GCCC Music & Executive Team

(701) 777-2818 [email protected] Melanie Popejoy is Associate Director of Choral Activities at the University of North Dakota where she conducts the Allegro Women’s Choir and Vivo Chamber Ensemble, and instructs courses in Choral Music Education Methods and Music Fundamentals. In addition, she is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Grand Cities Children’s Choir, serving as co-conductor of the Primo Voce choir. She has taught in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, and Texas prior to coming to North Dakota. In her 32 years of teaching, Mrs. Popejoy has taught at the elementary, middle school, high school, and collegiate levels. She has conducted numerous honor and festival ensembles, and served as an adjudicator. Mrs. Popejoy has earned numerous teaching awards throughout her career, including selection as the Raytown South Middle School (MO) Teacher of the Year; Meadowbrook Elementary (TX) Teacher of the Year; Waco Independent School District (TX) Teacher of the Year; the DeLay Middle School (TX) Teacher of the Year; Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club North Dakota Teacher of the Year; Distinguished Alumnus award from the Central Missouri State University Department of Music; an Athena Award for Professional Excellence and Community Leadership; North Dakota Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Leadership Award; Grand Forks Thursday Music Club Gold Note Award; the Phenomenal Woman Awardfrom UND Multicultural Student Services; and selection as the North Dakota Choral Director of the Year.

Amy DeWitt has been teaching music since 2009. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of North Dakota and her Masters degree in Music Education from North Dakota State University. Amy earned a certificate of Kodaly Mastery from Minnesota State University-Moorhead and also completed Level III Orff training at the University of St. Thomas. Currently, she teaches K-5 elementary music and chorus at Century Elementary School in Grand Forks, North Dakota. She lives in Grand Forks with her husband Kyle and their cat, Lily.

Jack Boyer is currently serving as the Elementary Music Specialist and Director of Bands at Lake Agassiz Elementary school. Prior to this position he worked in Emerado and Larimore, ND. His band and choir students have received high accolades at both the regional and state level in Small and Large Ensemble competition. His students have been selected to participate in regional, state, and national level honor bands and choirs. Under his direction, the Larimore High School choir completed two performance tours, including a performance at Carnegie Hall with GCCC in 2020 and was selected as the North Dakota Governor’s Chorus through a blind audition process for the 2021-2022 school year. Mr. Boyer also serves as the Sanctuary Choir director at Sharon Lutheran Church, a position he has held for four years. He formerly directed the Chancellor Choir of Augustana Lutheran Church for four years. Mr. Boyer holds a Bachelor’s Degree in music education from the University of North Dakota, and a Master’s Degree in music education from the University of South Dakota.When he’s not directing choirs and bands, Mr. Boyer enjoys spending time with his family: his wife Lynneah, their daughter Wren, and their black lab Pepper.

Kayla Skjervheim is thrilled to be the director of Accordo Voce again this year! Miss Skjervheim has been a music teacher in North Dakota public schools since 2013. She is currently an elementary music specialist at Discovery Elementary School in Grand Forks and has been since the school first opened in August 2015. Prior to teaching at Discovery, Miss Skjervheim was the Pre-K-12 music instructor at Munich Public Schools for two years. Kayla earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of North Dakota in 2012. While attending UND, Kayla enjoyed being a member of the UND Concert Choir, the UND Wind Ensemble, and the Grand Forks Master Chorale. She also served as the undergraduate student conductor for the UND Allegro Women’s Chorus for two semesters. In addition to singing and teaching, Miss Skjervheim loves to play the piano, explore new places, learn new things, read great books, and spend as much quality time with family and friends as possible.

(701) 772-9270
[email protected] 

Ruth Ann Tuseth brings a variety of experience to the GCCC directing team. Mrs. Tuseth has been the conductor of Canto Voce since 2007. She has served as an elementary music specialist at Ben Franklin, Lake Agassiz, Lewis and Clark and Winship Elementary schools in Grand Forks and a K-12 Vocal Music specialist at Thompson ND. She has had training in Creating Original Opera for children through the Education at the Met program and had the opportunity to work on several original productions with kids. Mrs. Tuseth is a principal accompanist for the Summer Performing Arts program. She served as the chancel choir director and principal organist at First Presbyterian Church for 24 years, and she is currently serving as the director of the Sing and Ring program at United Lutheran Church and organist for the traditional worship service at First Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Tuseth received her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Iowa and her Master of Music degree from the University of North Dakota.

Cassel Everson has been teaching elementary and middle school band students in the Grand Forks Public Schools since 1982.  Her degrees include a Bachelor of Science from North Dakota State University, and a Masters of Education from the University of North Dakota.  She is a charter member of Higher Ground, the contemporary worship team of Sharon Lutheran Church.  Cassel is an accomplished instrumentalist in percussion, woodwinds, and brass.  She has been a proud parent supporter of the Grand Cities Children’s Choir since the inaugural season and an equally proud SPA parent supporter since 1992.

Roxanne Gessler received her Bachelor of Music degree from Concordia College, Moorhead, MN and her Masters of Music degree from the University of Arizona, Tucson.  She is currently the Director of Music Ministries at Sharon Lutheran Church.  Her past experiences include teaching at UND and U of A, accompanying the Tucson Children’s Choir, and performing in many piano, vocal, and chamber concerts.  Her daughter, Lacey, is a charter member of GCCC.  Mrs. Gessler has enjoyed every concert and thoroughly embraces the nurturing philosophy of GCCC and the opportunity to be a participating member.

Gretchen Kindseth received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education and Elementary Education from Jamestown College (University of Jamestown), Jamestown, ND. Her music career includes K-12 vocal instructor, accompanist for soloists and ensembles from elementary ages through the collegiate level, private piano teacher, church worship leader and organist, accompanist at International Music Camp, and most recently, early childhood music teacher. Gretchen is the current owner of Lifesong Family Music LLC, a music studio in Grand Forks that specializes in early childhood music classes for infants through preschool age children. She is honored to be a part of GCCC, working with children to foster their love of music for life!