decades of collaboration
Over the decades, FDCS has established an impressive library of choral music. Although music has been borrowed through the years in order to hold down expenses, money has always been budgeted for purchase of quality music. Numerous area schools and churches have benefitted from using Choral Society’s library, which includes more than 500 works.
Choral Society is always looking to collaborate with rising vocal and instrumental talent to perform as well as compositional talent to commission−we encourage all of those who feel so moved to contact us!
our people
Greta Nelson, artistic director
Greta Nelson, our Artistic Director, is the choral director at Webster City High School in Webster City, Iowa. Throughout her time in Webster City, the high school choral program has seen an increase in participation, as well as quality of music making. Nelson also serves as Assistant Conductor and Dean of Students for the Minnesota All-State Lutheran Choir, an affiliate of Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota.
She earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, where she studied with Dr. Lee Nelson and Dr. Nicki Bakko Toliver. While at Wartburg, Nelson performed with the Wartburg Choir at the 2017 National ACDA Convention, and the ensemble was awarded the American Prize in Choral Performance (college/university division) this same year. She also served as president of the esteemed ensemble in 2018-2019.
The Fort Dodge Choral Society strives for choral excellence and has a strong foundation of community and heart. After having served for months as the Interim Conductor, Greta was appointed as Artistic Director of Fort Dodge Choral Society in December 2023. She is delighted to accept the responsibilities as the FDCS Artistic Director.
Jeanette Hinkeldey, collaborative pianist
Jeanette Hinkeldey, a classically-trained pianist and organist, performs throughout Iowa as an organ recitalist and pianist for musical theater productions and vocal/instrumentalist soloists. When accompanying the Buena Vista University Choir on their European tour, Jeanette performed in Paris at the world-renowned Notre-Dame Cathedral, as well as The American Cathedral (The Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity). Currently, Jeanette accompanies the Storm Lake High School and Middle School Choirs and is the Director of Music at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Aurelia. She also maintains a private piano and organ studio and is involved in the Iowa Music Teachers Association as the Theory Chair and in the Iowa Federation of Music Teachers as the Recording Secretary.
Jeanette received her Master's degree in Music at Drake University and her Bachelor of Arts degree from The University of South Dakota. Throughout her years of study, she worked with Dr. Carl Staplin, Dr. Larry Scully, Dr. Jeannine Jordan, and Dr. Robert Delcamp.
She and her husband, Mark, reside on the Hinkeldey Family Farm south of Alta. They have two grown children, Renae and Marcus, who are also involved in the agricultural business. When not in the music scene, Jeanette enjoys traveling, reading novels, and watching cooking shows, knowing full well she will never have time to make any of the recipes.
in memory of Bruce Perry (June 1956-June 2023), conductor
Please visit the Farber & Otteman Funeral Homes website of Sac City, IA, to read the obituary of our previous long-time director: Bruce Perry. From 1993 to 2023, Bruce served as our conductor and solidified Fort Dodge Choral Society's place in the artistic community of Fort Dodge.
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