About the Choir
DeWitt Community Singers is a Non-Audition Adult Community Choir for ANYONE in the Mid-Michigan area.
DeWitt Community Singers is offered as a class through DeWitt Community Education. The group meets weekly to learn and rehearse vocal techniques in preparation for annual concerts in the winter and spring.
We occasionally perform outside of our regularly scheduled concerts, each season is different! Performances in the past include the Annual Ox Roast ; Community Choral Festival; DeWitt Christmas Market; and, most recently, a collaborative performance with the DeWitt Middle School Treble Choirs with a professional orchestra.
We embarked on our first European Choral Tour by traveling through Italy (Venice, Florence, Lucca, Rome) in April 2024. We were honored to have sung Mass at the Vatican.
Our next choral tour will be in July 2027 - Montreal & Quebec City. Join us!
Auditions are not necessary to join; the only requirement is a love of music and willingness to strive for high standards through participation in rehearsals and performances. Chant, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, contemporary Christian, folk, opera, jazz and blues, popular and twentieth century (modern) are all styles the group has performed.
Founded in 2000 by director Lydia Erickson the Dewitt Community Singers is currently under the direction of Megan Higle.
Recent performance included works by: Tomas Vittoria, Elaine Hagenberg, Morton Laurdisen, Bob Chilcott, Rosephanye Powell, Michael McGlynn, Irving Berlin, Jocelyn Hagen, David Dickau, Jacob Narverud, Lee Kesselman, Frode Fjellheim, Johannes Brahms, Anton Bruckner, Andrea Ramsey, Kirke Mechem, Reena Esmail, John Rutter, Melissa Dunphy, Kyle Pederson, Ysaye M. Barnwell, The Podd Brothers, Merrill Garbus, Jeanette Gallant, Kenneth Jennings, and others.
DeWitt Community Singers is a 501(c)3. Please consider making a donation.
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Artistic Staff
Musically Exceptional
DeWitt Community Singers is comprised of dynamic voices and musicians, some young and some with years of experience. As a choir, their main goal is to inspire with their performances and provide their audience with an enjoyable musical experience. Meet the team that has dedicated their lives to creating beautiful harmonies.
Section Leaders
Who We Are
Linda Beachnau
Soprano
Kristin Ray
Alto
Alex Wassom
Tenor
Ian Broughton
Bass
Board of Directors
Bringing Music to Our Community
Linda Beachnau
President
Linda Beachnau seemingly came out of the womb singing! From entertaining friends and family with "shows" as a toddler, joining her church's Children's Choir at the age of seven, studying vocal music at CMU and leading her church's choirs for over 20 years, music and singing have always been a big part of her life. She is humbled and honored to have been elected President of the DCS Board in the 2025-26 season, and values the opportunity to put her administrative skills to work to benefit the organization. Born and raised in the Lansing area, Linda works as an IT Manager at the Michigan Spreme Court, and has lived in DeWitt since 2002. Married for more than 32 years, and the mother of two wonderful sons, she enjoys the music and friendships she's made as a member of DCS since 2023.
Paul Brandell
Vice Presidnet
Susan Mahoney
Vice Presidnet
Susan Mahoney has been a member of the DeWitt Community Singers since 2014 and has sung with the Mint City Singers and her church’s funeral choir. She has also been a supporter of the arts through community theater productions, board membership of Clinton County Arts Council, and as a teacher of watercolor painting. When not singing, painting, or working as a Business Manager for St. Joseph Parish, she enjoys reading. She resides in the St. Johns area.
MacKenzie Feldpausch
Treasurer
MacKenzie has been a member of DCS for almost a decade! Her family lives in DeWitt and is part of the artistic fabric of the community.
MacKenzie took over the role of "treasurer" from Mary, who served the choir in that capacity for over 15 years.
Marsha Turner
Secretary
Marsha has worked in Clinical Laboratory Medicine for forty years.
She is recenlty retired and working as a volunteer in the Court Appointed Special Advocate program in Gratiot County and as co-manager of the Food Pantry at the 1st Presbyterian Church of Alma, Michigan.
She has enjoyed music her entire life. She played violin for 12 years through grade school and high school. And has participated in several choral groups throughout her life.
She has been a member of the Dewitt Community Singers since 2003.
Jim Butt
At Large
Jim Butt has been a member of the DCS since 2002 and a member of the DeWitt community for nearly thirty years. A retiree for half of those years, Jim enjoys singing, traveling, and working in his church. Before retiring he worked for the City of Lansing within the police department in a civilian role. His wife also sings and they have four daughters and one grandchild.
Elyse Staebell
At Large
Elyse has sung Alto with DCS since 2024. She works for Jackson National Life as a Financial Professional. Besides the DCS, Elyse has been an important voice/assistant with the Lansing Children's Choir (board member and rehearsal volunteer), and a singer in SISTRUM.
Artistic Board
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
The DCS Artistic Board selects repertory, works alongside the Artistic Director and Assistant Director in shaping a choral session, recruiting new members and communicates to the choir on a weekly basis.
Artistic Director/Conductor
Megan Higle
Megan Higle utilizes her organization skills to keep the board on task through the writing of grants, programming of concerts, program notes, and finding additional performance opportunities - including our July 2027 Montreal/Quebec City Tour!
Megan also enjoys helping create social/fellowship times for the choir to bond as a family.
Assistant Director / Accompanist
Brooke Broughton
Brooke Broughton teaches 4th and 5th grade elementary general music in DeWitt. Throughout her twenty-four years as a music teacher, Brooke has taught all levels of music, and frequently serves as mentor for intern teachers. Brooke is a Michigan State University graduate, having received her Bachelors and Master’s degrees in Music Education. She sings with the Riverbend Voices. Brooke lives in DeWitt with her husband, Ian, and her two children Kellan and Liam.
Soprano Section Leader
Linda Beaucheneu
Linda has been a part of DCS since 2019. She enjoys her role as section leader, since it allows her a reason to email the soprano section every week! ha!
Alto Section Leader
Kristin Ray
Kristin is a lifelong Lansing-area native and a Sales and Marketing Consultant in the health insurance industry. A graduate of Haslett Public Schools, she discovered her love of choral singing in sixth grade, she continued her choir involvement through graduation in 2003, under the direction of Erich Wangeman. Although it took 23 years for her to find her way back to a choir, she never lost her love of choral singing—especially the rich, supportive harmonies found in the alto section. A true alto at heart, Kristin is thrilled to be making music and memories with DCS.
Outside of choir, Kristin enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter and self-publishing children’s books, including the Amazon best-seller Shine Bright, June Bug. Kristin joined DCS in 2026.
Tenor Section Leader (on sabatical)
Doug Brunner
Doug, a tenor singer with DCS since 2012, he is happy to be the "tenor conduit" for weekly emails and attendance!
Doug works in computer programming, has the best wife and two adorable children.
Bass Section Leader
Ian Broughton
Ian (aka Brooke's other half), has been singing as long as he can remember.