DWU - Music Department

Dr. Clinton Desmond
Director of Choral Activities
Assistant Professor of Music
Music Department Chair
Contact Information:
Office: 605-995-2676
cldesmon@dwu.edu

B.M.E. Valparaiso University
M.M. Illinois State University
D.M.A. Michigan State University

Clinton Desmond joined Dakota Wesleyan this year as the new director of choral activities, assistant professor of music, and chairman of the music department.

Desmond is a native of the Chicago suburbs. He earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Valparaiso University, a master’s degree in choral conducting from Illinois State University, and a doctor of musical arts degree in choral conducting from Michigan State University. He has studied both choral and orchestral conducting under Christopher Cock, Karyl Carlson, Glenn Block, Jonathan Reed and David Rayl.

His vocal repertory includes musical theatre and opera. He has sung leading roles in “Die Zauberflöte,” “Le Nozze di Figaro,” “Gallantry,” “Trouble in Tahiti,” “The Will Rogers Follies,” “A Chorus Line,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Damn Yankees,” and “The Book of the Dun Cow.” He debuted the role of Doctor Higgins in the 2005 world premiere performance and recording of Nancy Van de Vate’s “Where the Cross is Made.” Fanfare Magazine described him as “a fine character tenor” and that “his detached, somewhat bemused delivery works perfectly.”

During his studies at MSU, Desmond was the director of music at First Presbyterian Church of Lansing, Mich. He also conducted the MSU Collegiate Choir, taught conducting for undergraduate performance majors, and assisted with the State Singers.

He served as the director of music at Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish in East Lansing and Saint John Student Center of MSU, where he administrated an enormous music ministry at two vibrant churches, including an adult choir, smaller vocal/instrumental ensembles, children’s choirs, high school choir and Schola Cantorum. He also was a guest conductor for the Saginaw Choral Society.

Brad Berens
Wesleyan University/Community Band Conductor
Contact Information:
brad.berens@k12.sd.us
605-995-3051

B.M.E., Northern State University
M.M.E., University of Minnesota at Mankato
Specialist degree in technology, University of South Dakota
Endorsement in school administration, University of South Dakota

Brad Berens is a native of Gregory, S.D. He is the principal at Mitchell Middle School. He was the director of bands at Mitchell High School, Riggs High School in Pierre, and both band and choir director in Eureka. He is also active as an adjudicator and guest director.

Berens and his wife, Lisa, have four children.

Kristin Lund Lefferts
Instructor of Piano and Organ
Accompanist and University Organist
Contact Information:
krleffer@dwu.edu
605-995-2189

B.S.N., Corpus Christi State University, 1983
Diploma, Lutheran Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing, 1979
A.L.A., University of Minnesota, 1977
M.S., South Dakota State University, 1992

Kris Lefferts has served in the DWU Department of Music since 1998 as instructor of piano and organ, choir accompanist and university organist. She performs regularly with the Dakota Wesleyan Choir and has given faculty recitals.

Beginning in the eighth grade, Lefferts studied organ and piano with Earl Barr of Hamline University. She was a student of Dr. Heinrich Fleischer as an organ performance major at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. She has served churches in Minnesota, Alaska, Texas and South Dakota as organist and children’s choir director. She was the accompanist for the Joyful Sound vocal ensemble during its existence in Mitchell from 1990 to 2002.

She is a member of the American Guild of Organists, the South Dakota Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and the National Guild of Piano Teachers – Teacher Division of the American College of Musicians. She holds national professional certification in service playing from the American Guild of Organists.

Lefferts previously served DWU as the administrative chair of the nursing department. She is a charter member of the Eta Omicron Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.

She is a member of the Lifequest Board of Directors and currently serving as an officer.

Erin Desmond
Adjunct Professor of Voice
Director for Mitchell Area Children’s Choir
Contact Information:
erdesmon@dwu.edu

B.M.E. Valparaiso University
M.M. Illinois State University

Erin Desmond is in her second year teaching vocal and instrumental music for fifth through 12th-grade at Ethan School in Ethan, S.D. She is also an adjunct professor of voice at Dakota Wesleyan University and is the founder and artistic director for the brand new Mitchell Area Children’s’ Choir.

Before moving to South Dakota in 2010, she taught general and vocal music at Belvidere South Middle School in Belvidere, Ill. During her one year of teaching in Belvidere, she doubled the size of the choral program. Desmond also taught vocal music for four years at Willowcreek Middle School in Portage, Ind., where her students received superior and excellent ratings at yearly contests. She also acted as the Area One Representative for the Circle the State with Song Choral Festival, and was the assistant and accompanist for the Southlake Children’s Choir from 2005-2007. She serves as the R&S chair for Junior High/Middle School Choirs for SD-ACDA.

Joseph F. Pekas
Instrumental Instructor
Contact Information:
jkpekas@midco.net
605-996-5467

B.S., Southern State Teachers College, Springfield, S.D., 1960
M.M., University of South Dakota, 1963
Navy School of Music, Little Creek, Virginia

Pekas has been directing bands since 1957. He composes and arranges music, and he is an instructor, clinician, adjudicator and performer. He has published 23 works for band and various instrumental solos and ensembles.