Kantorei’s choral artists have studied at schools with strong music programs across the United States such as Baylor University, Brigham Young University, Eastman School of Music, Indiana University, St. Olaf College, Wartburg College, and Westminster Choir College. Many of the singers serve as choral music educators, conductors, and teachers. Kantorei’s volunteer singers come from all walks of life, yet share a common passion for choral music.
Sopranos
Vicki Bailey
Member since: 2019
Alma Mater: University of Southern California (MM), University of Colorado (BME)
Occupation: Assistant Director – Colorado Children’s Chorale
Fun Fact: I think cilantro tastes like soap.
Beryl Fanslow Wilson
Member since: 2009
Alma Mater: Denver University
Occupation: Yoga Instructor/Studio Manager
Fun Fact: Although unreasonably terrified of sharks, I love sea kayaking.
Riley Jayne GallivanMember since: 2023
Alma Mater: Boston University (BM), Colorado State University (MM)
Occupation: Music Therapist
Fun Fact: I was born on leap day!
Chrissie Graham
Member since: 2017
Alma Mater: Pacific Lutheran University (undergrad), Arizona State University (graduate)
Occupation: Clinical psychologist
Fun Fact: Climbed all of Colorado’s fourteeners.
Heather GunnersonMember since: 2006
Alma Mater: Colorado State University
Occupation: At home mom, decorator of cookies, social media and online marketing director at Spencer’s Lawn and Garden Center in Colorado Springs. Still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up.
Fun Fact: I’m so terrible at sports, I broke my leg playing softball in 7th grade gym class. Walking backwards.
Stacie HansonMember since: 2005
Alma Mater: Pacific Lutheran University
Occupation: Social Worker
Fun Fact: Because of a song she learned in 6th grade choir, Stacie can STILL (many, MANY years later) sing the names of all the presidents in chronological order. This fun party trick makes her occasionally useful at pub trivia nights.
Alma Mater: ORU
Shannon Lemmon-Elrod
Member since: 2007
Alma Mater: Idaho State University
Occupation: Elementary Music Teacher
Fun Fact: My favorite place to visit is Yellowstone National Park.
Sara Michael
Member since: 2009
Alma Mater: Hesston College, Goshen College
Occupation: Kantorei Business Manager
Fun Fact: Turns out I'm pretty good at axe throwing...
Martina Richardson
Member Since: 2020
Alma Mater: St. Olaf College, University of Denver
Occupation: Music Teacher
Fun Fact: I am a returning member and sang with Kantorei in 2009-2012. I am also officially Australian and founded a choir called River Voices in Echuca, Victoria.
Member since: 1997
Alma Mater: St. Olaf
Occupation: Music teacher
Fun Fact: I think the Great British Baking Show is the best show on television! But I also enjoy Nailed It...
Pearl Rutherford
Member since: 2002
Alma Mater: University of Hawaii at Manoa
Occupation: Voice teacher/Freelance singer
Fun Fact: My long bucket list includes someday riding a hot air balloon, and learning to tap dance. Also, for some reason, I’ve always wanted to play Lucy in You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, and Yente in Fiddler on the Roof.
Annie SullinsMember since: 2010
Alma Mater: Colorado State University, BM in Music Education
Occupation: Performer, Choir Director
Fun Fact: I have performed in the Nutcracker as a dancer and a singer!
Leah TracyMember since: 2023
Alma Mater: Bowling Green State University (Bachelor of Music, Composition)
Occupation: Composer, Church Music Director
Fun Fact: I am from Ohio and have lived in Colorado for two years.
Altos
Safia Ahmed
Member since: 2023
Alma Mater: Harvard (BA), University of Michigan (MBA)
Occupation: Digital Marketing
Fun Fact: I've lived in 8 US cities in the last decade and am happy to have finally found a place in Denver to put down roots. It's pretty nice here!
Emily Alexander
Member since: 2010
Alma Mater: Colorado College
Occupation: Choir and orchestra teacher
Fun Fact: I like to read, practice yoga, and spend time with my family.
Lindsey AquilinaMember since: 2004
Alma Mater: St. Olaf College
Occupation: VP Relationship Management
Fun Fact: I’m 5th generation Coloradan.
