BRIAN PATRICK LEATHERMAN, Artistic Director and Conductor
For over 25 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.
WILLIAM (“Will”) WHITE, Associate Conductor
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 begin working with the Cherry Creek Chorale.
CINDY RUNKEL, Principal Accompanist
Principal Accompanist, Cindy Runkel, began musical training with her father while in kindergarten, then studied piano with Elizabeth Pastor, concert pianist and faculty member at The Cleveland Institute of Music. Ms. Runkel served as accompanist for her award-winning high school choral program and received multiple college scholarships, including a full piano scholarship to Miami University (OH). There she held various choral leadership roles, accompanied and sang in multiple ensembles, performed in two European concert tours, and graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree. In addition to her Artistic role, Cindy is the Chorale’s Executive Director. She performs professionally for a variety of public and private events and at churches and senior living communities; she has also served as accompanist for private music students and for the Regis University choral program. Cindy thanks her husband, Steve, and her family and friends for their enthusiastic support!
DEBBIE JOHNSON, Assistant Accompanist
