CMASC GOVERNING BOARD
Board Co-Chair
Karen Lange
Morton Elementary School
karen.lange@pueblocityschools.us
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Karen Lange is the music specialist at Morton Elementary School. She received her B.A. in Music Education from Adams State College in 2003 and her M.M. in Conducting from the University of Northern Colorado in 2012. While at the University of Northern Colorado she worked with esteemed groups, such as the Men’s Glee Club and the chamber choir. Karen has been teaching in public schools since 2004, including: Pueblo Central High School, Corwin Middle School, Sierra Vista Elementary School, Pueblo Academy of Arts, and Morton Elementary School. She also served as Assistant Creative Director of the Pueblo Choral Society for 5 years and has been performing with the Colorado Springs Chorale since 2016.
Karen Lange
Morton Elementary School
karen.lange@pueblocityschools.us
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Karen Lange is the music specialist at Morton Elementary School. She received her B.A. in Music Education from Adams State College in 2003 and her M.M. in Conducting from the University of Northern Colorado in 2012. While at the University of Northern Colorado she worked with esteemed groups, such as the Men’s Glee Club and the chamber choir. Karen has been teaching in public schools since 2004, including: Pueblo Central High School, Corwin Middle School, Sierra Vista Elementary School, Pueblo Academy of Arts, and Morton Elementary School. She also served as Assistant Creative Director of the Pueblo Choral Society for 5 years and has been performing with the Colorado Springs Chorale since 2016.
Board Co-Chair
Peggy Bryson
Deer Creek Middle School
mbryson@jeffco.k12.co.us
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Peggy Bryson is the choir, drama, and piano teacher at Deer Creek Middle School in Jefferson County . She is a proud alumnus of University of Northern Colorado and Metropolitan State University of Denver, receiving her Bachelor of Music Education from MSU in 2009. Peggy has been teaching in the public schools since 2010, acting as the choral director in Mapleton Public Schools from 2010 to 2014, and is beginning her third year in Jefferson County Public Schools and Deer Creek Middle School. Prior to teaching in the public schools, she taught piano and voice privately for 19 years, and directed children’s choirs and musical theatre programs. Peggy also has 28 years of experience as a choral accompanist.
Peggy Bryson
Deer Creek Middle School
mbryson@jeffco.k12.co.us
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Peggy Bryson is the choir, drama, and piano teacher at Deer Creek Middle School in Jefferson County . She is a proud alumnus of University of Northern Colorado and Metropolitan State University of Denver, receiving her Bachelor of Music Education from MSU in 2009. Peggy has been teaching in the public schools since 2010, acting as the choral director in Mapleton Public Schools from 2010 to 2014, and is beginning her third year in Jefferson County Public Schools and Deer Creek Middle School. Prior to teaching in the public schools, she taught piano and voice privately for 19 years, and directed children’s choirs and musical theatre programs. Peggy also has 28 years of experience as a choral accompanist.
Immediate Past Chair
Cherese Bennett Russell Middle School cbennett@wpsdk12.org --- Cherese started teaching at Woodland park Middle School in 2004 after graduating from Indiana State University with a Bachelor of Music Education. Currently she teaches a beginning, intermediate and advanced choir, guitar and a hand chimes choir. She had the opportunity to teach in Kumamoto, Japan for a year in 2008. There she taught English to elementary and junior high school students through the JET Program. Even though she enjoyed her time there, she is very happy to be back teaching her passion, choral music. She has been a member of the All State Board since 2012. |
Immediate Past Chair
Nathan Wubbena wubbena_nathan@svvsd.org --- Nathan Wubbena is currently the choral director at Sunset Middle School in Longmont and director of Volante with the Boulder Children's Chorale. He received his Bachelor in Music Education from the University of Northern Colorado in 2011. Since graduating, he has taught students from elementary to high school, both on the Front Range and Western Slope. He is currently working on completing his Master of Music in Music Education with a Conducting Specialization at Colorado State University. Mr. Wubbena was a founding board member of CMASC. |
Chair Emeritus
Abby Martinez Erie Middle School martinez_abigail@svvsd.org --- Abby Martinez has taught at Erie Middle School since Fall 2010, where she currently teaches three grade-level choirs and three extracurricular choirs. She graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2010 with a Bachelor of Music Education. As a founding member of the CMASC Board, Abby was the board Secretary for four years before stepping into the Co-Chair role from 2015-2017. She has served as a guest clinician and adjudicator across Colorado, and will conduct the 2019 CMASC Directors' Choir. She lives in Erie, CO with her husband, Jeremiah, daughter, Charlotte, and newborn son, Asher. |
Webmaster/Digital Specialist
Kyle Snyder Everitt Middle School snyderjkyle@gmail.com --- Kyle received his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from the University of Northern Colorado in 2016. He is currently pursuing his Master's in Music Education at Colorado State University. Kyle taught band and choir at Weld Central Middle School for two years and is currently teaching choir at Everitt Middle School. |
