hedegaard, Director
of Music
Kirsten Hedegaard received her BM from Northwestern University
and her MA from the University of California where she was conducting
assistant to Paul Hillier. She continued her studies in Copenhagen, Denmark
where she researched Danish choral music and performed with several regional
ensembles. While in Denmark she worked with such conductors as Gunnar
Eriksson, Jesper Grove Jorgensen and Stefan Parkman. She has also had the
opportunity to work with many early music experts including Paul O’Dette,
Ellen Hargis, Kenneth Slowick, Max von Egmond, Mary Springfels, David
Douglas, John Butt, Nic McGegan and Alex Blachly.
In North America Ms. Hedegaard has performed professionally as a chorister, soprano soloist, and conductor. As a soloist and ensemble singer she has sung with groups such as Philharmonia Baroque, the Newberry Consort, Ars Antiqua, and Bella Voce (formerly His Majestie’s Clerkes), as well as other chamber choirs. She is also a frequent soloist for Bach cantatas, having performed on music series in Chicago and on the west coast. In 2003 she was engaged as the soprano soloist for an International tour of Louie Andriessens’s The Odyssey, with performances in Chicago, New York, Massachussets, and in festivals throughout The Netherlands. She has taught conducting at Concordia University, River Forest and has conducted choirs and orchestras for various institutions including Eastman House, Chicago Children’s Choir, Gallery 37, Loyola Academy, and the University of California.
Ms. Hedegaard is also devoted to educating children and in 1999 co-founded The Musical Offering, an innovative new music school located outside of Chicago. In 2005 she relinquished the position of Executive Director, and now teaches private lessons and performs with the Janus Ensemble, the resident ensemble of the Musical Offering. She is married to conductor Andrew Lewis and they have three sons: George, William and Henrik.
Richard Leasure, Organist
Richard Leasure began his duties as Organist at The Presbyterian
Church of Barrington in September of 2007. Immediately prior
to this position, he served for six years as Organist and Assistant
Director of Music at Trinity United Methodist Church
in Mount Prospect.
Richard received his undergraduate degree in Church Music and Organ from Westminster College, New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, where he was an organ student of Raymond Ocock. He also holds a Master of Music degree in Church Music from Northwestern University where he studied organ with Wolfgang Rubsam.
During the past thirty years, he has served as Organist / Director at churches in Chicago and the northwestern suburbs, as well as guest organist for twenty-five churches in the Chicagoland area.
Richard is a member of the Fox Valley chapter of the American Guild of Organists and is employed as a manager in the computer department of the American Agricultural Insurance Company in Schaumburg.
