Artistic Leadership

Brandon Galbraith

Artistic and Musical Director

Brandon has been a GNU member since 2013, serving as a section leader and a front row performer before being named Associate Director in 2019. Brandon currently directs two other barbershop choruses: the Vallee de Croix Chorus of Stillwater and the North Star Chorus of St. Paul. Outside of the barbershop world, Brandon's musical resume includes performing with Hamline United Methodist Church, the Gethsemane Episcopal Church choir, the MPLS (imPulse) choir, the Minnesota Chorale, and Singers In Accord. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education. Originally from Fort Atkinson, Wis., Brandon lives in Minneapolis and enjoys gaming, anime, golfing and Green Bay Packers in his free time.

Roger Williams

Associate Director

Roger was the founding director of the GNU and directed the chorus from 1985-1991 and 1995-2002, leading the GNU to first place finishes in the Land O’Lakes District contest and many International medals, including 3rd place. His barbershop pedigree reaches to 1976-1978 when he sang full time in a quartet at Valleyfair theme park. After receiving a degree in music education from Hamline University, he taught high school music for several years. With Celebration quartet he sang in many international contests, placing as high as 15th, and, with Trademark quartet, won the district in 1999. He has served on the Harmony University faculty several times. Roger directed the choir and orchestra at Westwood Community Church in Chanhassen, MN from 2000-2015 and currently serves as a board member of the Minnesota Boychoir.

Governing Board

Our governing board includes:

  • Colleen Cashen — President — Licensed psychologist

  • Chris Dart — Secretary — Software developer

  • Kevin Lynch — Treasurer — Nonprofit executive director

  • Chris Hagen — Immediate Past President — Retired pastor

  • Nate Bash — Board member at large — Singer, actor, DJ, pro wrestler

  • Tamra Falk — Board member at large —

  • Justin Fermenich — Board member at large — Project and process manager

  • Ex-officio:

    • Brandon Galbraith — Artistic Director

  • Our current 13-person leadership team (including Board, staff and key volunteers) includes four LGBTQUIA+ members, five with disabilities, four older adults, two who are not male identifying, and one who is BIPOC.  We are actively working to continue evolving. We recently amended our bylaws to add two community Board seats and are actively speaking with BIPOC and non-male identifying collaborators about those seats.  The artistic team is working on adding diverse coaches and musical arrangers to its ranks.