Mount Calvary Lutheran Church is thrilled to relaunch its Music Series for the 2025–2026 season under the artistic direction of Jeremy Haug and Monica Livorsi. Rooted in faith and driven by artistic excellence, Music on the Mount will feature a dynamic lineup of concerts, worship collaborations, and community events that celebrate music and the arts.
This revitalized series will showcase world-class talent from the Twin Cities and beyond, including ensembles like Magnum Chorum, and our very own Mount Calvary musicians and friends. Through music and the arts, we aim to build bridges, deepen spiritual connection, expand community, and welcome all.
Join us as we create a space where faith meets artistry, and where every note resonates with purpose, beauty, and community.
*Interested in booking a music event to go along with the Music Series? Contact Jeremy Haug & Monica Livorsi for more details.
Jeremiah Knudson
Jeremiah Knudson is a senior at St. Olaf College, majoring in Organ Performance and Church Music. At St. Olaf, he studies organ with Dr. Catherine Rodland. In addition to organ performance, Jeremiah is privileged to sing with the St. Olaf Choir under the direction of Dr. Anton Armstrong. Jeremiah was recently awarded second place in the National Undergraduate Organ Competition. Professionally, Jeremiah serves as Mount Calvary’s own Intern Organist. Following graduation this spring, Jeremiah will begin serving as the Director of Music and Organist at Calvary Lutheran Church in his hometown of Rapid City, South Dakota.
Faiz Wareh
Hailing from Schenectady, New York, Faiz Wareh is a junior mathematics and music double major at St. Olaf College. He began playing the organ at the age of 10, studying under several teachers in New York and York, United Kingdom over the next few years. After restarting his organ studies at St. Olaf with Dr. Catherine Rodland, he became the organist of nearby All Saints Episcopal Church, where he plays almost every Sunday. He is also a proud member of the St. Olaf Cantorei, headed by Professor James Bobb. Faiz recently returned from six months of study in Jordan and Egypt, where he studied both literary and dialectical Arabic, as well as Arab music theory. He is also a competitive Rubik’s Cube solver, with an official best time of 13.15 seconds, and was crowned the 2023 New York State champion in 3x3x3 Blindfolded and 5x5x5 Blindfolded.
Elizabeth Doty
Elizabeth Doty is a junior at St. Olaf College, from Littleton Colorado, majoring in mathematics. She started playing the organ in the fall of 2024, under Dr. Catherine Rodland. Having a strong piano background, she was excited to learn such an impressive instrument. Elizabeth is also a member of the St. Olaf Band and St. Olaf Orchestra playing flute, piccolo, and bassoon. She also serves as the St. Olaf Bands student manager, assisting with all rehearsals, concerts, and tours. Outside of music, Elizabeth enjoys traveling, spending time outdoors, hiking, and taking photos.
Ben Quist
An Albany, New York native, Ben Quist is a BM Church Music major at St. Olaf College. He studies in the studios of Dr. Catherine Rodland and Dr. Anton Armstrong, organ and voice respectively. In addition to his private studies, Ben sings with the St. Olaf Choir and the St. Olaf Chamber Singers. Ben has been active in church music since age 9, beginning as a treble in the Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys in Albany, NY where he sang regular choral masses, evensongs, and annual period masterworks. He has appeared in performances with the Philadelphia Orchestra under the baton of Yannick Nezet-Seguin as a member of Albany Pro Musica. Ben currently serves as the Choir Director and occasionally organist at All Saints Episcopal Church in Northfield, MN. He also works with Northfield Youth Choirs as the Troubadours conducting intern. Outside of church music, Ben enjoys playing fiddle and guitar. He organizes a monthly folk session in Northfield and maintains a schedule of performances with various folk and contemporary groups. In his free time, Ben enjoys doing the crossword, skiing, biking, and playing banagrams.
Leif Olsen
Leif Olsen is in his third year of studies at St. Olaf College, pursuing a degree in Piano Performance with a Collaborative Emphasis under the instruction of Dr. Christopher Atzinger. He is also honored to study organ with Dr. Catherine Rodland and voice with Jerry Elsbernd, as well as additional piano lessons with Dr. Kathryn Ananda-Owens. As a lifelong music lover, Leif has been playing piano from a young age, and has enjoyed collaborating with all kinds of musicians across many different genres. Besides his three instrumental studies, he also sings in and accompanies the St. Olaf Choir, and plays keyboard in the jazz department’s Gold Combo coached by Dr. Joseph Jefferson. On weekends Leif continues his musical service as Organ Scholar at First United Church of Christ in Northfield, MN, as the accompanist for St. Olaf’s student composition choir, and as keyboardist for a student band. If he’s not sitting at an instrument, you can probably find him playing any sort of word game, spending time with friends, or taking a much-needed nap.
