Kantorei serves youth ages 6-18 in the northern Illinois area. This unique program was founded in 1964 by Linden Lundstrom (1913-1996) as The Singing Boys of Rockford to provide a quality musical education, while instilling in each member the rewards of self discipline, responsibility, and dedication towards common goals.
In the 2017-2018 season, Kantorei expanded to become a fully coeducational choir serving all children in elementary to high school. Kantorei’s mission is to offer an outstanding musical education and has provided several generations of young singers the opportunity to perform high quality choral music both throughout the stateline and around the globe.
About Us
Addison Youngblood, Co-Artistic Director
Addison Youngblood is a conductor, music educator, and performer throughout the Midwest. In addition to serving as Artistic Director of Kantorei, he teaches choir, orchestra, and AP Music Theory and chairs the Fine and Performing Arts Department at Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy in Chicago, serves as Choir Director at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Arlington Heights, Illinois, and plays trombone throughout the midwest.
While completing his graduate studies, Addison served as the Assistant Conductor of the University of Illinois Varsity Men’s Glee Club, Choir Director at Trinity Lutheran Church in Urbana, IL, Adjunct Instructor of music at Rock Valley College and had the opportunity to sing with the Montreal Symphony Chorus under the direction of Kent Nagano.
In addition to his formal studies, Addison has had the opportunity to participate in masterclasses with some of most prominent musicians in the choral field, including Donald Nally and Joseph Flummerfelt.
Addison holds a Bachelors in Music Education and Master’s Degrees in both Choral Music and Trombone Performance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he studied conducting with Andrew Megill, Chester Alwes, and Andrea Soyla, and studied trombone with Elliot Chasanov and Jim Pugh.
Jessica Koenig, Co-Artistic Director
Jessica Koenig joined choir at the age of 9 and has never stopped! She was provided with a childhood rich in performing arts experiences in St. Louis, MO where she was a vibrant member of choirs, dance, and theatre productions.
Jessica received her BS in Music Education from William Jewell College in 2003. She has since continued to dedicate her career to music education, teaching students both privately and in schools. She has directed numerous choirs and ensembles of all ages.
Jessica’s choirs have been featured in choral festivals, performed the Star Spangled Banner for audiences at Harlem Globetrotters’ events, and shared the stage with the Rockford Symphony Orchestra.
Jessica has an abiding commitment to the musical and emotional wellbeing of her students. She is thrilled to be part of the Kantorei experience.
Angela Martinez, Director of Operations
Angela Martinez is a local music educator from Rockford, IL, and she joined the Kantorei Board in 2021. While growing up, Angela enjoyed singing in various choirs and performing in musicals. She has worked in music education for the past 5 years with children ages 4 and up, and she is currently a voice teacher and director at The Studio. Angela holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from Rockford University, and in her free time, she loves to sew, play board games, and go on walks with her dog, Hurley.
Carolyn Cadigan, Administrator
Carolyn is a retired theater teacher in Rockford. She is currently an actor and Theater Manager with the West Side Show Room and has worked with other theaters in town. She has volunteer positions with Churchill's Grove Association, Friends of Veterans Memorial Circle and Camerata Emanon. She enjoys going to theater and concerts, kayaking, and hiking in the many forest preserves of Winnebago County.
Paul J Steffan, President of Board of Directors | Director of Development
Paul graduated from Kantorei in 2012 after singing with the ensemble for ten years. A Rockford native, Paul grew up singing in several local ensembles and performing in local theater. He also served briefly as the conductor of the Harmony Men's Singing Society and directed music for several local community theaters.
Paul has studied voice with Martha Dahlberg, Barrington Coleman, Janna Baty, and Sonja Bruszauskas. Paul is a summa cum laude graduate of Yale University where he performed with the Yale Repertory and Recital Choruses, the Yale Baroque Opera Project, and was the founding conductor of the Timothy Dwight College Community Chamber Orchestra.
Paul currently lives in Palo Alto, California, where he is doing his doctoral research as part of a medical scientist training program. Prior to California, Paul lived in Houston, TX, where he sang two seasons with the Grammy-winning Houston Chamber Choir. His first major recording project, The Voice of Brubeck, Vol. 1: Song of Peace and Hope, is available for streaming on Spotify and YouTube.
Paul believes all students in Rockford should have the opportunity to be inspired by music and hopes to help make Kantorei a place where all students can watch music come to life.
Board of Directors
Paul J Steffan, President
Addison Youngblood
Angela Martinez
Sean Denny
Raymond Steffan, Treasurer