Leslie Britton, MM, Artistic Director and Founding Music Director

Leslie Britton was the Founding Music Director for Rocky Mountain Children’s Choir at its inception in 1995.  She currently holds the position of Artistic Director and is responsible for developing and implementing the choir's unique mission that partners musical excellence with commitments to multiculturalism, diversity, and outreach.  Leslie is the principal conductor for the Fourteeners ensemble and teaches a conducting class to many of our advanced choir members. 

From 1986 through 1992 Ms. Britton was Music Director and conductor for the nationally renowned Chicago Children’s Choir (CCC). With over 2000 children in its program, the CCC is the largest choral performance and training choir of its kind in the nation. Under her leadership, the choir was highlighted in many prominent performances, including an appearance in 1991 with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Sir George Solti.

Ms. Britton holds a Master of Music Degree in Choral Conducting from Northwestern University and is a member of Pi Kappa Lamda music honorary society.  Additionally, upon receiving her undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College in 1984, she was given the college’s prestigious Marcus Heiman Award for the Creative Arts.

Lisa Cameron, Music Director
Lisa Cameron is the current Music Director for the Rocky Mountain Children's Choir.  Lisa was instrumental in helping RMCC founders audition and select the original music staff and then joined the staff in 1997.  Ms. Cameron has conducted every choir level at RMCC from Montane to Altitude.  Her primary responsibilities include fulfilling the Choir's mission of outreach to the community, and ensuring musical excellence, multiculturalism, diversity, and a nurturing environment throughout RMCC.

 Before becoming Music Director, Lisa taught music at Stanley British School for a number of years and was busy raising three daughters, all of whom are in, or have graduated from RMCC.  She is an active mezzo-soprano and performs in an annual recital.

Ms. Cameron received a Bachelor of Music degree from Iowa State University in 1981 and a Master of Music Education degree with an emphasis in Children’s and Adolescent Voices from Northwestern University in 1988. While attending Northwestern, she was elected to the music honorary Pi Kappa Lambda.

Jane Ripper, Principal Accompanist
Ms. Ripper has been the Principal Accompanist for Rocky Mountain Children’s Choir since rehearsals began in 1996. She concurrently serves as Associate Director of Music and Organist at Wellshire Presbyterian Church. Ms. Ripper has accompanied a wide range of choral concerts and musical productions in the Denver area, including events at Metropolitan State College and at high schools in Cherry Creek, Littleton, Aurora, and Denver. In addition, she has accompanied vocal and instrumental recitals, master classes, and conventions and workshops for the American Choral Directors and Music Educators Associations.

Ms. Ripper received a Master of Music degree in Organ Performance and a Master of Sacred Music Degree from Southern Methodist University where she graduated summa cum laude. She graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Simpson College. Ms Ripper is a member of the American Guild of Organists, Mu Phi Epsilon, and Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honorary Society.

Betsy Britz, Accompanist/Rehearsal Assistant
Betsy Britz has been involved as a choir parent with the RMCC since 2001, and joined the staff in the fall of 2003.  She currently holds the positions as Accompanist for the Montane Choir, and Rehearsal Assistant for the Timberline Choir.  She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in piano performance from Colorado College, has taught piano, and has sung with the Johannes Brahms Choir in Denver.  She has two daughters, one of whom sings with RMCC.

Ms. Britz also has a Doctorate in Nursing from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and works as the Clinical Coordinator/Clinical Nurse Specialist at the University of Colorado Hospital.

Ashley Brown, Rehearsal Assistant

Ashley Brown got her start in Rocky Mountain Children’s Choir in the fall of 1996 as a member of the very first Montane Choir. After spending nine years as a singer in RMCC, Ashley graduated from the choir in the spring of 2005. Ashley went onto the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver to receive a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance with a musical theatre emphasis and graduated in the spring of 2009. She is a classically trained soprano and also has training in several different genres of musical theatre.  Ashley performs around the Denver area with different theatre companies, as well as teaches several private students. She is thrilled to be part of the RMCC staff, working with the wonderful people at RMCC who gave her her start in music.

