Loretta Notareschi
Composer
"Working with Soli Deo Gloria and Director Voelker was a composer's dream--they are enthusiastic collaborators, willing to try out new ideas in the music and sculpt it to the perfect sound. It is also glorious to hear so many gorgeous voices massed together in song. Even with their large size of 100+ singers, SDG has a beautiful blended tone and unified musicality.
Sophie
Urban
trumpet
"Working with Nate and the SDG Choir as a scholarship recipient over the past several years has been a wonderful opportunity enhancing my professional music studies! I’m forever grateful for the connections, colleagues, and beautiful music performed with this organization.
Jackson
Krell
Member
"I joined SDG with my mother after my junior year of high school. I wanted something more advanced than high school choir and SDG has filled that role well. Nate is an amazing conductor and the members are all wonderful. The music is challenging but fun and I love performing infront of the audience!
Patrick Wickliffe
Composer
"Working with SDG Choir has been such a joy. I love having my compositions sung by this great chorus…Nathaniel Voelker is not only a great choral conductor and collaborator, but also a great friend… When it comes to singing great sacred repertoire, SDG Choir is fantastic!
Susan
hykes
Member
"I have sung with Soli Deo Gloria since the fall of 1987. It has been an amazing experience. I have grown as a singer and benefitted from the direction of amazing conductors and found wonderful kindred spirits. Try us. You'll like us!
Soli Deo Gloria Choir
​​
Vision
Broaden and deepen connection within our community and beyond​
​
Mission
We believe in the transformative power of sacred music to uplift and unite our community. We strive to create connection across generations through our commitment to excellence, creativity, education, and inclusivity. By fostering a supportive environment, we seek to empower our members to grow as individuals and musicians.
​
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
We are committed to providing a welcoming environment for all singers, without exception.
Our approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion, is straightforward: we welcome all singers to
join us in pursuing our mission.
​
SDG Choir Then, Now, and Beyond
​
"with every voice, we are one song"​
SDG Leadership
EMILY WALKER
Principal Pianist
Heather Hart
Assistant Director
Ruth Schubarth
Chamber Pianist
Heather's Story Heather joined SDG in 2022. This is Heather's 10th year as a music teacher. After graduating from Colorado Mesa University with a BA in Music Education and Vocal Performance she lived and taught in Missouri. Prior to moving to Colorado Springs, she taught choir and vocal arts at Northglenn High School in metro-Denver from 2014 - 2018. where she also served as vocal director for all musical stage productions including: Little Women, Beauty and the Beast, The Addams Family, and Les Miserables. Outside of work she participated in Tapestry Vocal Ensemble as soprano and soloist. In her church, Heather regularly serves as music director, conductor, pianist, children's music director, and offers many solos, duets, trios, and small ensembles. She is currently the choral and vocal arts instructor at Horizon Middle School in Colorado Springs. Heather is excited to get to work with this fantastic group with guidance from Nathaniel Voelker.
Section Leaders
Heather Hart
Soprano
Anne Maverick
Alto
Heather's Story Heather joined SDG in 2022. This is Heather's 10th year as a music teacher. After graduating from Colorado Mesa University with a BA in Music Education and Vocal Performance she lived and taught in Missouri. Prior to moving to Colorado Springs, she taught choir and vocal arts at Northglenn High School in metro-Denver from 2014 - 2018. where she also served as vocal director for all musical stage productions including: Little Women, Beauty and the Beast, The Addams Family, and Les Miserables. Outside of work she participated in Tapestry Vocal Ensemble as soprano and soloist. In her church, Heather regularly serves as music director, conductor, pianist, children's music director, and offers many solos, duets, trios, and small ensembles. She is currently the choral and vocal arts instructor at Horizon Middle School in Colorado Springs. Heather is excited to get to work with this fantastic group with guidance from Nathaniel Voelker.
Ruth Schubarth
Tenor
Ruth's Story... (she, her, hers), joined SDG Choir in 2023. Ruth currently is the accompanist for Mitchell High School, Coronado High School, Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church, and Abendmusik (local adult choir of music educators). She also maintains a vibrant music studio for piano and voice students. Ruth attended Manhattan School of Music's Preparatory Division, and the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music, graduating from Wheaton with a degree in Sociology. She has music directed for theatre productions and church worship programs, and has played for a rock band as well as several jazz groups. She is also a visual artist, yearning for more time to work in watercolours, weaving, clay, and gardening. Her calico cat KittyAnnE keeps her calm when needed.
Jonathan Lowry
Bass
Jonathan's Story Jonathan joined SDG Choir in 2022, and served as SDG Assistant Director until 2024. Jonathan graduated from Texas State University in 2020 with a degree in music education and previously taught music at Penrose Elementary School. He is currently the choir director and organist for The Church at Woodmoor.
