Eliza Lewis-O'Connor, originally from Fargo, ND teaches at Wayzata High School where she leads Concert Choir, Bel Canto, and Cantabile, and teaches AP Music Theory. She also leads the co-curricular choirs Chamber Singers and Vive Voce and serves as a support teacher in Cantori and Varsity Choir. Prior to her time in Wayzata, Eliza conducted choirs and vocal directed the 9-12 musicals in White Bear Lake. Choirs under her direction have consistently earned superior ratings at large group contests, and she is an active member of ACDA and MMEA. In 2022 she was honored with the ACDA-MN Outstanding Young Choral Director Award. Eliza earned her bachelor of music degree in Vocal Music Education from St. Olaf College and her master of music degree in Choral Conducting from Northern Arizona University. For the past eleven summers, Eliza has served as the vocal director for the Mainstage musicals at Trollwood Performing Arts School. When she is not conducting choirs or vocal directing musicals, Eliza enjoys laughing and singing with her husband, Isaac, and children, Freya and Anders!

Concert Choir 

Bel Canto

Cantabile

Chamber Singers

Vive Voce

AP/Honors Music Theory

eliza.lewisoconnor@wayzataschools.org

Elijah Leer, originally from Northfield, MN, teaches at Wayzata High School where he leads Varsity Choir, Cantori, Troubadours, and Madrigals. He serves as a support teacher for Concert Choir and Bel Canto. Before joining the team at Wayzata, he was the vocal music teacher at Randolph Public Schools where he taught elementary, junior high, and senior high choir classes. Outside of choral music, Elijah is also an active theatre musician. Ensembles and pit orchestras under his baton have consistently earned Spotlight MN honors, and he is regularly employed both onstage as an actor and beneath the stage as a pianist in various Twin Cities theaters. He spends his summers on Cape Cod, conducting and playing piano for the College Light Opera Company. Elijah received his bachelor of music degree in Vocal Music Education from St. Olaf College, and in his relatively limited free time, Elijah enjoys running marathons and eating chocolate chips.

Varsity Choir

Cantori

Troubadours

Madrigals

Musical Theatre Vocal Director

elijah.leer@wayzataschools.org 

Mary Fadden, originally from Wayzata, MN has served as the accompanist at Wayzata HS for over 25 years. She plays for choirs in daily rehearsals and works with band and orchestra students for auditions and solo contests. Mary serves as the accompanist for Women of Song (formerly Wayzata Women’s Choir), a local community choir, having played with them for over 25 years. She loves the passion they bring to their music and community and the message that singing can be a lifelong passion. Mary also serves as the accompanist at Westgate Church, playing on the worship team and for weddings and funerals. She also collaborates with a variety of West Metro voice and instrumental teachers to play for recitals and student auditions. She maintains an active piano studio in her home, teaching all ages and stages from kindergarten through adult students. Many of her students participate in MMTA contests and testing programs. Mary serves on the Judge Education Committee for MMTA. When she’s not playing or teaching piano, Mary loves spending time with her husband, four adult married children, and their families.

mary.fadden@wayzataschools.org