The 2009-2010 Season marks the 14th year for the Pueblo Children’s Chorale. The group was founded by Christina Anderson, Barbara Beck, Christine Reed, Elizabeth & Naomi Vigil in January of 1996. In September 1997, Kenneth Butcher came along as Music Director to an established group that held an annual three concert series and was with the Chorale until May 2001. From November 2001 until November 2003, the Concert Choir was under the direction of Denise Hood. From November 2004 to December 2006 the Concert Choir was under the direction of Todd Albrecht. In January 2007, Jennifer Shadle-Peters took over direction of the Concert Choir as conductor. The Children’s Chorale expanded its vocal mission with the establishment of the Apprentice Choir in 2002 and was directed by Betsy Barto until December 2008. The Apprentice and Concert Choirs are now combined under the direction of Jennifer Shadle-Peters.
The group has sung for a variety of audiences including the Jubilee of Liberty Medal Ceremony, Colorado Day at the state capitol, and the Children’s Summit of Pueblo. They have performed 4 years with the Sangre De Cristo Dancerz for Hot Fudge Friday, and have participated with the Pueblo Chorale for 10 years in their annual Christmas concert. The chorus performed for Lt. Governor Rogers at a press conference held in their honor in recognition of June 12th, 2000 being Pueblo Children’s Chorale Day. In June of 2000 the Chorale was asked to sing for the dedication of the Buell Children’s Museum, and in October of 2003 for the Grand Opening of the Robert Hoag Rawlings Public Library. In May of 2004, the Children’s Chorale invited Miss America 2004, Ericka Dunlap to come and perform their season finale “Americana”. The group has performed many times with the local Pueblo Symphony and Pueblo Choral Society. Other special performances include: the Kickoff to a Drug Free Summer sponsored by the Boys and Girls club of Pueblo, Music, Music, Music with the Pueblo Sunsational Barbershop chorus, the Columbus Day Dinner, and the singing of the National Anthem for a Colorado Rockies Game.
In June of 2000, the chorus traveled to Washington D.C. to perform for the National Festival of States celebration. The venues included the Fairfax retirement center, the Jefferson Memorial, and the Old Post Office Pavilion. The chorus also entertained fellow travelers at the airport on their way home during a 5 hour delay.
The tremendous growth and support for the Pueblo Children’s Chorale truly excites us. While striving to build choirs of the highest artistic ability, we are also concerned with the personal development of our singers. We hope to instill a love for the arts, pride in our accomplishments, respect for others, a sense of teamwork, and character in our members. Our vision is to become an excellent professional chorus that establishes itself as a positive force in the educational and artistic life of our community!
