Meet the 2023 Student Life Staff

SETH CARLSON, STUDENT LIFE DIRECTOR

Phone: 612-879-9555 ext. 8

Email: studentlife@lutheransummermusic.org

Seth M. Carlson is excited to begin his first year at LSM as the Student Life Director.

He is currently the Director of Bands at Westminster Christian School in Palmetto Bay, Florida. He is also the founder and conductor of The Miami Sousa Band. Originally from Rockford, Illinois, Seth graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in music and chemistry from Valparaiso University and earned a Master of Music degree in music education from the University of Miami Frost School of Music. Currently, he is a doctoral candidate in music education at Boston University.

In addition to teaching, Seth serves as the Organist and Leader of Alternative Music at First United Methodist Church of Coral Gables in Coral Gables, Florida.

His professional affiliations include the Florida Music Educators Association, Florida Bandmasters Association, National Association for Music Education, and the American Guild of Organists.

Chelsea Hook (Yamin) is excited to return to LSM as Student Residence Director, after having served as a Residence Counselor in 2019 and 2021.

Chelsea graduated from Concordia University - Chicago with a Music Education degree and is currently a Fine Arts teacher at Lutheran North Academy in Houston, Texas. In addition to her teaching, Chelsea is an accomplished percussionist. She is looking forward to meeting new students, seeing the returning ones, and creating new memories with the LSM community!  (Although she will be missing her husband and two cats.)

Cheryl Slack (DNP, RN, CNE)

Health Director

Phone: 612-879-9555 ext. 9

Email: health@lutheransummermusic.org

As a Clinical Assistant Professor Emeritus, Cheryl accepted early retirement from Valparaiso University College of Nursing and Health Professions in July 2022 after a 17-year career at VU. She now tutors nursing students and graduates as an Independent Contractor with Varsity Tutors. Cheryl has been a Certified Nurse Educator by the National League for Nursing for 16 years.

She grew up in the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church with strong examples from her parents and grandparents. Her grandfather was a church organist and Lutheran School principal. Cheryl started piano lessons at the age of seven and took organ lessons in high school and college. At Schaumburg High School in Illinois, Cheryl served as the choir rehearsal accompanist.     A memorable VU experience was playing the Chapel organ during the weekly Friday organ practicum group.

Cheryl earned her BSN from Valpo in 1978, MS in Parent-Child Health Nursing from Rush University in Chicago in 1983 and her Doctor of Nursing Practice from VU in 2015. Her nursing career started at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago (now known as Lurie Children’s) in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. She became a clinical nurse specialist and nurse educator at LaRabida Children’s Hospital in Chicago serving children with chronic illnesses and special needs.  Cheryl also has pediatric home care experience. She loved serving as an Asthma Camp Nurse for three summers for the American Lung Association camp in Lake Geneva, IL. 

Cheryl returned to Valpo with her spouse to live in 1989 and raised her family here. Her pediatric career expanded in both home care and a local PICU. Then the opportunities changed to adult care through the Visiting Nurse Association and Franciscan Health ER in Dyer, IN.

She joined VU CONHP in 2005 and guided clinical student groups through their obstetric, pediatric, critical care, community/public health and practicum experiences at multiple clinical locations in Chicago and Indiana.  Cheryl collaborated with five different community school corporations in NWI and rotated her students through the elementary and high schools paired with the school nurses.

Cheryl serves the community by volunteering as a driver for Meals on Wheels and volunteers as an Adult Group facilitator for the VNANWI Phoenix Center (serving children who grieve a loss). She has served as a Stephen Minister for seven years through her ELCA church at Christ Lutheran Church in Valpo.

Residence Counselor

• Musical background? I started music in 8th grade and played piano and sang in choir, played a little bit of organ and most recently I picked up the bass recorder and clarinet! I’m currently a Music Education student at Valparaiso University.

• Hometown? Valparaiso, Indiana

• Favorite snack? Cheez-it or goldfish

• Any pets? One cat named Charlotte

• Favorite way to make music? Recently I have loved accompanying others on piano and playing clarinet in band.

• Hobbies? Besides music, I really love to play video games and crochet. Currently I am playing the new Legend of Zelda and am crocheting a tote bag.

• What are you looking forward to at LSM? Last year I was a counselor at LSM, and it was so much fun, so I am looking forward to having just as much fun if not more. 

• Musical background? I have been singing in choirs, in worship bands, and in musicals my entire life. I sing soprano, but I play piano, guitar, ukulele, flute, and even played drums in a rock band. I am currently studying music education at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

• Hometown? Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

• Favorite snack? Flavor blasted cheddar goldfish, tropical fruit smiles, and honey and oats granola bars. 

• Any pets? No pets (very allergic), so plants: some succulents, and a cactus. 

