Music/Choir

Kathryn Duncan

I'm not exaggerating when I say that music is pretty much my entire life. Years ago, I read an article about finding one's "ikigai" - and as a Japanese-American, I was fascinated. "Ikigai" can be loosely described as someone's reason for getting up in the morning. It encompasses 1) what you love, 2) what you're good at, 3) what the world needs, 4) what you can be paid for. I have come to understand that music is very much my ikigai.

I've been a musician my whole life - I grew up Mormon, so one of my earliest memories is going to hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing live. I knew from that moment that I wanted to sing in a choir, and that shaped most of my schooling and extracurricular choices from grade school through college, and eventually became my career. Even though I'm not Mormon anymore, sacred music is part of my DNA - and I've come to appreciate how important it is in both weekly communal worship and in building a personal relationship with God. While music is, for me, the medium through which I find spiritual connection, I also truly believe it is one of the most restorative and empowering forces for good in the world. It is my honor to serve at StGs as Music Minister, a capacity in which I take no greater joy than encouraging people of all ages and all skill levels to experience the transformative power of music.

In addition to serving as the StGs Music Minister, I also am the Engagement Minister - which means I am somewhat of a jack-of-all-trades! I craft liturgy, organize the liturgical ministers for Sunday worship, create the bulletins, coordinate worship and social activities with our Better Together partners, and am responsible for all the technical aspects of our worship (the Zoom meeting, live-streaming, camera and audio equipment, etc).

When I'm not at StGs I work as a professional chorister, singing with many organizations including the Chicago Symphony Chorus, the Grant Park Festival Chorus, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, the Florentine Opera of Milwaukee, the High Holy Days Choir of Temple Sholom, the studio recording choir for World Library Publications, and many freelance singing gigs all over the city.

In my blink-and-you'll-miss-it spare time, I love doing hands-on projects around the house and playing with my dog Charlie and cat Bella. I have a strange love of mowing lawns, reading anatomy textbooks for fun, embroidering silly things, and changing my hair color frequently (so if you come to StGs I'm easily spotted as the one with some unspeakably unnatural shade of hair!).

On a more personal note: in May 2021, Chris, my sweet husband of 14 years, died three years after a diagnosis of stage 4 colon cancer. He was 38. It's been a profoundly human experience to try to renegotiate my life without him, and I am grateful that my ability to find joy and beauty in life has not been dampened even in the face of such grief. For this reason I have a special love of the whole StGs community, who were a constant source of strength and comfort through the whole ordeal.

Cameo Humes

Keanon Kyles

Keanon Kyles, praised by CNN for his “incredible bass-baritone voice” and by Scottish Magazine, Opera Scotland for his “beautiful technique”. Kyles was raised in Chicago where his musical journey started and where he received his bachelor’s degree in music from Chicago’s Columbia College. Keanon made his opera debut as Colline in Puccini's “La Boheme”. Conducted by Metropolitan Opera’s Maestro David Jackson, he made his Italy debut in Trento, Italy as Betto in Gianni Schicchi and Peter in Hansel and Gretel. Keanon was featured as Billy Evans in the world premiere of Floating Opera Company’s production of “War and Peace”. Kyles made his Chicago Opera Theater debut as Daggoo in "Moby Dick", shortly after he was asked to return perform the role of Tommie in the opera, "Freedom Ride" with Chicago Opera Theater. He has ranked one of the top 5 singers in the National Association of Negro Musicians competition. He made his Lyric Opera debut by way of Lyric Unlimited’s production of “Earth to Kenzie” and soon after made his Chicago Symphony Orchestra debut as a featured soloist in their “Purpose Over Pain” concert.

Okay, okay enough of the “text bookie” talk lol outside of singing I’m deeply rooted in fashion and interior design. For years I would co-host fashion shows in downtown Chicago for Columbia College’s Fashion Department all while being an Assistant Manager/Visual Merchandiser for department store, Tuesday Morning. So, if you went into their Lakeview, Lincoln Park or Niles store and said, “Oh my what wonderful displays—it was I! *Shameless plug* so feel free to call on me when you get into your spring cleaning! Life is full of surprises, good and bad, I live each day accepting everyone as they are, sharing God’s love, sharing the gift God gave me, speaking life into people trials and tribulations and making sure I smile through it all. Smile—because a smile heals and nourishes the soul with positivity!

Viki Rill

I was born and raised in the Chicago area, starting in Jefferson Park, then moving to Des Plaines at the beginning of 7th grade. Since then I've lived in Wisconsin, Ohio, Italy, then back to Palatine, IL, and finally back to Chicago proper. I'm a city girl at heart, and have found my perfect spot in Lincoln Square where I live with my adorable cats. My current day job is as the Associate Director of Total Rewards at the Illinois Institute of Technology - I've always joked that human resources is great for the right half of my brain, while musical endeavors are for the left half!

Many people know that I'm a huge Cubs fan - I finally got my season tickets in 2019 after 13 years on the waiting list! In the summer there's nothing better than a warm, sunny day at Wrigley Field with the Cubs in the lead. It's also one of the avenues I use as an excuse to spend time with my fantastic nephews and niece, who are some of the brightest spots in my life and who I enjoy spoiling rotten. When I'm not at Wrigley I love traveling to see the Cubs in other cities - I'm on a mission to visit all 30 MLB parks, to see the Cubs play in as many of them as I can. I also love just traveling and new experiences in general - my other mission is to do my favorite Bodypump workout in all 50 states. When in Chicago, I love playing tour guide for family, friends, and the aforementioned nephews and niece.

For several years now St. Gregory's has been another musical home of sorts, as well as a spiritual one. I'm eternally grateful for the opportunity to sing with such incredible musicians, and to be part of such a vibrant and welcoming community. It is my sincere hope that I can give back to St. G's as much as it's given me.

Kirstie Felland

Organist at St. Gregory’s since 2018, Kirstie accompanies the weekly liturgy, as well as the professional quartet and adult choir. Prior to this, she held several church music positions in the Chicago area, which included organ, adult, children’s and handbell choirs.

Originally from Madison, she began piano at age six and organ at 15. She won first place at an AGO high school organ competition in Milwaukee, earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in organ performance from Wartburg College and Northwestern University, and studied one year at the Berlin School of Church Music.

Kirstie enjoys spending time outdoors, striving to improve her Sudoku skills, dreaming of travel again, and being entertained at home by two wonderful German Shorthair rescues, Greta and Harriet.