Boulder Chorale Artistic Director – Ben Riggs 

Ben Riggs is a conductor, singer, and pianist living in Denver, CO. Ben is passionate about music making and the ritual experience, both in sacred worship and secular concert venues. Ben’s professional experience leading volunteer choral ensembles and teaching burgeoning musicians have made him in demand as a clinician, teacher, and conductor both in Denver and throughout the United States.

Ben is the Director of Worship at Christ Church United Methodist. In addition to directing the CCUM Chancel Choir, Ben oversees worship planning & coordination and church promotional materials. Before coming to Christ Church in 2003, Ben was the full-time Director of Music at Denver's Wellshire Presbyterian Church.

Ben is also the Artistic Director of the Denver Gay Men's Chorus (DGMC). Committed to its mission of building community through music, DGMC performs three major concerts each year and appears at dozens of free outreach events throughout the Denver-metro area.

From 2002-2007, Ben served as an adjunct faculty member at the Iliff School of Theology, where he directed the Iliff Choir, assisted in planning community worship, and team-taught the Ritual & Worship class.

Ben is an active performer in the Denver musical community. He sings regularly with the St. Martin's Chamber Choir, Denver's only fully-professional chorus. Recently, Ben helped found the brand new Firesign Vocal Quartet and the Colorado Conductors’ Chorus, a unique ensemble made up entirely of choral conductors.

In 2006, Ben founded the Congress Park Choral Union, a volunteer summer-only community chorus. CPCU included more than 70 singers during its inaugural season; the chorus presented a sold-out Debut Concert at Christ Church UMC on August 6, 2006.

Ben holds a Bachelor of Music in piano from Wheaton College Conservatory of Music, and a Master of Music in choral conducting from the University of Colorado. At present, Ben is completing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Literature and Performance, also at the University of Colorado.

Children's Chorale Music Director – Kimberly Watkins

Kim Watkins completed dual master’s degrees in music education and vocal performance at the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2004. Her professional experience includes thirteen years of secondary choral teaching in North Carolina and Colorado public school systems. In 2003, Mrs. Watkins advanced as a finalist in voice competitions sponsored by the Denver Lyric Opera Guild and the National Association of Teachers of Singing. During her graduate studies at the University of Colorado, she appeared as Madame Lidoine in Dialogues of the Carmelites, and as Gianetta in L’Elisir d’Amore. She also served as conductor of the University Women’s Choir and as an instructor for various music education courses. Mrs. Watkins has been a soloist with the Arvada Chorale, Boulder Chorale and the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra. She has served as an adjudicator for voice competitions at CU Boulder and in the Saint Vrain Valley School District. Mrs. Watkins is currently Director of Choirs at Niwot High School. She resides in Longmont with her husband, Jason and her son, Daniel.

Children's Preparatory Choir Director – Shauna Keene

A native of Santa Barbara, Shauna Keene is a Regional Winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, a first Place Junior Division Winner of the West Palm Beach Opera Competition, as well as the recipient of awards from Dante Alighieri Society, NATS, and Denver Lyric Opera Guild. Shauna was a fellowship artist at Music Academy of the West for two consecutive seasons, and has appeared as guest artist with Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Opera Fort Collins, Central City Opera, Colorado Symphony Orchestra, and many others. Some of her operatic roles include Constance in Dialogues of the Carmelites, Queen of the Night in Magic Flute, Despina in Cosí fan tutte and Zerlina in Don Giovanni.

Shauna earned a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Colorado (Boulder), a post-Bachelor Teacher s License from Colorado State University, and will complete a Master s of Music in Music Education from Colorado State University in 2009. She is a Kodály certified music teacher and a member of the Organization of American Kodály Educators.

Principal Accompanist and Musical Preparation – Michael Mastronicola

Michael Mastronicola performs extensively as a soloist and collaborative pianist, appearing in concerts throughout the United States and Europe. He has performed with the Boulder Philharmonic in the music of Bach, Handel, and Fauré, and has held teaching positions at Front Range Community College, the University of Colorado-Boulder, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the Rochester City School District. His most recent recording is Then Sings My Soul with soprano Tresa Waggoner.

Dr. Mastronicola has been praised for his “expressive” and “intelligent, skilled” playing. During 2005, he was selected to be the coach accompanist and harpsichordist with the Opera Colorado Outreach Ensemble, during which time he was recognized for his “outstanding dedication and exemplary community service.” In addition to adjudicating numerous music competitions, he served as guest conductor of the Boulder County Multiple Piano Festival. He has presented lectures to area music groups including local MTNA chapters, and his students have won recognition in local festivals and competitions.

