About our Directors

Master Director - Judy Olson

"The people are everything at T.C."

The inspiration and motivation behind the chorus music team is the amazingly gifted Judy Olson, who has the talent, tact, and energy to lead and direct a very diverse group of women toward commonly set goals by balancing extreme hard work with loads of humor.

Judy found Sweet Adelines in 1965 and joined the Minneapolis-based City of Lakes Chorus. After several years she moved north and continued her barbershop interest with the Duluth Harbor Chords Chorus. Upon her return to Minneapolis she rejoined the City of Lakes Chorus and became their Assistant Director and Choreographer. She accepted her current position as Director of the Twin Cities Chorus in 1981 and earned her Master Director designation at Regional Competition in 1998.

Judy is an accomplished choreographer and travels frequently, coaching choruses and quartets in staging, choreography and performance techniques. She has also served as Can-Am Region 6 Director of Musical Activities.

Judy sang lead in the 1981 first place Regional champion quartet, Sunshine Special. Not busy enough, Judy also performs several nights a month as the alto singer with a mixed quartet, the Nostalgics, an integral part of the local Classic Big Band & the Nostalgics under the direction of Dan Odegaard. Judy says singing with the band "feeds her soul".

The Nostalgics: Tom Witry, Reeves Cary, Judy Olson and Pam Parker

Besides coming from a "theatre family" with a genuine love for anything to do with stagecraft, Judy holds a B.A. in Music Education from North Dakota State University and has taught junior high vocal music in both Osseo and Duluth, Minnesota.

Associate Director - Mary Jo Zgonc

"The Music Team is just that ... a Team!"

Mary Jo's love of music began when she started taking piano lessons at the age of eight and continued through high school with involvement in band, choir, numerous recitals and musical contests. Even through RN nursing studies, she took private music lessons at St. Benedict's College in St. Joseph, MN and further studies at McPhail Center for the Arts (Extension of the University of Minnesota) in Minneapolis.

When introduced to Sweet Adelines in 1974, this talented musician seemed a "natural fit". "The harmonies and overtones just got me hooked!" As Assistant Director of the Forest Lake Chorus, Mary Jo used her ear for tuning chords, her background in piano performance and instruction, and her experience as Director of Music for her church in Lindstrom to help the chorus rise to international competition level. She eventually became director and advanced them to Sweet Adelines International competition in Houston Texas in 1988.

She is working on her Director Certification and is a member of the Region Six Music Faculty. Singing bass, she joined the Forest Lake Chorus in 1974 and directed them for International Competition in Houston, Texas. Mary Jo transferred to the Twin Cities Chorus in 1996 and soon took on the position of Associate Director under Judy. We are blessed to have her on the TCSC Music Staff. Her warmth, energy, and enthusiasm inspire chorus members to strive for new heights and continued growth in music. 

 Assistant Director - Barb Harvey

"Sang along with the radio filling in the missing harmonies. Bari makes the 'ring' happen!"

Barb grew up harmonizing with her aunt and cousins around the family piano. She attributes her love of harmony to early exposure to a quartet called the Max-i-Moms [all relatives and members and several founders of what is now the Lakes Area Chapter]. She has a rich and extensive quartet history including a few 2nd place Regional Quartet medals.  

She served as an Assistant Director for the Forest Lake Chorus as well as on the chapter board and the music committee. She continues on the Music Team as an Assistant Director for TCSC. She has also served on the Regional Music Faculty and as Regional WebManager from 1999-2007. Barb  also sang alto with the Roseville Big Band on occasion. She is single, an artist and illustrator by vocation, and currently works as a Customer Service Rep for Time Communications.

"No matter the time and effort I put into this hobby, it continues to give back so much more!  I've been extremely fortunate to have been able to combine my three great passions - music, art, and theater in my hobby. Something wonderful I learned as a Sweet Adeline is that audiences will love you if you love them first ... no matter what you look like!"

Voicepart: Baritone. Achieved her Director Certification in 2008.
Barb joined the Forest Lake Chorus in 1967 and transferred to Twin Cities in 1999.