Production Staff

Steve Warner (B.A., Religious Studies, St. Michael's College, 1977; M.A., Liturgical Studies, Notre Dame, 1980) is the founder and Director of the Notre Dame Folk Choir and Director of Liturgical Resources for Residence Halls at the University of Notre Dame. He has been a member of the Campus Ministry staff since 1979. Under his direction, the Folk Choir has earned a reputation in the development of ritual song throughout the English speaking world. His liturgical music compositions are published exclusively through World Library Publications of Chicago. He is a frequent clinician for National Pastoral Musicians and diocesan liturgical events.

Michele Warner currently serves on the faculty of Saint Mary's College, where she has taught voice lessons since 1999. Michele has done extensive work for the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend in the area of cantor training and has been privileged to be invited to serve as cantor for many diocesan celebrations. As a clinician for World Library Publications of Chicago, she has presented workshops throughout the country regarding the theological, spiritual, and practical aspects of cantoring; she has also been a co-presenter at NPM conventions. On weekends, she can be found singing with the Notre Dame Folk Choir; she also serves as a primary vocal coach for the soloists of that ensemble. Michele holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from Webster University in St. Louis, at which time she also sang with the St. Louis Symphony Chorus and the Bach Society of St. Louis.

Karen Schneider-Kirner has several responsibilities as a Campus Minister at Notre Dame: she is the Assistant Director and Accompanist of the Notre Dame Folk Choir, Assistant Organist for the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, and director of the ND Celebration and Handbell Choirs. She is also adjunct organ faculty for St. Mary's College, Notre Dame, IN. Karen received her undergraduate degree in organ from Ball State University, studying organ and harpsichord with Kristi and Kirby Koriath and piano with Pia Sebastiani and Arminda Canteros. She holds a Master of Music in organ and a Master's in Art and Religion from Yale University, through the Institute of Sacred Music. She is a published composer of choral and handbell music through World Library Publications of Chicago and has held full-time positions in church music in New York and Ohio.

Emmeline Schoen D'Agostino graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in the Program of Liberal Studies and Theology. While an undergraduate, Emmeline was a member of the Notre Dame Folk Choir. Following graduation, she entered the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE), earning her Master of Education degree after two years of teaching at San Xavier Mission School in Tucson, Arizona. Emmeline is now the Assistant Director of the ACE Leadership Program, where her responsibilities include preparing liturgies for the program's summer session, as well as teaching a course on Catholic School Leadership focused on prayer and liturgy in K-12 schools and the spiritual leadership of the principal.

Carolyn Pirtle, candidate for the Master of Sacred Music (vocal/choral emphasis), has just completed her first year of graduate school at Notre Dame. A native of Wichita, Kansas, Carolyn earned a Bachelor of Music in piano performance (2003), and a Master of Music in theory-composition (2005), both from Kansas State University. Carolyn has earned several awards in both music performance and composition, and this past November conducted the Notre Dame Folk Choir in a performance of her award-winning work, "Ave Regina Caelorum." In addition, Carolyn served as accompanist and assistant director for the Notre Dame Celebration Choir, as well as assistant accompanist for the Folk Choir, for whom she has arranged several vocal and instrumental works. This summer, Carolyn will serve as assistant musical director and accompanist for ND Vision's Band of St. Cecilia. She looks forward to next year, when she will assist the Folk Choir as vocal coach.

Joe graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2007, completing its Five-Year Dual-Degree program with a Bachelor of Arts in Theology and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. While an undergraduate, Joe was a member of the Notre Dame Folk Choir, an RA in Alumni Hall for both of his senior years, and the leader for Alumni Hall's mass band and choir. As a Campus Ministry Intern during the 2007-2008 school year, Joe focused on music ministry primarily within the residence hall chapels by coordinating and guiding all of the hall liturgical musicians for their Sunday night dorm masses. In addition, he served as chaplain for the Folk Choir and coordinated their four-day retreat to the Abbey of Gethsemani in Trappist, Kentucky. Finally, Joe put his engineering gifts to use by revamping and maintaining the NDprayercast.org site throughout the year. Next year, Joe looks forward to returning his home in Dallas, TX and teaching math at his alma mater, Jesuit College Preparatory.