Artistic Staff
Julie Quinn Kiernan-Vocal Coach
Julie is excited to be joining us as Vocal Coach. She has been performing with Harmonic Relief since 2008 and looks forward to this new role. She has been a vocal director and conductor with musical theater groups both at the community and high school level in Chicago and the Twin Cities and has been a private vocal coach for many years. She also directs the Waverly Gardens Singers, a choir composed of retired adults in North Oaks. Julie is the leader of a 70s-80s rock band, The Jehms, and regularly plays the guitar and cello for different groups. Julie has had leading roles in musical theater, opera, and oratorio. She has been a leader and cantor in church music ministry for many years and is a professional singer for weddings, funerals, and receptions. Educated in music, science, and journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno, Julie has called the Twin Cities home (with her husband, Pete, also in Harmonic Relief) for 25 years.
Kris Simonson-Accompanist
Kris currently teaches elementary music in North Saint Paul and piano at Woodbury Schmitt Music. He has been the accompanist for the Renegade and Colder by the Lake comedy theaters in Duluth, and in addition has been the accompanist for musicals at both Tartan and North Saint Paul High Schools.
Kris graduated from St Scholastica with a BA in elementary education and a degree in vocal and classroom music from Hamline University. He was also a 4 year Piano Pedagogy major at UMD.
Kris plays for many weddings and side gigs with bookings through gigmasters.com.
MaryJo Lewis-Choreographer
MaryJo Lewis has performed with Harmonic Relief since 2001 and has served as Choreographer since 2010. She is very happily retired after a career at 3M and lives in Mahtomedi with her husband (and fellow HR performer) Wyeth. They have three adult children and two wonderful grandchildren.