BRIAN PATRICK LEATHERMAN, Artistic Director and Conductor
For over 30 years Brian Patrick Leatherman has enthusiastically led the Cherry Creek Chorale through a period of
unprecedented artistic, membership, and collaborative growth. During his 30 year teaching career his students
performed multiple times at the annual conferences of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association and the Colorado
Music Educator’s Association. He is active as a choral clinician and adjudicator, and has appeared as soloist or
conductor with the San Juan Symphony, National Repertory Orchestra, Colorado Springs Symphony, Boulder Symphony,
Arapahoe Philharmonic and Sinfonietta, Greeley Philharmonic, Aurora Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, Jefferson
Symphony, Evergreen Chamber Orchestra, Fort Collins Symphony, Breckenridge Music Institute Chamber Orchestra,
Pueblo Symphony, Colorado Ballet, Evergreen Chorale, Colorado Chorale, Columbine Chorale, Colorado Repertory
Singers, Larimer Chorale, Greeley Chorale, Pueblo Chorale, Durango Choral Society, Santa Fe Desert Chorale,
Colorado Springs Chorale, Abendmusik, the Robert Shaw Festival Singers, and the Robert Shaw Festival Chorus.
Prior posts include the Pueblo Choral Society and the Douglas County Children’s Chorus. He holds BME and MM
degrees from Colorado State University, and cites his two greatest influences as Barbara Grenoble in pedagogy
and Robert Shaw in choral work.
unprecedented artistic, membership, and collaborative growth. During his 30 year teaching career his students
performed multiple times at the annual conferences of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association and the Colorado
Music Educator’s Association. He is active as a choral clinician and adjudicator, and has appeared as soloist or
conductor with the San Juan Symphony, National Repertory Orchestra, Colorado Springs Symphony, Boulder Symphony,
Arapahoe Philharmonic and Sinfonietta, Greeley Philharmonic, Aurora Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, Jefferson
Symphony, Evergreen Chamber Orchestra, Fort Collins Symphony, Breckenridge Music Institute Chamber Orchestra,
Pueblo Symphony, Colorado Ballet, Evergreen Chorale, Colorado Chorale, Columbine Chorale, Colorado Repertory
Singers, Larimer Chorale, Greeley Chorale, Pueblo Chorale, Durango Choral Society, Santa Fe Desert Chorale,
Colorado Springs Chorale, Abendmusik, the Robert Shaw Festival Singers, and the Robert Shaw Festival Chorus.
Prior posts include the Pueblo Choral Society and the Douglas County Children’s Chorus. He holds BME and MM
degrees from Colorado State University, and cites his two greatest influences as Barbara Grenoble in pedagogy
and Robert Shaw in choral work.
WILLIAM “Will” WHITE, Associate Conductor, Assistant Accompanist
William White, a Minnesota native, is the Director of Vocal Music and Tri-M Chapter Sponsor at D’Evelyn
Jr./Sr. High School. William graduated magna cum laude with All-College Honors from St. John’s
University with a BA in Music- Piano Performance, and received his MM in Choral Conducting from the
University of Kentucky. He has accompanied honor choirs, reading sessions, festivals, and musicals with
ACDA-MN, Kentucky Music Educators Association, The Lexington Theatre Company, and most recently accompanied
the High School Honor Choir at the combined Central and North-Central ACDA Regional Convention in Chicago,
IL. He lives in Denver with his wife Melissa, and their dog Fritz, and he is excited to be working with the
Cherry Creek Chorale.
Jr./Sr. High School. William graduated magna cum laude with All-College Honors from St. John’s
University with a BA in Music- Piano Performance, and received his MM in Choral Conducting from the
University of Kentucky. He has accompanied honor choirs, reading sessions, festivals, and musicals with
ACDA-MN, Kentucky Music Educators Association, The Lexington Theatre Company, and most recently accompanied
the High School Honor Choir at the combined Central and North-Central ACDA Regional Convention in Chicago,
IL. He lives in Denver with his wife Melissa, and their dog Fritz, and he is excited to be working with the
Cherry Creek Chorale.
DEBBIE JOHNSON, Principal Accompanist
Principal Accompanist, Debbie Johnson grew up playing Beethoven & Chopin and singing Rodgers &
Hammerstein! She had been a member of the CherryTones since its inception, most recently as the
director. She has taught music and drama in both Denver and Tucson. Currently, she writes books and blogs.
Previously, she worked with two non-profits in India and founded/directed DenverWorks, an inner-city jobs
program. She did graduate work at the University of Denver and received her Masters in Music Education in
Arkansas. She loves the artistry, excellence, and FUN of the Cherry Creek Chorale!
Hammerstein! She had been a member of the CherryTones since its inception, most recently as the
director. She has taught music and drama in both Denver and Tucson. Currently, she writes books and blogs.
Previously, she worked with two non-profits in India and founded/directed DenverWorks, an inner-city jobs
program. She did graduate work at the University of Denver and received her Masters in Music Education in
Arkansas. She loves the artistry, excellence, and FUN of the Cherry Creek Chorale!
JAMES LIBBON, Director, CherryTones
CherryTones Conductor, James Libbon, is happy to have been able to join the Chorale and the Tones, and also
pleased to be in his current position as musical director for the group. He has more than 20 years of
educational and professional choral performance experience, mostly vocal jazz and rockapella, fifteen of which
was leading, writing, and arranging for groups. When he’s not singing, he works as a geriatric physician. In
his spare time he pursues hobbies including photography, videography, swimming, and spending time with his wife
and daughters.
pleased to be in his current position as musical director for the group. He has more than 20 years of
educational and professional choral performance experience, mostly vocal jazz and rockapella, fifteen of which
was leading, writing, and arranging for groups. When he’s not singing, he works as a geriatric physician. In
his spare time he pursues hobbies including photography, videography, swimming, and spending time with his wife
and daughters.