• Favorite way to make music? Singing in choir or being part of musicals. I also really love performing in and directing musicals, performing in roles such as Dorothy (the Wizard of Oz), Lucy (You're a Good Man Charlie Brown), and the Fairy Godmother (Cinderella). 

• Hobbies? I teach a preschool class at church, I am a middle school youth leader, I teach voice lessons, I direct musicals for students ages 7-18. I also really love learning and teaching choreography. I love a good random dance party!

• What are you looking forward to at LSM? I am really excited to meet all of the students and hear about their talents and abilities, and build confidence up in other people. 

RESIDENCE COUNSELOR

RESIDENCE COUNSELOR

• Musical background? I am currently a Music major at Augsburg University studying voice, but I also have played the low brass instruments (trombone, euphonium, tuba) for many years- since I was 10! Nowadays, I mostly participate in choir stuff!

• Hometown? Minneapolis, Minnesota!

• Favorite snack? Tortilla chips and dip

• Do you (or your family) have any pets? I have a grey tabby cat and a weimaraner/mastiff mix dog! :)

• Favorite way to make music? Aside from ensemble work, I love to research music history and theory and do little projects on it that I can present to my advisor or peers! 

• Hobbies? I love to go places (like hiking or to a museum) with my friends, read or watch a TV show, or travel literally anywhere!

• What are you looking forward to at LSM? I'm so excited to go to a place I've never been before and meet new people. I've heard great things about LSM! I've been on the receiving end of some wonderful residence counsel, and am thrilled to be able to pay it forward now! I am looking forward to meeting you all!

HEALTH ASSISTANT

• Musical background?  I grew up playing violin and piano and participating in local musical theater.

• Hometown? Olympia, WA

• Favorite snack? Goldfish

• Any pets? Two dogs named Rosie and Charlie.

• Favorite way to make music? Singing in a choir

• Hobbies? Besides singing, I like to bake, read, and spend time outside.

• What are you looking forward to at LSM? Everything! I am excited to work as a health assistant, meet new people, visit a state I’ve never been to before, and listen to some good music!

• Musical background? I was in band, orchestra, and choir throughout middle and high school and am now a music education major at Valparaiso University. I'll be student teaching with the band program at Kankakee Valley High School in the Fall! I play tuba, trombone, euphonium, piano, and I sing tenor.

• Hometown? I’m from Wheatfield, Indiana!

• Favorite snack? It would have to be avocado toast.

• Any pets? We’ve got two cats, Lillie and Millie, as well as eight chickens!

• Favorite way to make music? For me, the most fun way to experience music is to improvise dynamically with others in a jazz setting.

• What are you looking forward to at LSM? When it comes to LSM, the thing that excites me most is the chance to watch my counseling group grow in music, faith, and community and to see this all come to fruition through our many events during Festival Week! The friendships that are formed at LSM last a lifetime.

RESIDENCE COUNSELOR

RESIDENCE COUNSELOR

• Musical background? I play horn, trumpet, trombone, piano, marching tenor drums.

• Hometown? Mount Horeb, Wisconsin.

• Favorite snack? A nice, sweet, crisp apple.

• Any pets? Six cats, one dog, twenty-two chickens, and one goldfish.

• Favorite way to make music? Playing in an orchestra or chamber ensemble with strings.

• Hobbies? Playing baseball, fishing, reading up on war history, learning German, and composing music.

• What are you looking forward to at LSM? Traveling to Indiana, as I have never been to the state before, and gaining valuable teaching experience working with high school students.

• Musical background? I started playing flute in 4th grade, I went to LSM as a student for many summers, and now I am studying Music Education at Gustavus Adolphus College. I also sing, play alto saxophone, and am teaching myself piano and guitar.

• Hometown? Chicago, Illinois.

• Favorite snack? Takis and an iced coffee.

• Any pets? Back home, I have a dog named Amazon who is a Grey Labradoodle with tons of infectious energy!

• Favorite way to make music? In fellowship with others. And when I can hear things or parts that I wouldn’t normally hear. I play the flute in band, but one time we switched around our seating chart, and I could hear the contrabassoon. Some of the low notes that the contrabassoon player was putting out there were transcendent, and brought both my playing and listening experience to a whole new level!

• Hobbies? I love to reading, writing, composing music, and photography. Also hiking, camping, and being outdoors.

• What are you looking forward to at LSM? I am excited to revisit the place that I spent so much time in while I was a student at LSM, and have the opportunity to give back to the community and hopefully have a positive impact on the community. I am also very excited to continue to make some awesome memories and awesome music with awesome people.

RESIDENCE COUNSELOR

RESIDENCE COUNSELOR

• Musical background? I’ve been in band and choir since middle school and began taking private lessons for voice and saxophone in high school. I am a college senior majoring in vocal music education and saxophone performance.