Mount Calvary stands at the intersection of faith, creativity, and community—a perfect foundation for a vibrant music series. By hosting regular concerts, Mount Calvary will:
CELEBRATE MUSICAL EXCELLENCE.
The Twin Cities are home to world-class musicians and ensembles. A curated music series would showcase this talent, enriching the spiritual and cultural life of the congregation and broader community.
FOSTER CREATIVITY AND ARTISTIC EXPRESSION.
Music is a powerful medium for exploring beauty, emotion, and meaning. A series that includes classical, sacred, and contemporary works invites artists and audiences alike into a space of inspiration and reflection.
STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY BONDS.
Concerts and worship events create shared experiences that bring people together across generations and backgrounds. Whether through choral harmonies or chamber ensembles, music cultivates empathy and connection.
EXTEND HOSPITALITY AND OUTREACH.
A music series opens the doors of Mount Calvary to the wider public, offering a welcoming space for dialogue, celebration, and spiritual nourishment through the arts.
HONOR TRADITION WHILE EMBRACING INNOVATION.
Rooted in liturgical heritage yet open to new voices, the series can blend timeless sacred music with fresh compositions, reflecting the dynamic faith journey of the congregation.
VISION FOR EXPANSION.
Mount Calvary Foundation
Jeremy Haug
Doug Affinito
David and Katie Eggert
David Dean
Justin and April Ueland
David and Mary Coldwell
Philip Brunelle
Charlie and Katie Eggert
Hal and Dottie Johnson
Darel and LaVerna Leipold
Cal and Lori Wright
Steve Hancock and Paulette Tollefson
Jeff and Faye Kamrath
Bob and Kathy McLain
Robert and Barb Roy
Bill Eggers
Laurie Erickson
Sarah and Scott Roemig
Hailing from Renville, MN, with 14 years of service at Mount Calvary, Jeremy Haug has been instrumental in shaping and nurturing the worship and music ministry, blending sacred tradition with innovative programming.
He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from St. Olaf College, where he cultivated his passion for the pipe organ, hymn singing, choral leadership, music and the arts under the tutelage of John Ferguson, Anton Armstrong, Robert Scholz, and Kenneth & Carolyn Jennings. In addition to his role at Mount Calvary, Jeremy has professional responsibility with nearly three decades of experience in Information Technology and currently leads the Digital Workplace Platforms organization at Cummins, Inc; demonstrating a unique blend of artistic and technical expertise.
Jeremy’s personal values; and vision centers on community engagement, integrity, inclusivity, relationship, artistic excellence, and spiritual enrichment through music and the arts. His leadership continues to inspire and connect both congregation members and the broader Twin Cities arts community.
Monica Livorsi is a singer-songwriter and piano player in the Twin Cities area with love for soulful melodies and heartfelt piano. Monica grew up in the Minnetonka area, graduating from Minnetonka High School in 2014, and then studied classical voice and nonprofit management at Butler University graduating with a degree in Arts Administration Music in 2018. After 4 years in Indianapolis she moved back to Minnesota to persistently explore and start a musical path in the Twin Cities music scene.
Monica’s versatile voice and training have landed her various performance and ensemble opportunities including Magnum Chorum member from 2018-2021, Chanhassen Dinner Theatre, 318 Cafe, Summerfest in Milwaukee, and opening act for the Excelsior Concert in the Commons summer series.
Monica is an active performer in the Twin Cities music scene, you can find more information on her website www.monicalivorsi.com and subscribe to her email list for monthly performance updates. She also released her debut album All About Jane, a Jane Austen concept album, in April 2024 and has continued to release music on streaming platforms since 2021. Monica is all about uplifting as much musical variety as possible in her personal musical journey as well as in her worship music leading at Mount Calvary.
Meanwhile, the Side B Podcast dives deep into meaningful conversations, powerful testimonies, and behind-the-scenes stories that will ignite your faith and leave you inspired.
Erica Bennett Duggan is a flute instructor at the MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Flute Performance from the St. Olaf College, and a Master of Music degree from the University of Minnesota. Erica is the principal flutist of the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra in Minneapolis and is a member of the Minneapolis Pops and the Rochester Symphony Orchestra. She is also a frequent freelance player in the Twin Cities and performs with her woodwind quintet, Pavia Winds, several times a year. A dedicated and enthusiastic teacher, Erica has taught flute lessons for twenty-five years at studios and schools in the Twin Cities metro area. She currently teaches at MacPhail Center for Music at various locations. In her free time, Erica enjoys hiking with her husband, cooking, reading, and yoga. She is always happy to be involved with the rich musical events at Mount Calvary.
