National Staff
Thomas Bandar
Executive and Artistic Director
Thomas maintains parallel careers as an arts administrator, violist, and music educator. Through his successive leadership roles at the Aspen Music Festival and School and the Curtis Institute of Music—where he served as Associate Dean—he has guided an entire generation of gifted young musicians through their music education and transition to life as professional musicians. In 2017 he was appointed Executive Director of Lutheran Music Program.
In recent seasons he has been a faculty member at the Crested Butte Music Festival and performed in recital across the East Coast, including appearances with Curtis on Tour, Curtis’s signature touring initiative. A regular performer with the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, Thomas has also been a member of the Spokane Symphony Orchestra, Aspen Chamber Symphony, and Cleveland Opera Orchestra.
Thomas has served on the faculty of Texas Lutheran University and been a clinician and guest artist at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, University of Texas-Austin, Gonzaga University, and Eastern Washington University. A dedicated chamber musician, he has taught at the Austin Chamber Music Center and California Summer Music, and founded and directed chamber music programs for Youth Music Monterey and the Holy Names Music Center.
Thomas holds degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music and the University of Denver, with additional studies at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the Aspen Music Festival and School.
Lisa Hartwig
Development Officer
A native of Milwaukee, Lisa attended Lutheran schools from kindergarten through college. A graduate of St. Olaf, she has held non-profit advancement positions throughout her career at Walker Art Center, the Weisman Art Museum, and several colleges at the University of Minnesota. She is proud to be able to show donors first-hand the impact of their contributions on young, aspiring musicians who come together in this intentional community of faith. Lisa began working at Lutheran Summer Music in December 2014.
MaryLynn Mennicke
Dean and Director of Admissions
MaryLynn Mennicke (LSM 2001-2005) comes to LSM with over a decade of experience as a musician, theatre artist and communications specialist. Most recently, she has worked at The National Theatre for Children, leading communications outreach and facilitating educational programs at K-12 schools nationwide. A singer and choir director, she also previously served as the Director of Music at Peace Lutheran Church in Bloomington, MN, and currently directs the Voices of Hope choir at the men’s prison in Stillwater, MN. As an LSM alum (2001-2005), she has experienced firsthand the profound impact of the beautiful community that is Lutheran Summer Music, and she is thrilled to invite new students to join in the fun!
Eric Sayre
Alumni and External Relations Director
Eric Sayre (LSM 2004-2005) is a music educator and composer from Minneapolis, MN. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from St. Olaf College and a Master of Music in Conducting from University of Wisconsin-Madison. From 2013 to 2020, he was the director of bands and jazz at Minneapolis South High School. In 2013, partnered with the Guyanese Lutheran Church, Eric founded and directed a non-profit school of music in Guyana, South America, called The Guyana Lutheran Music Academy. His compositions have been performed by several ensembles, including VocalEssence, Magnum Chorum, Tacoma Symphony Chorus, Adelphian Concert Choir, LSM Concert Choir, and St. Olaf Viking Chorus and Chapel Choir.
Megan Tschumper
Development Database and Gift Coordinator
Megan joined Lutheran Summer Music in the Fall of 2019, with a diverse background in both non-profits and finance. Because of this, she brings a unique professional history to her role with LSM. While studying at Luther College, where she graduated from in 2005, she studied voice and participated in the choral program. Prior to this, she also studied vocal performance with MacPhail Center for Music for 10 years. Megan lives in the southern Twin Cities metro area with her husband and two children.
Chad Fothergill
Cantor, Sponsored by Linda and Robert Kempke
Chad Fothergill (LSM ’00) has served as cantor at Lutheran Summer Music since 2018. In addition to helping plan and lead between 40–50 daily and Sunday liturgies each season, he regularly teaches organ and church music, conducts the chapel choir, and attends to ways in which the immersive “laboratory” environment of LSM can serve and enrich the wider church.
He presently serves as interim chapel organist at Duke University where, in addition to leading and supporting congregational song at services and University events, he regularly collaborates with the chapel’s choral ensembles, composes liturgical music, presents pre-concert lectures as part of the Bach cantata series, coordinates weekly demonstrations the chapel’s organs, and participates in the planning and leadership of weekday liturgies at Duke Divinity School.
Prior to his appointment at Duke, he was interim co-director of the Institute of Liturgical Studies at Valparaiso University, editor of CrossAccent: Journal of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, and held visiting faculty appointments at Gustavus Adolphus College and the University of Delaware.
Seth Hartwell
Academy Director
Seth Hartwell (LSM '96, '97, Intern '99, '00, Counselor '02, '03, '05, Dean of Students '04) has served as LSM Academy Director since 2022. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Valparaiso University and a Master of Music in vocal performance from the University of New Mexico. Seth serves as the Director of Worship & Music at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Minneapolis. He is also an active tenor soloist and chorister, and sings in the National Lutheran Choir. Seth lives in the Twin Cities with his wife Liz (whom he met at LSM) and their two children, two cats, and two golden retrievers.