Dr. Mastronicola holds degrees from the University of Colorado-Boulder (D.M.A), the University of Wisconsin-Madison (M.M.), and Ithaca College (B.M.). Currently, he is Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church in Brighton, CO, and principal accompanist with the Boulder Chorale.

Accompanist – R. Anthony Lee

Tony Lee comes to the Boulder Chorale with a career spanning 45 years as organist, church musician and composer. At the College of Church Musicians, Washington National Cathedral, he studied composition and analysis under Leo Sowerby, organ under Preston Rockholt and conducting under Paul Callaway. His compositions for organ and chorus have been heard in churches and cathedrals throughout the United States, including performances at Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, and Washington National Cathedral.

As organist, Mr. Lee has served parishes in Maryland and Colorado. He was organist/choirmaster at St. John's Episcopal, Boulder, from 1968-1970. Since 1986, he has been accompanist with Boulder's Ars Nova Singers under the direction of Thomas Morgan. In 2004, Mr. Lee retired after 33 years as organist at St. Aidan's Episcopal, Boulder and is now associate organist at St. John's, Boulder. Tony has been with the Chorale since 2005.

Children's Concert Chorale Accompanist – Caitlin Sugishita

Caitlin received her M.M. in Piano Performance from the University of Colorado at Boulder where she studied with Doris Pridonoff Lehnert and Alvin Chow. During her time there she won numerous regional competitions including MTNA and the Nancy Clark Piano Competition. In 2000, she was a featured performer at the International Piano Festival in Houston, TX. The following year she was accepted as a student at the Ecole de Musique in Paris and also had an opportunity to study and perform at the International Piano Sessions in Prague.

Caitlin has an extensive background as an accompanist and has performed with many musical groups in Colorado including the Colorado Opera, Boulder Chorale, Arvada Center Chorale and Resonance Women's Chorus. She was also the pianist at Jefferson Unitarian Church in Golden, Colorado for six years. Caitlin has performed both solo and collaborative recitals throughout the United States and Europe and most recently gave a series of recitals in Japan with her husband, violinist Takanori Sugishita. After spending one year in Oregon living closer to her family, Caitlin and Takanori, along with their three-year-old son, have returned to live in Colorado.

Children's Preparatory Choir Accompanist – Gunna Kim

Gunna is currently pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance at the University of Colorado at Boulder, where she studies with Dr. Andrew Cooperstock. She completed both her master's degree and professional studies in piano performances from San Francisco Conservatory of Music under Dr. Sharon Mann. She has also studied Julian Martin, Yoheved Kaplinski, Boris Slutsky, Gabriel Chodos, and Anton Nel during summer festivals. Király Csaba greatly influenced to her music development during her musical education in South Korea. Chamber musicians at the Liszt Academy of Music in Hungary also inspired her early years. She has performed extensively in the San Francisco Bay Area, Boulder, and South Korea as not only a soloist but also chamber musician. Recently, she has been serving as a pianist at Boulder Korean Church and University Hills Lutheran Church and a member of the faculty in Continuing Education at the University of Colorado at Boulder. She enjoys working with Dr. Cooperstock, teaching students at CE, and performing in Boulder area.

Administrator – Erin Christensen-Mandel

Erin moved to Colorado in 2000 with a music degree from Gonzaga University. In addition to performing cello with the Boulder Chorale and the Boulder Women's Chorale, she has performed with the Colorado Cello Choir, the Gonzaga Symphony Orchestra, the Whitworth Orchestra, the Spokane Civic Theatre, the Gonzaga Choir, and with many smaller ensembles. Erin currently is the studio cellist for San Luis Sound. In 2004 she finished her Master's degree at Naropa University in Literary Translation. Erin has been with the Chorale since 2004.

Executive Director – JoAn Segal

JoAn joined the Chorale in 1993 and has served in various board positions. A librarian, she also holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Communication and Theatre. She headed a western library networking agency and served as an executive of the American Library Association. Still active in library associations, she also reads poetry at a senior residence. JoAn's small business, Vintage Ventures, provides library services to law firms in the Boulder area.

Graphics – Julie Hale

Julie is a 2nd Alto and has been singing with the Boulder Chorale since 2001. She was born in Colorado, grew up in Boulder and is married to another Colorado Native, Jeff Hale (Bass/Treasurer). They have three grown children and an amazing little granddaughter. Julie is a graphic designer who loves to travel and ride her bicycle.