Thomas Goedecke, PhD – Choir Director
Thomas Goedecke (PhD, Music Composition), based in Pukalani, Hawaiʻi, is most known for his work intersecting sound worlds from western and Pacific non-western voices. He specifically finds joy in working with indigenous languages of the Pacific and combining them with traditionally western ensembles, advocating for the proliferation and celebration of Polynesian, Asia-Pacific, and American indigenous art.
In over twenty years of professional music making, Goedecke has served a wide variety of congregations as a choral scholar, section leader, resident composer, and choral director. Before his arrival on Maui, Goedecke served as the Compline Director at Lutheran Church of Honolulu. In 2023, he served as interim director for Central Union Church shortly after the premiere of Messiah i ka ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, Goedecke’s text setting of Handel’s Messiah in the Hawaiian language. He served as a choral scholar for Central Union Church, writing anthems and larger works for Ke Aloha Pau ʻOle, the Hawaiian Choir of Central Union Church. From 2015 to 2021, Goedecke served as Orvis Choral Scholar and Composer in Residence at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi.
Goedecke is currently the tenure track instructor of music at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College in Kahului. Before his current position, he has taught at a number of campuses including the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, the University of Hawaiʻi West Oʻahu, and Brigham Young University Hawaiʻi. He has studied composition with Michael Remson while in Houston, with Frank Ticheli, Stephen Hartke, Morten Lauridson and Veronika Krausas while earning his Bachelor’s of Music at the University of Southern California, and with Donald Womack, Thomas Osborne, and Takuma Itoh during his Masters and PhD in Music at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa.
Louise Lambert – Church Pianist
Keawala’i pianist Louise Lambert grew up in a large musical Catholic family in Buffalo, New York, singing three and four and five part harmony. It wasn’t until studying music and theater at the State University of NY at Buffalo, that she found out everyone could not sing harmony!
Louise is a Na Hoku Hawaiian music award winner with her Institute of Hawaiian Music classmates in 2016, and currently, a Na Hoku Best Jazz Album nominee. She has played clubs,
churches, concerts, festivals throughout the US, in Canada and Europe and had a #3 Hit in Canada with ‘Peace in Our Hearts.’ Her new album ‘Horizontal’ and more of her music is available on Apple Music and Spotify.
Settled on Maui in 1997, Louise enjoys having her two daughters and three out of four grandchildren here.
Andrea Yepez – Administrative Coordinator
Andrea Yepez has been the Keawalaʻi Administrative Coordinator since December of 2018. She enjoys serving others and has been a constant resource for Keawalaʻi through these past years of transition. She is also our Outreach Coordinator, helping us reach our mission to financially assist others in Maui County in times of need. Andrea holds a Master of Management Degree in Human Services with a focus on children, youth and families. She is here to help in any way she can so please feel free to call or email the church office if you need anything.