Gary Aamodt | Co-Founder
Gary Aamodt has had a life-long commitment to choral music. For many years, he was an active participant in community and church choirs, as both soloist and ensemble singer. In college and graduate school, he sang in the St. Olaf Choir and the Yale Russian Chorus. He knows that music has a transformative power to move people to new understanding and action.
After teaching philosophy at Yale University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Gary co-founded A-R Editions, Inc., a publisher of historical musicology. In 1979, his company invented the world’s first computerized system for setting music. Years later, Gary created MusicNotes, the world’s largest online library of digital sheet music. From 1992-95 Gary served as President and CEO of Augsburg Fortress, Publishers. In retirement, he has been an active real estate investor and has served on several nonprofit boards. Gary is especially grateful that he has had the privilege of commissioning several significant musical compositions for choir and orchestra.
Gary holds degrees from St. Olaf College and Yale University.
Celia Ellingson | Co-Founder
An amateur musician who plays five instruments, Celia Ellingson founded the Together In Hope Project with Gary Aamodt. The organization grew out of their efforts to make a difference in the world through music.
Celia has had a successful business career as a marketer, consultant, and philanthropy executive. She spent many years with Arthur Andersen as a marketer and business consultant in the areas of strategy and organizational change. After leaving Andersen in 2001, Celia helped build a management consulting practice for a regional CPA firm before launching her own consulting business in 2006. From 2011-2017 Celia led philanthropic strategy development and organizational ramp-up of a major new US grantmaking organization.
Celia holds a Bachelor of Arts with double majors in History and Child Psychology and a Masters’ in Library Science from the University of Minnesota.
G. Phillip Shoultz, III | Artistic Director
Known for fostering community and inspiring action among people of all ages and abilities, G. Phillip Shoultz, III enjoys a multifaceted career as artist, educator, consultant, speaker, and pastoral musician. He frequently appears throughout the U.S. and abroad as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator. Phillip is the associate artistic director of VocalEssence where leads the acclaimed VocalEssence Chorus and founded the VocalEssence Singers Of This Age, a choral apprenticeship program that harnesses the power of group singing to enhance community and awaken creativity in young people.
Phillip is Cantor for Music, Worship, and the Arts at Westwood Lutheran Church and Artistic Director of the University of Minnesota Tribute Concert honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Around the Twin Cities, he has appeared as a guest conductor with the Bach Roots Festival, Rochester Symphony Orchestra and Chorale, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and often serves as Host for Young People’s Concerts with the Minnesota Orchestra. Phillip coaches flag football, enjoys all things related to sports and food, and believes in the transformative power of shared singing experiences.