Lyn Berry-Helmlinger
Member since: 2012
Alma Mater: MA: University of Colorado - Boulder, BA: University of Northern Colorado
Occupation: Writer/Communications
Fun Fact: I turned my overzealous enthusiasm about grammar into a paying job.
Sarah BrantonMember since: 2006
Alma Mater: St. Olaf College
Occupation: choral director
Fun Fact: I love to ski, hike, and paddle board.
Desiree Deliz-Morales
Member since: 2022
Alma Mater: University of Puerto Rico (BS); Florida State University (MS)
Occupation: Actuarial Financial Reporting Manager
Fun Fact: I don’t know how to stop on skis. I’ll probably stop against you or pine trees. So if I am nearby, run for your life!
Erin GreenfieldMember since: 2023
Alma Mater: University of Puget Sound, Westminster Choir College
Occupation: Healthcare administration
Fun Fact: I'm a knitter!
Chelsea Kendall
Member since: 2019
Alma Mater: Colorado State University (MM Choral Conducting) and Anderson University (Music Education)
Occupation: Administrative Assistant at Audio Engineering Academy
Fun Fact: My favorite activities are rock climbing, cross-stitching, and snuggling with my pup.
Tegan Masoero-Palmer
Member since: 2014
Alma Mater: St. Olaf College (BM Vocal Music Ed); University of St. Thomas (MA Music Ed)
Occupation: Middle School Choir Director
Fun Fact: I didn't start out thinking about music education as a career--I was originally going to be a BioMedical Engineer with the goal of working on prosthetics.
Member since: 1997
Alma Mater: St. Olaf College
Occupation: Corporate Tax Consultant
Fun Fact: I love wind. The kind that blows your hair, fills your lungs with air from somewhere else and makes you feel alive.
Erin MeyerhoffMember since: 1999
Alma Mater: University of Rochester (BS); University of Colorado (MS)
Occupation: Nurse Practitioner in Endocrinology
Fun Fact: I make delicious homemade yogurt.
Member since: 2005
Alma Mater: Colorado State University
Occupation: Executive Assistant
Fun Fact: Quilting is my passion.
Allison PasternakMember since: 2017
Alma Mater: Ithaca College
Occupation: Allison is the Founder and Executive Director of Royal Miles Live (www.royalmileslive.com) and is currently pursuing her Masters in Music Business with Berklee College of Music. She also teaches private voice lessons.
Fun Fact: Allison is a trained Sean-nós (traditional Irish) singer.
Kaleigh SutulaMember since: 2023
Alma Mater: Abilene Christian University, Eastman School of Music
Occupation: Frontend Developer
Fun Fact: I lived in Brazil when I was a child...and I still remember the food!
Andrea Ware-Medina
Member since: 2009
Alma Mater: Drake University, University of Colorado Denver
Occupation: Psychotherapist
Fun Fact: I'd really like to go spelunking again someday.
Jane Wright
Member since: 2021
Alma Mater: Colorado State University
Fun Fact: I saw the St. Elmo's Fire phenomenon as a child.
Tenors
Kai Berry-Helmlinger
Member since: 1997
Alma Mater: University of Colorado, Boulder
Occupation: IT Manager
Fun Fact: Kai is my middle name and everyone calls me Kai. I only use my first name for those official things that you have to use your full name for.
Ben CorwynMember Since: 2021
Josh CorwynMember Since: 2021
Alma Mater: Metropolitan State College of Denver, Emmaus Bible College
Occupation: Cafe Director of Operations for Corvus Coffee
Member since: 2018
Alma Mater: Doane University
Occupation: Head of Department for Woodwind and Brass Lessons
Fun Fact: I have never gone skiing.
Keith FergusonMember since: 2009
Alma Mater: University of Colorado, Boulder and Arvada West High School
Occupation: Consulting Water Resources Engineer also known as the "Dam Engineer"
Fun Fact: I have backpacked over 1800 miles through the mountains and wilderness areas of Colorado, Wyoming and Montana.
Mason FranceMember since: 2015
Alma Mater: Grinnell College
Occupation: Software developer
Fun Fact: I was born on the same day as my brother, but 8 years apart. His son held out till the next day.
Member since: 2005
Alma Mater: Rhodes University, CU Boulder, Metro University
Occupation: Science Teacher
Fun Fact: The surface area of Mars is about the same as all the land surface area of the Earth! ...Oh, you mean a fun fact about me? I get to teach every day in a lab that has a wind tunnel and a bridge crusher!
