The Colorado Choir, founded in 1976, is one of the most dynamic influences in the Colorado music scene. In its history, it has presented more than fifty performances with the Denver Symphony Orchestra. Today the choir specializes in performing significant compositions for a cappella choir. The choir performed with the Boston Pops Orchestra in Denver. The choir is often extended similar invitations and accepts them when possible. The choir has sung the National Anthem to open games for the Denver Broncos and Colorado Rockies. While principally an a cappella choir, the group does perform accompanied works as well as occasional major works with orchestra. It records every spring for CD reproduction.
The Colorado Choir is a nonprofit organization with a membership ranging from 60-85 selected singers. Its board of directors is elected from among the choir membership and carries on the business of the choir, as the organization has no paid staff. The singers are adults from all ages and voice classifications. Some members are music professionals, church and school choir directors, semi-professional singers and people that embrace singing quality choral literature.
Our History
In 2009, Kelly Parmenter was selected to be the group’s second musical conductor/artistic director. Kelly’s conducting talent and experience has set a positive direction for the group which to date has included a collaboration with The Denver Brass when the combined groups performed “Apparabit Repentina Dies” by Paul Hindemith.
Ms. Parmenter also served as a choral and orchestral conductor at Arapahoe High School, Centennial, Colorado for 35 years, and brings extensive conducting experience to the Colorado Choir. Ms. Parmenter’s groups have performed at the Capital Building and Pentagon in Washington, D.C., Carnegie Hall in New York City and Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.
Celebrating its 41st season, the Colorado Choir continues to evolve as an important part of the community by providing classical choral literature through its concert schedule and other public appearances.
Auditions for the Colorado Choir’s 41st season are now closed. Auditions for our 2018-2019 season will be held in late August-early September 2018. Please check back or subscribe to our newsletter to learn more.
Additional Info for Choristers
Kelly Parmenter, the Colorado Choir’s conductor and artistic director, graduated from Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado, where she received a degree in Vocal and Instrumental Music Education. She studied on the graduate level at the University of Colorado, Boulder and received a Masters Degree in Education from Lesley University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Kelly studied choral and orchestral conducting with Randolph “Casey” Jones, Dr. Gordon Childs of Adams State College, and Dr. Lawrence Kaptein of the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Kelly brings more than 35 years of choral conducting experience to the Colorado Choir. She recently retired as the Choral and Orchestral Conductor at Arapahoe High School where she had worked since the beginning of her conducting career. She was also the chair of the Performing Arts Department at Arapahoe.
Kelly is active in the American Choral Directors Association and the Colorado Music Educators National Conference. She is a well-recognized professional member of the Denver music community and her ensembles have performed at such diverse venues as the Capitol Building and Pentagon in Washington, D.C., Carnegie Hall in New York City and Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Kelly has been a singer with The Colorado Choir since 1980 and has been a Soprano Soloist, Alto Section Leader, served on the board of directors, and was an Assistant Conductor for many years.