SDG Board
Erica Nelson
President
Gail Walters
Vice President
Vicky Manlove
Treasurer
Larry Stair
Secretary
Larry Clifford
Bass Liaison
Paul Danley
Tenor Liaison
Abby DeVito
Alto Liaison
Pamela Haines
Special Events
Kim Killeen
Soprano Liaison
Andrea Limina
Media
Angela McMinn
Music Librarian
James Serra
Logistics
Nathaniel Volker
Ex Officio
SDG Choir Then, Now, and Beyond
Then
In the fall of 1973 Judith Westcott, Music Director of Bethany Lutheran Church, was asked to provide music for the Annual Lutheran Reformation Service to be held at Shove Chapel on the Colorado College Campus. Using the Bethany Choir as the nucleus, Judith brought together a community ensemble to perform the Christmas portion of Handel's "Messiah." Following the success and joy of this experience, the singers decided to form an ongoing community chorus. Founding member and Latin teacher, Irma Borgen, suggested the name "Soli Deo Gloria," translated, "Glory To God Alone." (SDG was penned at the conclusion of compositions by J.S. Bach, G.F. Handel, and many others.) This name was unanimously adopted, and the SDG Choir was born
K. Kenneth Westcott served as director with Judith Westcott as assistant director and pianist through the spring of 1986. SDG is also grateful to Dr. J. Julius Baird for providing encouragement, rehearsal space, and concert venues during the early years. The Westcotts envisioned a non-auditioned community chorus that would provide concerts to the Pike's Peak region each year. This tradition continues to this day!
The years between then and now have brought many conductors to the podium, many experiences to the singers, and a great deal of wonderful music to the people of Colorado Springs, and beyond. Today we thank and celebrate the musical leadership of:
1973 - 1986 Judith and Ken Westcott
1986 - 1994 Anne Hamre (Calvin Rodgers 1-year sabbatical replacement)
1994 - 1998 Edmund Ladouceur
1999 - 2001 Robert Crowder
2001 - 2010 Brad Peterson
2010 - 2011 Ray Killian and 2011 (FallEdmund Ladoucer
2012 - 2017 Gary DeKler
2017 - present Nathaniel Voelker
Under our previous fantastic conductors, SDG Choir has performed more outstanding compositions by more great composers than you might possibly want to read about. a few highlights include performing at/with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic for July 4th festivities plus several major Choral/Orchestral concerts, the Pueblo Symphony, City of Colorado Springs 'Festival of Lights', Air Force Band of the Rockies, Air Force Academy Cadets, and for the "Great American Railroad Journeys" on BBC. In 1980, members of SDG Choir travelled to Washington D.C. to sing as a part of the inaugural festivities for President Ronald Regan. In May 2003, SDG traveled to New York City to sing the Mozart Requiem at Carnegie Hall under the direction of John Rutter.
​
SDG Choir has been truly blessed to have three wonderful Principal Pianists serving in musical leadership since 1973: Judith Westcott, Charlene Noland, and Emily Walker. (There have also been several others that have stepped in as sabbatical replacements, substitutes, or guest artists.)
Since 2017, Nathaniel Voelker has served as SDG Choir Artistic Director and Conductor. Some of the many initiatives and events under Nate's leadership have included:
- ​Initiating a Scholarship Program for high school and undergraduat singers and instrumentalists,
resulting in a significant growth of younger SDG members.
- Directing a choir of 150 singers at "A Celtic Christmas" with Keith and Kristyn Getty with special guest Ricky Skaggs at the Pikes Peak Center.
- Serving on the board and partnering with various other community choruses of "Choralaborative" to perform at the Pike's Peak Center as well as in various other community events.
- Developing and presenting an online series for SDG featuring interviews with Metropolitan Opera lead singers, Grammy award-winning conductors, and composers, as well as offering lectures on Requiems through history to keep us connected and growing during the beginning of the COVID pandemic.
.- Initiating the "SDG Summer Sing," a concert in one rehearsal, which has become a new tradition, bringing many new singers to SDG.
- Arranging and leading SDG performances in Denver and Fort Collins
In 2023 / 2024 SDG Choir
- Formed the auditioned SDG Chamber Singers
- Performed with the Colorado Springs Children's Chorale at the Pike's Peak Center
- Performed with the Pueblo Choral Society (PCS) at Pueblo Memorial Hall
- Performed by special invitation at The Broadmoor International Center
- Performed in Colorado Springs at First Lutheran Church, First United Methodist Church, and Broadmoor Community Church
Now
SDG Choir is currently in residence at First Lutheran Church, and we are very grateful for their support.
SDG is scheduled for numerous performances at The Broadmoor, Broadmoor Community Church, First Lutheran Church, First United Methodist Church, and the list is growing.
SDG Leadership will be offering a children's Music Workshop at the Broadmoor on December 23rd
- children in attendance will have the opportunity to perform with the SDG Chamber Singers
Beginning in the 2024/2025 season, Nathaniel Voelker is now serving as Artistic & Executive Director
​
Beyond
SDG has been invited and is scheduling a performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City
SDG will tour to perform in Salzburg, Vienna, and Prague (previously canceled due to COVID)
SDG Festival is in development with choirs from Seattle, San Francisco, Atlanta, Michigan, and New York
​
As our director regularly reminds us, “A performance offers our community a glimpse into the journey we share together each week.” With every voice, we are one song! This is a great time to lend yours.
​