Staff

Mitch Fantin (he/him) is passionate about building inclusive, equitable communities. For the past 17 years, Fantin has served in leadership roles in non-profits around the country that advance this work through advocacy, education, community engagement, and conflict resolution. Although he is experienced in running the programmatic side of non-profits, Fantin thrives the most doing the relational work of connecting an organization’s mission and impact to its community and supporters. Prior to joining One Voice, he was Stewardship Coordinator at Minnesota Public Radio | American Public Media, advancing philanthropic development and donor engagement during a successful $75 million capital campaign. Fantin has earned degrees in Psychology and Sociology from Portland State University in Portland, Oregon.

Outside of the office, Fantin enjoys horticulture, cooking, and travelling. He also is an avid chess player.

Kimberly Waigwa (they/them) is a lover of cats, a meower or tunes, a conductor, and an educator dedicated to the goal of intentional music making. They focus on the intersections of racial justice, queer advocacy, and community building. Waigwa strives to expand aspects of learning beyond the musical realm and to dive into the internal work of learning and growing in the spheres of anti-racism, ABDEI, and the music of the global majority. 

Waigwa has served as a facilitator and clinician for the choral department at Temple University and the Choir School of Delaware. Most recently they participated in a GALA Choruses webinar focused on intentional programming and performing music of the marginalized, as well as participating in the inaugural Chorus America Choral Executive Leadership Academy. 

Waigwa served as artistic director of the Phoenix Women’s Chorus and Desert Voices Mixed Chorus. Additionally, they served as music director of Mountain Vista Unitarian Universalist Congregation and held a variety of other musical positions including Interim Director of the St. Nicholas and After School Music Program Choirs, private vocal and piano instructor, and guest conductor with multiple ensembles in southern Arizona. 

As a conductor, Waigwa has been selected by audition for the National American Choral Directors Association’s Conference masterclass both as an undergraduate student and graduate student. They have had masterclasses with Jason Max Ferdinand, Eugene Rogers, Joe Miller, Ann Howard Jones, Arian Khaefi, Jerry Blackstone, and James Jordan. 

Waigwa received their masters of music in Choral Conducting at Temple University, a student of Dr. Paul Rardin, and they received their Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education, from the University of Arizona. 

As of July 2023, Waigwa has taken the helm as artistic director of One Voice Mixed Chorus in St. Paul, Minnesota, a queer chorus with the mission of “Building community and creating social change by raising our voices in song.” Waigwa also sings with Elevation, the flagship professional performing ensemble of Elevate Vocal Arts.

A Texas native and recent Twin Cities transplant, Waigwa is intrigued by their first adventure into the midwest. They are a lover of Star Trek, ice cream, oil pastels, long walks, and podcasts. 

Casey Illig (she/her) has spent the last 10 years in leadership roles growing the capacity for creative small businesses. Most notably she played a key role in structuring the retail model for the Transit Tees flagship store in Chicago, and doubled the production capacity for custom wallpaper murals designed by Black Crow Studios. She recently earned a certificate in Nonprofit Management and is excited to bring her knowledge and experience to advance One Voice's mission. She uses a pragmatic, yet empathetic, leadership style, and brings humor and compassion to everything she does. Casey also has had a lifelong affinity for music, learning to play a variety of instruments throughout childhood and participating in school choirs. She believes music is a universal language that brings people together and can transcend any boundary. 

Outside the office, you might find Casey trying new restaurants, watching B movies, or trying to complete unfinished sewing projects.

Jen Rivera (she/they) has been a tenor singer and 5^th Section volunteer with One Voice since 2006, and she has volunteered in the One Voice office for the past 8 years! She is an expert proof-reader, organizer, and a gentle, delightful soul. When not singing or volunteering with One Voice you might find Jen singing with her church choir, taking care of her canine friends, cheering on the MN Gopher & MN Lynx Women’s basketball teams, texting her grandkids, or officiating at MSHSL Track & Field and Cross-Country meets!                                                                                                         

Gary Ruschman (he/him) is an in-demand vocal soloist, conductor, and prize-winning composer. He is currently Music Director at St. Timothy Lutheran Church in St. Paul and Mixed Precipitation’s Picnic Operetta. He has led performances by Consortium Carissimi, Blue Waters Brass, Bach Society of Minnesota's "Bach with Friends" retreats, and served as chorusmaster for Twin Cities Early Music Festival.

A co-recipient of Chorus America’s 2011 Education and Community Outreach Award, the Kentucky native recently wrote a children's opera co-commissioned by Minnesota Opera and received a Faith Partners residency from American Composers Forum. Gary earned degrees from Northern Kentucky University and the San Francisco Conservatory.