Al Hawkins, Artistic Director

Gary Whiteford, Executive Director
Gary, the executive director of Deo Cantamus, has also served as secretary and treasurer. He holds a B.S. in Music Education from Bob Jones University as well as a certificate from the Minnesota Paralegal Institute. He is employed as a business analyst. He and his wife Suzanne live in Plymouth, MN, and attend Parkers Lake Baptist Church, where Gary serves in the music ministry in choir, voice, and piano. He enjoys computers and reading.

Charlene Macalus, Secretary/Treasurer
Charlene serves as secretary and treasurer of Deo Cantamus.  She earned a B.S. in business with concentrations in both management and marketing from Pensacola Christian College and is currently working on an MBA from Bethel University.  She is employed as a strategic sourcing manager at Cliffs Natural Resources in Duluth, MN and is a member of Faith Baptist Church in Hermantown, where she serves in the music ministry and in other areas.  In addition to the arts, her interests include reading, cooking, knitting, traveling, and drinking over-priced, sugar-packed coffee with friends.

James Anderson, Director
James received a B.S. in Sacred Music from Faith Baptist Bible College, Ankeny, IA, and an M.M. in Choral Conducting from the University of Minnesota. He currently serves as Associate Pastor of Music and Administration at Bible Baptist Church of Otsego, MN. He lives in Crystal, MN, with his wife Marisa and their daughters Noelle and Karina. His musical interests include piano, composition, and conducting, and his hobbies include reading, cooking, hiking, and working for FedEx.

Dr. Stephen Davis, Director
Steve holds a B.S. degree from Pillsbury Baptist Bible College, Owatonna, MN, and an M.Div. and D.Min. from Central Baptist Theological Seminary, Plymouth, MN. He has served as a pastor and is currently Program Operations Manager for WCTS-AM, "The Bible Station." Steve attends Fourth Baptist Church, where he is a regular soloist and member of the choir. He and his wife, Diane live in Maple Grove, MN, with their son, Ben, and miniature schnauzer, Kipper. Steve also enjoys reading, gardening, and painting.

Aleta Jackson, Director
Aleta received a B. S. in English Education from Bob Jones University.  While there, she studied flute under the direction of Dr. Karen Kuehmann and played in the University's Flute Choir and Flute Ensemble.  She is a member of Fourth Baptist Church where she serves in the music ministry.  She and her husband Rick live in St. Michael, MN, with their 3 children, Davey, Clay and Finley.

Dr. Dean Kurtz, Director
Dean holds a B.S. in Music Education and a B.S. in Bible from Pillsbury Baptist Bible College, in Owatonna MN, a M.Sac. Mus. from Pensacola Christian College in Pensacola, FL, and a D. Min. from Calvary Baptist Seminary in Lansdale, PA. After 25 years in Lansdale as music pastor, teacher, and adjunct seminary professor Dean resigned from full time music ministry and has just recently completed his first book God's Word, the Final Word on Worship and Music. He continues to write other materials on worship and music for his website worshipintheword.org. While residing in Watertown WI with his wife Brenda and two girls, Sarah and Colette he is also serving as adjunct professor at Maranatha Baptist Bible College and assistant at Calvary Baptist Church in Watertown. He speaks often on worship and church music here and abroad and enjoys the outdoors.

Jennifer Markgraf, Director
Jennifer graduated from Maranatha Baptist Bible College in Watertown, WI, with a Church Ministry/Music Major. She has taught elementary music and piano at Schaumburg Christian School in Schaumburg, IL, and Fourth Baptist Christian School in Plymouth, MN. In addition, she has taught piano privately for the past 12 years. She is currently a member of Fourth Baptist Church, where she is involved in the music ministry as a piano accompanist and director of the Junior Children's Choir. She lives in Plymouth, MN, with husband Eric and their three children, Morgen, Carsten, and Ethan.

Kevin Suiter, Director
Kevin graduated from Appalachian Bible College in Bradley WV with a B.A. in Bible and Theology. He holds a M.Sac. Mus. from Pensacola Christian College in Pensacola, FL, and a D.M. A. in conducting from the University of North Carolina in Greensboro. After twenty-seven years of church music ministry and Bible College teaching experience, he joined the music faculty of Northland International University in Dunbar WI in 2007 where he now serves as Director of Fine Arts.  His teaching areas include private voice, church music, conducting, and music philosophy.  He also directs the Concert Choir and coaches the Northern Lights traveling ensemble. He and his wife, Grace, who serves on the NIU piano faculty, are active in the music ministry of Faith Baptist Church in Pembine WI. 

Terry Veth, Director
Terry, has served as the executive director of Deo Cantamus, and holds a B.A. in Classics and a M.A. in Library Science from the University of Minnesota. He is a retired librarian and former department head at Minneapolis Public Library. He and his wife Ann live in Plymouth, MN, and have one married daughter. Terry has many years of musical training in piano and organ, but he has experience in brass, strings, and percussion as well.

Eric White, Director
Eric holds a B. A. from Northland Baptist Bible College, Dunbar, WI, and an M. Div and Th. M. from Central Baptist Theological Seminary, Plymouth, MN. He currently serves as registrar for Central Baptist Theological Seminary and attends Fourth Baptist Church. He and his wife Jennifer live in Brooklyn Center, MN, with their two daughters, Sophia and Olivia. He also enjoys music, chess, and literature.