Chair Emeritus/Head Judge
Emily Martin Louisville Middle School (Retired) cmascjudge@gmail.com --- Emily Martin received her B.A. in Vocal and Instrumental Music Education from Adams State College. She has spent 35 years teaching public school music, including elementary general, band, high school choral and 16 years as choral director at Louisville Middle School in Boulder Valley. She founded the East Boulder Valley Middle Level Honor Choir, and has guest conducted and served as adjudicator at several middle school choral festivals. Currently, she is co-chair of the Colorado ACDA Board for Middle School Repertoire and Standards. She is retired as of June 2013, so is excited to have much more time to work on the new All State Middle School Choir Board! |
Chair Emeritus/Audition Specialist
Philip Drozda Overland High School pdrozda@cherrycreekschools.org --- Phil Drozda has been the Director of Choirs at Prairie Middle School in the Cherry Creek School District since 2011. He holds a Master of Music degree in music education from the University of Northern Colorado and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Colorado-Boulder. During his tenure at Prairie, Mr. Drozda's choirs have gained a reputation for musical quality and passionate, joyful performance, and they have been invited to perform at the Colorado Music Educators Association Clinic and Conference three times. He is one of the founders and was one of the first two Co-Chairs of the Colorado Middle All State Choir and continues to serve the board as chair emeritus. He served a six year term as the Co-Chair for Middle School Repertoire and Resources for the Colorado chapter of the American Choral Directors Association and currently serves as that board's Men's Choir chair. Mr. Drozda resides in Denver and is proud to be a public school music educator in the state of Colorado. |
District 1 Governor/Secretary
Deanna Thaler Rocky Heights Middle School dthaler@dcsdk12.org --- Deanna Thaler began teaching at Rocky Heights Middle School in Highlands Ranch in 2013, where she teaches 7th/8th grade choir, 6th grade vocal music, and guitar. She graduated from Colorado State University in Fort Collins in 2013 with a Bachelor of Music Education and a Performance Certificate. Deanna also loves performing regularly with the Colorado Symphony Chorus. |
District 1 Governor
Vicki Bailey Prairie Middle School vbailey@cherrycreekschools.org --- Vicki holds a Master's Degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Southern California. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Choral Music Education from the University of Colorado Boulder, where she also won the Anderson's Undergraduate Vocal Scholarship Competition in 2011. After graduating, she held the position of Choir and Drama Director at Lyons Middle Senior High School for 6 years. Additionally, she has spent the last four summers as the music director for Center Stage Theatre Company's summer camp intensive. Ms. Bailey has a wealth of experience and talent, and loves sharing as much of this as she can with each of her students, bringing a positive energy to the process. She currently is the choral director at Prairie Middle School. |
District 2 Governor/Co Chair Elect
Kelly Carmichael Kacey/Aspen Creek Middle Schools kelly.carmichael@asd20.org --- Kelly Carmichael holds a Bachelor in Music education degree from the University of Northern Colorado, and is currently a candidate for a Masters in Music education with a Choral Conducting cognate from the University of Colorado-Boulder. She began her education career in 2016 at Challenger Middle School in Academy District 20, where she taught for three years. She currently teaches middle school choir in Boulder Valley School District since 2019. Miss Carmichael's choirs are appreciated for their commitment and execution of excellent music, their teammates, and the joy we share in the classroom. One of her choirs was asked to perform at the Colorado Music Educators Association conference in 2019, where they shared their passion for music with others. Miss Carmichael has a strong passion for middle school choral music and middle school students. She is proud of her students everyday, and she loves being able to work with wonderful board members, teachers, and students who share her passion for music. |
District 4 Governor
Michelle White Highland Park Elementary School whitem@re1valleyschools.org --- Michelle White is currently the middle school choir director at Sterling Middle School in Sterling, Colorado. Here she teaches 6th, 7th, and 8th grade choirs, show choir, a'cappella jazz choir, and general music. She is in her third year of teaching, all of which have been spent in Sterling. She graduated with a BA from Adams State University in 2015 and is currently working on her Masters in Music Education and Kodaly levels at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. |
District 3 Governor
Joseph Perron Lesher Middle School jperron@psdschools.org --- Joseph Perron is the Vocal Music Director at Lesher Middle School in Poudre School District, Fort Collins (since 2017). He has taught previously at the Middle and Elementary levels in Colorado and Alaska and holds degrees from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN (B.M. Vocal Music Education) and DePaul University in Chicago, IL (M.M. Vocal Performance). Joseph is an active opera singer along the Front Range when he is not working with his amazing and talented middle school students. Go Vikings! |
District 5 Governor/Treasurer