Cassandra Morgan is a singer, music teacher and art lover, born and raised in Waterloo, Iowa. She attended college right next door in Cedar Falls, IA at the University of Northern Iowa, where she received both her Bachelors and Masters of Music in vocal performance. There she focused solely on operatic and choral singing, with an emphasis on conducting. She has a strong passion for stage performance and theater arts. After moving to the Twin Cities in 2012, Cassandra has sung with companies such as Minnesota Opera, Mill City Opera, Mixed Precipitation, Sonomento, and the University of Minnesota.
While working as a church musician and private voice instructor in 2016, she found her way to Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, where she has continued to perform and teach for the past 8 years. Here, she has rediscovered her passion for contemporary genres, stretching away from classical genres to what originally called her to music- the stories, the emotion, and the gift of leading others through song. She currently sings all styles, with a passion for both traditional liturgy and hymns, as well as contemporary and gospel styles. Cassandra is in her fourth year as an elementary and middle school music and art teacher at World Learner School, a small charter school in Chaska, MN. She keeps her days filled with the things she loves most- music, art and children! She feels called to help youth discover new music and art, explore the goodness of all artforms, and find a way to let go and give in to personal connections with art and music. She spends weekends leading worship at Mount Calvary, finding God at the center of everything she does!
David Morgan was born and raised in the western suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is a spinto tenor and the tenor section leader here in Mount Calvary Lutheran Church’s Chancel Choir. David fell in love with vocal music in high school and trained with Jean del Santo from the University of Minnesota, and Robert Swensen at the Eastman School of Music. David has sung on many stages as a member of various honor choirs, as well as in roles and choruses in the opera field. His previous roles include Jeník in The Bartered Bride, Don José in Carmen, Fenton in Falstaff, Elder Hayes in Susannah and as a cover for Canio in I Pagliacci.
Originally from northern Minnesota, Zack Carlson-Giving serves as the Vocal Music Director at Buffalo High School and Chancel Choir Director at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church. With a deep commitment to fostering community and belonging through music, Zack leads with a passion for artistry, inclusivity, and lifelong learning.
At Buffalo High School, he directs all curricular and extracurricular choirs, annual musicals, and the Unified Music program—an inclusive ensemble of students of all abilities. Under his direction, the Concert Choir and Unified Music ensembles have been featured at the Minnesota Music Educators Association Midwinter Clinic, the ACDA-MN Fall Conference, and the Special Olympics of Minnesota State Tournaments.
An active clinician, presenter, and mentor, Zack co-founded the Minnesota Choral Mentorship Program and serves as the ACDA-MN Repertoire & Resources Chair for Senior High Choirs. In 2021, he was recognized as the ACDA-MN Outstanding Young Choral Director of the Year and conducted the 2024 ACDA-MN 7–8 CTB Honor Choir.
As a professional singer, Zack has performed with the National Lutheran Choir, VocalEssence Ensemble Singers, The Singers – Minnesota Choral Artists, Twin Ports Choral Project, and imPulse. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Music Education from the University of Minnesota Duluth and a Master of Music in Music Education from Michigan State University, with further studies in Norway, the United Kingdom, and across the United States.
Zack’s teaching and ministry is deeply rooted in connection, compassion, and the belief that music has the power to unite and sustain communities of all kinds and at all points of life.
Saige is a singer from Chanhassen, MN who has been a member of Mount Calvary for 15 years. She enjoys singing at church services and for the confirmation kids on Wednesdays. She is a senior at Minnetonka High School where she is President of the top choir, Concert Choir, and also the Soprano Section Leader. She enjoys singing outside of school as well in the auditioned out of school hours ensemble, the Minnetonka Chamber Singers.
Ben has grown up in Minnesota, and moved to the Excelsior area in 2012. He has been a member at Mount Calvary since 2013 going through Sunday School, confirmation, and was involved in the high school youth group throughout high school. Now he comes back to play guitar in worship and help out in the sound booth on Sundays. This spring he will be graduating from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Architecture. Outside of music, school, and Mount Calvary, he loves to spend time outdoors camping, hiking, skiing, and rock climbing.
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Kyle Jackson has been senior pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church for four years. He has served congregations in Mahtomedi, Shoreview, Edina, Stillwater, and Harmony MN. Kyle is a Vocal Performance Music Major, Luther College, Decorah, IA. Kyle has been singing as long as he has been talking and comes from a family of singers. He has sung in many choirs and been involved in many musicals. There is nothing like singing to draw you closer to the heartbeat of God!