Bryce Kennedy
Member since: 2019
Alma Mater: St. Olaf College (BA) Oregon State University (MAT)
Occupation: Software Engineer
Fun Fact: I had a recipe published in the state newspaper when I was in first grade.
Sam LowMember since: 2019
Alma Mater: Iowa State University
Occupation: Operations Innovation and Strategy - DaVita Kidney Care
Fun Fact: I’ve lived in 3 different countries.
Alex Menter
Member since: 1997
Alma Mater: Saint Olaf
Occupation: Medical Oncologist
Fun Fact: Alex is a procurer of gadgets and the bringer of the party.
Chad NelsenMember since: 2023
Alma Mater: Wartburg College
Occupation: Law Clerk
Fun Fact: For a year in 2015 to 2016, I lived on the coast of Lake Kivu in Rwanda. I'd move back in a heartbeat if I could!
Seth O'Kegley-GibsonMember since: 2023
Alma Mater: East Tennessee State/University of Tennessee/Iliff School of Theology
Occupation: Clergy
Fun Fact: Seth enjoys amateur astronomy, southern cooking, and international travel.
Zachariah Smith
Jonathan Von Stroh
John WrightMember since: 2021
Alma Mater: Colorado State University
Occupation: Software Engineer
Fun Fact: I went to three high schools across three states.
Basses
Johnny Bartley
Member since: 2017
Alma Mater: Oberlin
Occupation: HR Director
Fun Fact: In college, I spent three summers basically living “Dirty Dancing” while working at a resort in Maine.
Michael BizzaroMember since: 2011
Alma Mater: Ohio Northern University and the University of Colorado at Boulder
Occupation: High School Choir Director
Fun Fact: I lied about my voice classification to get an audition with Kantorei and sang in the “wrong” section for 2 years.
Jordan BlackMember since: 2021
Alma Mater: University of Missouri
Occupation: Business Owner
Fun Fact: My kids share the same birthday and they aren't twins!
Michael BoenderMember since: 2002
Alma Mater: Wartburg College, University of Houston
Occupation: Optometrist
Fun Fact: Years ago, while doing Outward Bound, I almost sat on a sleeping Porcupine.
Member since: 2021
Alma Mater: University of Puget Sound, CSU
Occupation: Choir Teacher
Fun Fact: I adore running. I’m not very fast but I do love getting outside and zoning out on long runs.
Garth Criswell
Member since: 1997
Alma Mater: California Lutheran University
Occupation: Realtor
Fun Fact: Third Generation Coloradan.
Member since: 2017
Alma Mater: B.A., M.A.: Wesleyan University, Ph.D.: University of Michigan
Occupation: Biochemistry Professor
Fun Fact: I enjoy packing, but dislike unpacking.
Brad JacksonMember since: 2007
Alma Mater: Baylor University
Occupation: Psychologist
Fun Fact: I love to snowboard!
Brad Larson
Member since: 2004
Alma Mater: St. Olaf College
Occupation: Sales/Independent Manufacturer's Representative
Fun Fact: I sang "My Girl" with the original Temptations at the Las Vegas Hilton showroom!
Bryan LastrellaMember since: 2023
Alma Mater: Metropolitan State University of Denver
Occupation: A/V Tech and Barista
Fun Fact: My family owns a sushi restaurant down in Colorado Springs called Jei Sushi.
John LudwigMember since: 1997
Alma Mater: Middlebury College
Occupation: Realtor
Fun Fact: I might spend more time singing alto than is considered healthy for a baritone!
John SchaakMember since: 2011
Alma Mater: Friends University and Colorado University
Occupation: Central Autos Used Car Dealership Owner and School Bus Driver for DCSDK12
Fun Fact: The Van Der Schaak family were makers of chess boards and chess pieces.
Kirk Schjodt
Griffin SutherlandMember since: 2017
Alma Mater: New York University
Occupation: Family Nurse Practitioner
Fun Fact: I was able to sing back up for Alan Cumming in concert.
Matt Weissenbuehler
Member since: 1998
Alma Mater: Wartburg College
Occupation: Project Manager
Fun Fact: Award-winning home-brewer.
