Quartets

Aces Wild

A new quartet with a lot of experience! With Chuck Huth's lilting Tenor, Michael Kruse singing a strong Lead, Tom Jandt's mellow Bass and Arlen Verwiebe tuning in that tricky baritone, these four aces are a sure winner. With several solid barbershop songs already in hand, they are quickly shuffling songs into their repertoire from other genres like pop, doo-wop, spiritual and holiday standards. When betting on this quartet, you're bound to find yourself "ALL IN". To contact us send your email to: Aces Wild Quartet.

Michael Kruse, Lead

Michael has been singing barbershop since 1989 with the Chordsmen. He has been a part of several quartets including a twelve year stint with Vintage Plus. While Michael was a member of the quartet Express, they won the Novice Quartet competition in 1999. He also helped to win the Southwest Division contest in 2004 while with Extended Play. He has held many offices in the chapter and was named the chorus' Barbershopper of the Year in 2000.

Besides Barbershopping, he also performs with area Community Theatres with roles in The Matchmaker, The Foreigner, Honk, Compan, Mme, To Kill A Mockingbird, She Loves Me, The Fantasticks, and of course, Ewart in The Music Man.

When Michael is not working, singing, or acting, he also enjoys fishing and hunting.

Contact: 608-797-9453

Tom Jandt, Bass

Tom has been a member of the Coulee Chordsmen, singing bass, since the spring of 2006 as well as a member of the quartet ‘Aces Wild’ since early 2009. He began singing in his high school days when he was a member of the Luther High School concert choir and elite choir, ‘Sound Foundation’. Tom has been a member of the St. John’s Lutheran Church choir for more than twenty-five years.

Grandvu Acres, the Jandt family farm in Barre Mills, has been his lifelong home and occupation. Tom also serves on the AMPI (Associated Milk Producers Inc.) Corporate Board of Directors. When he is not singing or farming, he enjoys spending time with his family and watching sports.

Arlen Verwiebe, Baritone

Arlen and his wife Marian live on a small farm near Melrose, WI. He has been singing barbershop for eleven years and says "It's a blast".

Arlen works for Conger Toyota Lift as a parts and service salesman. He like to go hunting and fishing and spends a lot of time enjoying the peace and quiet of country living.

Chuck Huth, Tenor

Chuck was born in Chicago and it is not surprising that he's a Cubs fan. He has been a member of the Chordsmen for nineteen years, as well as a member of many quartets.

He is a semi-retired bus driver for the La Crosse MTU and lives in La Crosse with his wife and four children.

Special Export

Lee Rasch, Lead

Lee joined the Coulee Chordsmen in 1997 and became a founding member of the Special Export Quartet in 1998. In addition to singing in the chorus and quartet, he plays the bass guitar in the Executives—a 60’s rock and roll band.

Lee is President at Western Technical College, active as a community volunteer, and serves on seven local, state, and national boards. Lee also finds time to walk his two greyhounds.

Gary Buxengard, Tenor

Gary grew up on a farm and went in to the NAVY when he graduated from Spring Grove, MN high school. He served three years in active duty and twenty-three years in the reserves. After twenty-six years of farming in Spring Grove, he decided to rent out the land and become a carpenter.

Gary joined the chorus in May, 1975 and has sang with many quartets. He prides himself in being able to sing all of our four different parts. He also started with Special Export back in 1998.

He likes to read, sing, and go to reunions with his ship buddies each summer. He is Commander of the local Legion Post, and on the board of directors for Wilmington Farm Mutual Ins. He is also known for his recollections of Lena and Ole lifestyles.

Roger Christians, Baritone

Roger has been a Barbershopper for twenty-one years with the LaCrosse chapter and has sang in several quartets through those years. He teamed up with Lee and Gary to form Special Export in 1998. He is recently retired from Dairyland Power Cooperative, where he worked at their Nuclear Station in Genoa for thirty-six years. He also served for six years aboard the U.S. Navy nuclear submarine, George Washington. Roger just celebrated forty years of marriage to his wife, Kenna, and they have two sons and two grandchildren. Other music interests include performing with the 60’s rock band, ‘The Executives’.

Charlie George, Bass

I grew up in Southern Wisconsin and moved to La Crosse area in 1990. I have been married to my wife Cindy for thirty-seven years in April.  I enjoy singing many different styles of music, and have a special liking for the close harmony of Barbershop style. I am currently the president of the Coulee Chordsmen Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society. During my nine years as a member, I have sung with four different quartets and served on our board of directors for five years.     

I am a professional Chef by choice, and have been for over forty years. To rejuvenate myself from the busy workload, I raise Honey Bees and work in our flower gardens with my wife. We have three children and four grandchildren.

Sample our music

 Under the Boardwalk