Carita Pfaltzgraff grew up in the United Methodist Church with her father, Rev. Clifton Ellerbeck, as the pastor.  She took organ lessons at the Hampton United Methodist Church and also played for worship while in high school.  She studied music education and performance at Morningside (College) University in Sioux City, Iowa majoring in piano with a voice minor.  She has a Master’s Degree in organ performance from Bowing Green State University.

Carita has been music director and organist at KAUMC since December of 2006.  In 2008, she was hired at Wartburg as a voice instructor and eventually as a staff accompanist/collaborative artist. She divides her time between service at the college and church and enjoys working with singers, handbell ringers, and members of the praise band.  She and Brian, her husband have two grown children, Ethan and Elise and two cats, Rae and Reggie. She enjoys gardening, photography, and baking, especially pie.