REBECCA GRUBER is the Artistic Director/Conductor of the Chorus and counts it a privilege to be one of only a few women conductors of a gay men’s chorus. She has overseen three commissions, several special arrangements, a performance at the national convention of our GLBT choral organization, GALA, several concert seasons with the best collaborative partners in the area, and a significant number of outreach performances to

groups who advocate for civil justice and equality. She holds degrees from Simpson College and Southern Methodist University, and the Doctor of Musical Arts in choral conducting from the University of Nebraska. As festival conductor and clinician, she has worked most recently with the Church of Christ High School Music Festival at David Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN, with area children in the CACTUS fine arts camp, and with the Fellowship of American Baptist Musicians in Greenlake, Wisconsin.

She created the dramatic/music/dance presentations at the Smithsonian Institution for awardees of the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy in Washington, D.C. Her children’s choir curriculum, Stepping Stones, is published by Lorenz. Ms. Gruber is also Choirmaster of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in downtown Des Moines, where she conducts the Cathedral Choir and the professional choir-in-residence, the Howells

Scholars. She recently produced the opera Amahl and the Night Visitors at the Cathedral as a fundraiser for Waters of Hope, providing clean water for those in need.

Rebecca is married to Mark, and together they have three children: Easton, Julian and Miranda.

BEN HAGEN is the Choir accompanist and conductor of HarMENy, the small group ensemble. Ben has devoted his considerable musical theater skills to recent StageWest productions of Reefer Madness, Jerry Springer the Opera, and The Great American Trailer Park Musical. Ben made his music directorial debut with Caucus! The Musical, and was music director for Souvenir, a production exploring the life of Florence Foster Jenkins.

Ben is a graduate of the University of Iowa, with degrees in piano performance and mathematics. While in Iowa City, Ben accompanied the Old Gold Singers, and played at the Iowa Athletic Club. He spent his summers in the show band for Princess Cruise Lines. He has accompanied professional artists such as Simon Estes, Nick Lane, and Amy Wagar.

By day, Ben is an actuary at EMC insurance. This new group has been created to increase opportunities for performance/outreach throughout the community.