Mary O'Neill Christ, Program Administrator

A long time RMCC parent, Mary Christ joined the RMCC staff this fall as a Program Administrator and works with the Montclair Montane Choir.  Mary holds a Master of Arts in Vocal Performance from the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver, and a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Pomona College in Claremont, California, with additional studies at the Aspen Music School and the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria..  A soprano, she studies with voice teacher Winnie Hartman, and sings with Wellshire Presbyterian Church as a choir member and soloist.  Mary also currently sings with the women’s ensemble, Impromptu!, and has sung in many Denver area choirs including Colorado Opera Troupe, Colorado Symphony Chorus, Colorado Mahler Festival Chorus, University of Denver Alumni Choir, Cherry Creek Chorale, and The Classic Chorale.  She presents many programs to local community groups and retirement communities, and teaches private voice lessons.

Selene Cortez, Program Administrator/Hispanic Liason

Born in Mexico and raised in Los Angeles, Selene joins the RMCC staff in the fall of 2007 after serving on the Choir's Board for two years.  She was very active in our original Pioneer school outreach program and has been involved in volunteering at Choir events for the past several years.  Selene serves a valuable role at RMCC, coordinating volunteers, translating documents and forms, and communicating with our Spanish-speaking families. 

Ms. Cortez worked as a translator for Head Start prior to joining the RMCC family.  Selene keeps very busy as a mother of two girls, both of whom sing with the Choir.    

Callie Jackson, Program Administrator, Assistant Conductor and Accompanist
Raised in Montana, Ms. Jackson toured for one year with the international musical organization, Up with People, where she played keyboards, sang, and performed public relations duties. In Denver, she has worked for the Colorado Children’s Chorale as the Tour Manager/Assistant to the Director and served as a Music Specialist in the Sheridan School district. In addition, Ms. Jackson was formerly a vocalist in the Denver Symphony Orchestra Chorus.

Ms. Jackson graduated with honors from the University of Wyoming with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education and minor in Business. She is currently a member of Delta Omicron and the Colorado Education Association. Callie stays busy with their three children (all of whom sing in RMCC) and has a private studio where she teaches piano in their Lakewood home. Callie joined RMCC in 1997.

Robert Larson, Mountain Men, Mountain Aires and Summit Conductor

Robert received his BA in music education/vocal performance from Luther College in Decorah, IA.  He performed in an a cappella male quartet World A Fair for two years in Berlin Germany.  He then sang for two seasons in Hawaii Opera Theatre's educational outreach program in Honolulu.  Robert performed in the Hawaiian premier of Forever Plaid for six months in Waikiki.  He was also the children's music director/handbell director for Central Union Church, Honolulu, HI.  Currently, Robert is in his third year as conductor of the Chancel Choir and Director of Music for Hope United Methodist Church in Greenwood Village, CO, where he also directs the children's choir and helps lead the Celebration Band.  He sings in the critically acclaimed Kantorei, Richard Larson, director.  We welcome Robert as a new conductor this year to RMCC!

Mariko Murase -- Accompanist

Mariko Murase is a classical pianist in high demand with an impressive history of education and performance experience that spans four continents.  Mariko received a Bachelor of Music in Classical Piano Performance and a Minor in Vocal Performance from the Nagoya University of Arts in Nagoya Japan.  She also holds a Master of Music in Classical Piano Performance from the University of Denver Lamont School of Music.  Additional studies include piano performance at the Liszt Franz Music Academy in Budapest Hungary, and music therapy at the Nordoff-Robbins in Sydney Australia.  Mariko also works regularly with the Waldorf School providing accompaniment in Eurhythmy, and conducts choir classes at the Arvada Center, the Lamont Men's choir at DU, and Tara Performing Arts High School.  In addition, she teaches private piano to a few select students.  Mariko has accompanied RMCC choirs in the past and we welcome her in the 2007-2008 season as a new staff member.