Grace Abt
Grace Abt is the soloist for our 2026 spring concert. Originally from the Milwaukee area, she began her musical studies on the piano at age 5 and took up the violin at age 11, quickly developing a love for the instrument. In high school, she continued her musical development as a member of the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra program. She went on to attend the University of Northwestern–St. Paul, where she studied with Brittany Quinn and served as concertmaster of the UNW Symphony Orchestra, graduating in 2025 with a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance. She now serves as a faculty violin teacher for the UNW Academy of Music. Grace currently plays with the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra and is delighted to be collaborating with the Roseville String Ensemble.
Amir Kats
Artistic Director Amir Kats has extensive experience in conducting, teaching, and performing music. He currently teaches orchestra and band at Blake Middle School. From 2012 to 2022 he was conductor of the St. Paul Jewish Community Center Symphony, and he has served as a coach for MacPhail Center for Music and various school ensembles throughout Minnesota and New Mexico. From 2007 to 2012, Mr. Kats served as the Artistic Director of Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies.
Mr. Kats holds degrees in clarinet, music theory, and conducting from the University of Michigan, Florida State University, and Curtis Institute of Music. A native of Haifa, Israel, he comes from a musical family, being both the son and the grandson of pianists.
Chris Chelgren
Assistant Conductor Chris Chelgren has taught violin, viola, and piano and has freelanced in the Twin Cities since the late 1990s. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music theory and composition from St. Olaf College, where he studied conducting with Steve Amundson and viola with Charles Gray. Chris performs in several orchestras and is principal violist of the Bloomington Symphony and the Roseville Strings. He is also a member of the Twin Cities-based original rock, folk, and Celtic-inspired band The Minstrel’s Bazaar.
Logan Combs
Christmas Song Leader Logan Combs is a Twin Cities-based tenor, choral conductor, voice instructor, and Master of Music student at the University of Minnesota, where he studies choral conducting. Logan earned his undergraduate degree at St. Olaf College in church music, with a concentration in choral conducting. A former VOCES8 US Scholar, he has sung in the National Lutheran Choir and served as director of music at New Life Presbyterian Church in Roseville. He now works as marketing manager for the National Lutheran Choir, sings as tenor section leader at St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church, and works as music and worship consultant for the Presbytery of the Twin Cities. He also sings with the Summer Singers’ SOL Ensemble and Caritas Vocal Ensemble.
Previous Guest Artists
Sara Pajunen, violinist and composer
Manny Laureano, Minnesota Orchestra
Lauluaika
Lynn Erickson, trumpet, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra
Christopher Aspaas, tenor, St. Olaf College
Kenneth Freed, violin, Minnesota Orchestra
Sachiya Isomura, cello, Minnesota Orchestra
Aaron Janse, violin, Minnesota Orchestra
Peter McGuire, violin, Minnesota Orchestra
Anthony Ross, cello, Minnesota Orchestra
John Snow, oboe, Minnesota Orchestra
St. Mary’s Balalaika Orchestra