Our Staff
Choir Directors
Sheri McKelfresh
Sheri is the artistic director of Centennial Children’s Chorus and the director of Sala Voce and Primo Coro. In her career as a music educator, she has taught every level from kindergarten through college and private voice lessons. She currently directs the Chancel Choir at our Saviour’s Lutheran Church and performs with the Larimer Chorale. She retired from the Poudre School District in 2006, after 31 years as a public school music specialist. Sheri holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Colorado State University, a master’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Northern Colorado, Level III Certificate in Orff-Schulwerk from Colorado State University, Level III Certificate in Creative Artistry from Butler University, Kodaly Level I certification from Hartford University, and a First Steps in Music Certification with John Feierabend. Both of her children, Kelsey and David, are alumni of CCC.
Michael Apodaca
Michael started as director of Jubilate in 2011. Since 1995, Michael has been teaching elementary and middle school choral music in Chicago, Los Angeles, Denver, and Greeley. During that time, Michael obtained his certification in Orff-Schulwerk, Kodaly, and Musikgarten methods. He has taught classes specializing in music for young children at Pasadena City College, Los Angeles City College, and California State University in Los Angeles. Michael holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Composition from University of California in Santa Barbara, a Masters Degree in Music Education from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, and has recently graduated with an Ed.S. Degree in Educational Leadership from University of Northern Colorado. Michael is currently teaching elementary music for Weld County School District Six.
Wendi Burback
Wendi Burback, director of Cantare, earned her Bachelor of Music Education (BME) degree from Colorado State University. Mrs. Burback's teaching career has included elementary and middle school choir, musical theatre, and general music classes in the Weld RE-9 and Poudre school districts. She has directed various musical groups including, the PSD Elementary Honor Choir (2019), community and church children's choirs, adult choirs, orchestras and currently gives private voice lessons. In the Fall of 2013, she assumed the duties as Director with Centennial Children's Chorus. She loves living in Fort Collins and enjoys the Colorado lifestyle with her husband, James, and their three beautiful children.
Accompanists
Donna Lewis
Donna Lewis was raised in Pueblo, Colorado, then moved to California for 20 years. However, the mountains kept calling her back and she returned to Colorado in 1991 with her husband and 5 children, all of whom were raised in PSD schools.
Along with continuous private piano teaching, Donna quickly received her Certified Substitute Teaching Certificate and got to know most of the band, orchestra, and music teachers in PSD. She was on staff at Webber Middle School, Lincoln Middle School, Rocky Mountain High School, and Windsor High School. Through the years, she accompanied at many schools and community venues, teaching, working at JC Penneys, The Coloradoan, and Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church. Her favorite times were helping to open Magnolia Music Studio with Cynthia Vaughn and Aimee Woods, being on staff at Front Range Community College, accompanying musicals at Poudre and Rocky Mountain High Schools, and becoming Staff Accompanist for the Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance at CSU.
Keah Redder
Keah is the accompanist for Cantare. She joined CCC in 2013. Keah began accompanying while in middle school, and has accompanied various ensembles and individuals from elementary through college age. She enjoys singing with the Rocky Mountain Chamber Singers, and she loves to get her hands on a good book. She graduated from Anderson University with a BA in Bible and Religion.
Crystal Kerr
Crystal Kerr is the accompanist for Jubilate. She has a Masters Degree in Music from CSU and teaches at Front Range Community College.
Support
Each choir also has graduate assistants who share responsibilities for their choir. These assistants are graduates of CCC who assist the directors during rehearsals with musical and clerical activities.
We are governed by a working board of directors, consisting of the Artistic Director, the two other main choir directors, three board officers, plus nine more parental representatives. The board sets and manages the budget for the choir, as well as coordinating parent volunteers for the many hours of work related to uniforms, concert logistics, costumes and makeup for Kids on Broadway, media sales, managing our music library, and publicity and fundraising.