Cherese Bennett Russell Middle School cbennett@wpsdk12.org --- Cherese started teaching at Woodland park Middle School in 2004 after graduating from Indiana State University with a Bachelor of Music Education. Currently she teaches a beginning, intermediate and advanced choir, guitar and a hand chimes choir. She had the opportunity to teach in Kumamoto, Japan for a year in 2008. There she taught English to elementary and junior high school students through the JET Program. Even though she enjoyed her time there, she is very happy to be back teaching her passion, choral music. She has been a member of the All State Board since 2012. |
District 5 Governor
Vicky Chiles Sabin Middle School vicky.chiles@d11.org --- Vicky Chiles is presently the Director of Choirs and Music Department Head at Sabin Middle School in Colorado Springs School District 11. She has 33 years experience in teaching kindergarten through high school age students in chamber choir, show choir, acappella ensemble, musical theatre, marching band, concert band, jazz band, flag corps, cheer leading, guitar, and general music. She directs the BARK squad student government activities at Sabin, is an active supporter and participating director of the D-11 honor choir program, performs as a praise and worship leader in Colorado Springs and teaches private lessons. Additionally, Vicky has served as guest Honor Choir clinician several times for various Colorado school districts. Her mission has always been to give her students a sense of belonging and a place to thrive through music. Vicky holds two Bachelor degrees - in vocal music and instrumental music - from Missouri Western State University and a Masters of Education (principal ship) from Regis University. She is excited about her first year as a CMASC Governor and looks forward to the opportunity and challenges associated with her appointment. |
District 6 Governor
Tanner Oharah McGinnis Middle School tanner0@bvconnect.org --- Tanner Oharah is currently teaching Choir and Theatre at Buena Vista High School and McGinnis Middle School. He received a Bachelor of Music Education with a choral and instrumental emphasis from Colorado Christian University. He has had the privilege of performing and directing at the CMEA conference as well as assisting and leading clinics on Choral Leadership, Warmups, Multifunctional Music, Technology, and BeatBox and Basslines. When not in the classroom Tanner enjoys guiding whitewater rafting trips, exploring mountains, and galavanting on dirt bikes with his wife Greer and son Zion. |
District 7 Governor
Scott Betts Redlands Middle School (Retired) s.betts@bresnan.net --- Scott earned his Bachelors in Music Education with an instrumental emphasis in 1977 and a Masters in Music Education in 1984 at UNC. He then moved to the Grand Valley, where he taught at local middle and high schools for 30 years. In 2003, his seventh grade choir was chosen to perform at CMEA. In the spring of 2014 he retired from teaching orchestra and choir at Redlands Middle School. Scott performs as a trumpeter with numerous groups in the area, and sings and plays the guitar with his jazz quartet, Hot Tub Jazz. For 17 years, Scott sang tenor with the madrigal group, the Revelers. He has been conducting with High Desert Opera since the summer of 2008. Besides music, Scott’s hobbies include exercise and dancing the Argentine Tango with his wife Alice. 
UNC Liaison
Larisa Somers University of Northern Colorado larisa.somers@unco.edu --- Larisa Somers received her Bachelors of Music Education and Masters in Choral Conducting from the University of Northern Colorado. Upon completing her undergraduate degree, she taught in Colorado Springs in Widefield School District #3. While there, she taught K-5 elementary general music, middle school choir, guitar, orchestra, drama, and coached high school marching band. Larisa currently teaches choir at Mead Middle School in the St. Vrain Valley School District. In addition to teaching in the public schools, Larisa works for the Boulder Chorale as the Assistant Artistic Director and maintains a private flute and voice studio. Previously, she served as an interim director for the Boulder Children’s Chorale, played flute in the Rocky Mountain Wind Symphony in Colorado Springs, and partnered with the Colorado Springs Children’s Chorale through their Adopt-a-School program. She was a founding member of the Colorado Elementary All-State Choir Board and currently serves on the Colorado Middle All State Choir Board. |
District 8 Governor
Shanti Mae Gruber Glenwood Springs Middle School sgruber@rfschools.com --- Shanti Mae Gruber is a Colorado native and the current choir Director at Glenwood Springs High School and Glenwood Springs Middle School. Shanti received her B.A. in Music Education K-12, with an emphasis in Voice and Piano, at the University of Northern Colorado. She has held a private piano, voice, and guitar studio since 2001. Since 2008, Shanti has been a music director & teacher in the Roaring Fork School District & the Roaring Fork Valley including: Concert Band, Jazz Band, Music Theory, Guitar, Choir, Aspen Music Festival’s Maroon Bel Canto Children’s Choir, JAS Aspen Snowmass Pays to Play, Music Director for productions with GSHS Theatre Productions, Theatre Aspen, JGP Productions, and the Glenwood Springs Vaudeville Theatre. Other duties include: Re-1 District lead Music Teacher, and District 8 Governor for the Colorado Middle School All State Choir, CMEA District 8 Vocal Representative. Are you unsure who your District Governor is? Please find your district number on this page!
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