• Hometown? Sikeston, MO

• Favorite snack? Chips and salsa

• Any pets? Two cats, Pip and Maya.

• Favorite way to make music? I love when music-making happens spontaneously, like a jam session or singalong with friends.

• Hobbies? I like to bike and read (not at the same time!).

• What are you looking forward to at LSM? I'm really excited to meet new people and have fun!

• Musical background? I’ve been playing the flute for almost 10 years now (I can hardly believe it!); through high school I performed as part of the Naperville Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Neuqua Valley HS Wind Ensemble. In college, I have the pleasure of performing with the Chamber Concert Band right here at VU.

• Hometown? Naperville, Illinois

• Any pets? My dogs Ross & Rachel.

• Favorite way to make music? My favorite experience making music here has been our de Meij concert, in which we performed three commissioned symphonies under the composer, Johan de Meij’s, conduction.

• Hobbies? I enjoy reading sci-fi/fantasy novels, spending time with my dogs, and traveling (the picture is from Venice, Italy).

• What are you looking forward to at LSM? Hearing all the wonderful music and watching students grow as both people and musicians!

HEALTH ASSISTANT

RESIDENCE COUNSELOR

• Musical background? I played cello from elementary school all the way through high school. In middle school, I learned how to play guitar and bass guitar and I used to frequently perform on those instruments at gigs to do covers of many rock, punk, and alternative songsl. Currently, I am a junior music education major with a vocal primary and I have been in Kantorei, Valparaiso University’s chapel choir. I hope to become a middle school choir teacher after graduation. I still play guitar and bass guitar for fun. 

• Hometown? Pottstown, PA

• Favorite snack? Cheez-Its.

• Favorite way to make music? Seeing live rock, punk, or alternative music. Being in the audience for that type of music is so cathartic and instantly reignites my love and passion for music. 

• Hobbies? Writing fiction or creative nonfiction stories, researching niche historical or biographical topics, learning other languages, and exercising. 

• What are you looking forward to at LSM? I am excited to meet all of the students and be able to see how much they learn and grow throughout this musical experience. 

• Musical background? I was a voice major in college, but I played quite a bit of low brass as well, playing trombone in both high school and collegiate concert bands, and I played the baritone in our collegiate marching band. I was an avid participant in theater in high school, and have sang in a choir every year since I was 10 years old. 

• Hometown? Born in Milwaukee, but grew up in Kimberly, WI.

• Favorite snack? There is never a bad day for original Cheez-Its. :) 

• Favorite way to make music? Live music is the best way to fully experience music. Whether that’s at a rock concert or a choir concert, there is truly no way to replicate the sound of a live group playing.

• Hobbies? I am an avid sports fan, so I enjoy watching baseball, basketball, and football. I also play a lot of online chess.

• What are you looking forward to at LSM? I’m excited to be part of a community that wants to grow together through music and faith and grow together as an LSM family.

RESIDENCE COUNSELOR

RESIDENCE COUNSELOR

• Musical background? I am a violinist and played in Philharmonia at Luther College during my undergraduate degree, Eastern Michigan University’s Symphony Orchestra during my graduate studies in History for fun, and have played in a few semi-professional community orchestras. I enjoy playing violin, give lessons currently, and am looking forward to creating music with all of you!

• Hometown? I currently live in Hawesville, Kentucky. I also have lived in Decorah, IA; Port Huron, MI; and Wausau, WI.

• Favorite snack? My favorite snack is chips and queso.

• Any pets? I have a miniature schnauzer named Heidi who is 2 years old. She is full of energy but very sweet! I will definitely be missing her this summer while she is with my parents in Michigan who have graciously agreed to take care of her while I’m at LSM!

• Favorite way to make music? Performing in an orchestra. While I love live concerts, listening to the radio, singing in choir, and various other ways to experience music, there is nothing like playing in orchestra!

• Hobbies? I enjoy cycling, hiking, kayaking, reading books, going to museums, learning about history, traveling, singing, and playing violin and cello.

• What are you looking forward to at LSM? I went to LSM for two summers when I was in high school a little over a decade ago. I am so excited to be immersed in a community of musicians and to be able to get to know all of you! I currently teach high school history and am looking forward to making an impact in a different way.

• Musical background? Voice and trumpet. I have been practicing both for 12 years! I have been in multiple choirs and bands.

• What’s your hometown? Bronxville, NY. 

• Favorite snack? Apples and peanut butter! 

• Any pets? I have a cute little black cat named Winston.

• Favorite way to make music? I love practicing with others and hearing the piece come together. 

• Hobbies? I love reading, writing, hiking and swimming.

• What are you looking forward to at LSM? I love to meet new people and make memories! I can’t wait to do that at LSM! 

RESIDENCE COUNSELOR