Music Department Faculty
Dr. Ruth Krusemark, Professor of Music, is Chair of the Music Department and Head of the Division of Arts and Communication at Benedictine College. She received her Bachelor of Music Degree in Piano Performance from Benedictine College in 1973, a Master of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Kansas in 1976 and a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Organ from the University of Kansas in 1998. Dr. Krusemark directs the Concert Chorale and the Chamber Singers and teaches piano, organ and music theory at Benedictine College. She is active in the community as the director of the Riverbend Concert Choir of Atchison, Kansas and is in her forty-first year as the organist and choir director of the First Christian Church. She has performed in many capacities as a pianist, accompanist, organist and choir director across the United States as well as in Mexico, Europe and the Middle East. She also taught in Singapore for Benedictine International University. E-mail address: ruthk@benedictine.edu / Office: Bishop Fink 308 / Telephone: 913-360-7598
Dr. Karen Minter, Professor of Music, is a native of Atlanta, Georgia. She received her undergraduate training at Cadek Conservatory-University of Tennessee in Chattanooga, her Masters Degree from University of Denver, and her Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Vocal Performance at the Conservatory of Music of the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She was elected to Pi Kappa Lambda, an honorary music society, received the Lorena McDuff Award, and the Graduate Student Music Award during her studies. She has been on the music faculty of Benedictine College since January of 1990 where she has taught courses in Applied Voice, Class Voice, Vocal Communication and Technique, Music Theory, Keyboard Fundamentals, Music History, Music Literature, and Opera Workshop. A Roster Artist with the Kansas City Lyric Opera since 1986, she is recently performed there in Carmen. Performances also include Mozart's "Exsultate, jubilate" and Barber's "Knoxville: Summer of 1915" with the Benedictine College-Atchison Community Orchestra, numerous recital, oratorio, and chamber music concerts locally and regionally. Her roles include Musetta, Suor Angelica, Susannah, Perichole, Suzel, and the role of Duse in the world premier of Gerald Kemner's Opera Duse and D'Annunzio. She resides in Kansas City and is the proud mother of James, a pediatrician with Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. E-mail address: kminter@benedictine.edu / Office: Bishop Fink 318 / Telephone: 913-360-7597
Dr. Christopher Greco, Assistant Professor of Music, received B.A. Music and M.A. Composition from California State University, Los Angeles and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Performance from the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Greco is an educator, composer/performer (woodwinds), researcher and scholar of music with interests covering a broad spectrum of musical disciplines. He has worked in both the classical and jazz fields as a teacher, composer, performer, and scholar with a special interest in the twentieth century musical traditions. Trained as a multi-instrumentalist (saxophone, clarinet, flute) and composer in Los Angeles Dr. Greco served on the music faculty at Pepperdine University, UCLA, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and Wor-Wic Community College teaching music theory, music history, composition, music appreciation, music fundamentals, improvisation, string methodology, woodwinds methodology, and applied woodwinds (cl., sax., fl., oboe.) See web links below for additional information on Dr. Greco.
Awards/Recognitions: ASCAPlus Award (2002- ); Who’s Who in America (2002- ); Julius Hemphill Composition Award (2001); Distinguished Alumni California State University, Los Angeles (1997); Los Angeles Times Interview (1997); Commendation for Excellence in Teaching Service (1996); Golden Key International Honour Society; B.L. Hoyt Scholarship.
Affiliations: National Association of Composers, U.S.A.; American Society of Composers, Authors, Publishers; American Music Center; World Clarinet Alliance.
Dr. Greco Web Portals: Classical music site: www.chrisgrecomusic.com
Jazz music site:
E-mail address:CGreco@benedictine.edu
Office: Bishop Fink 323
Telephone: 913 360-7599
Ted Hanman M.A., P.G.C.E., BmusEd., Assistant Professor of Instrumental Music Pro Tem, fulfilled his undergraduate studies at Central Methodist College. He completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Education from the Roehampton Institute of Education in London and a Master degree in Music Education from London University’s Institute of Education. While in London he performed with the London Symphony Chorus under such conductors as Richard Hickox, Michael Tilson Thomas and Claudio Abado and toured Italy, France and Switzerland. In England, he helped found and conduct the South Warwickshire Regional Orchestra and taught for the Warwickshire County Music Service. He has performed and toured with the Croydon Brass Ensemble, South London Wind Band and the Worcester Cathedral Voluntary Choir. He is a member of the National Association of Wind and Percussion Instructors, Phi Mu Alpha, Music Educators National Conference, and is currently completing a Doctorate at Boston University in Music Education. Mr. Hanman’s wife Elizabeth works in Elementary Education at the Platte County School District and they have three children, Peter, Michael and Lydia. E-mail address: thanman@benedictine.edu / Office: Student Union 101 / Telephone: 913-360-7996
Adjunct Music Faculty
Margaret Kew, adjunct Professor Emerita of Music, teaches strings and is concertmaster of the Benedictine College/Atchison KS Community Orchestra. Mrs. Kew has been on the BC faculty for forty-one years, and is the former concertmaster of the Des Moines and St. Joseph symphonies. She also serves on the music faculty at Mount Conservatory of Music. E-mail address: mkew@benedictine.edu / Office: Bishop Fink 301
Jason Riley teaches guitar at Benedictine College. An active performing musican in all styles, he has released three solo CDs, including Notes to Self, a recording of Mr. Riley's original compositions. Mr. Riley is also featured on the recordings of many other artists, has opened for and performed with many national and international artists, and has made numerous radio and television appearances.
Dr. Lara West, B.C. Liturgical Choir
Mrs. Lois Niemann, Administrative Assistant
Ms Lisa Roush teaches functional keyboard skills at Benedictine College.
Fr. Blaine Schultz, OSB, recently retired from full-time teaching at Benedictine College, where he held the rank of Associate Professor of Music and taught music history, form and analysis, music literature, piano and organ. He currently teaches piano and organ. He holds music degrees from the University of Kansas and the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Father Blaine has been organist and choir master at Saint Benedict's Abbey for 40 years. He is also the Abbey guestmaster, and president of the Atchison Community Concerts Association. E-mail address: blaine@benedictine.edu / Office: Bishop Fink 301 / Telephone: 913-360-7449
