Kendall Bridges
Artistic Director, Mosaic Youth Chorus

Kendall V. Bridges is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado, with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education. He brings to Mosaic Youth Chorus over 12 years of vocal music instruction within the public school system with the Denver Public Schools, Pittsburg (CA) Unified School District and Adams County School District 14. He also served as Minister of Music at Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church in Oakland, CA. His previous experiences have included serving as assistant conductor for various concerts and a guest appearance with the Community College of Aurora.

He is currently active in the tenor section of the Colorado Chorale, and prior to returning to Colorado, sang tenor and served on the Board of directors for the Oakland Symphony Chorus.

Gabrielle Dietrich
Assistant Director, Denver Gay Men's Chorus

Gabrielle Dietrich is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Musical Arts at CU-Boulder, where she serves as the assistant conductor of University Singers and the graduate assistant for the Center for British and Irish Studies. Ms. Dietrich holds a bachelor's degree from University of the Pacific a master's degree in choral conducting from CU, and a General Diploma in Methodology from the Zoltán Kodály Pedagogical Institute of Music in Kecskemet, Hungary. Gabrielle also teaches summer courses in music theory and aural skills for the American Kodály Institute at Loyola University in Maryland.

Joy Jenkins
Assistant Director, Denver Women’s Chorus and Director, Take Note!

Joy holds a Master's Degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Kansas. After moving to Denver, she joined the Denver Women's Chorus in the spring of 2002. Joy became the Director of DWC's small ensemble, Take Note!, in the fall of 2002 and became the Assistant Director of DWC in the spring of 2005. Joy is also the assistant Choir Director at Christ Church United Methodist and sings with the Women's Ensemble "Safonia."

Rick Miller
Principal Accompanist, Denver Gay Men's Chorus

Rick Miller is a founding member of the Denver Gay Men's Chorus, singing as a First Tenor. He has held the position of Principal Accompanist for the past 16 years, and continues to sing with the chorus on occasion.

Rick has a degree in composition and has arranged and composed for several local performing groups. He plays several instruments and at various times has played in orchestras and wind ensembles as well as being a church organist. In addition to his musical activities he has volunteered for the past 12 years as a news anchor for Colorado Out Spoken.

Wendy Nestrud
Principal Accompanist, Mosaic Youth Chorus

This is Wendy's first season with Mosaic. After studying and working a short time in nursing, she pursued her musical ambitions and graduated from Metropolitan State College of Denver in 2001 with a Bachelor's Degree in Musical Performance. She teaches privately in her home, collaborates with other musicians, and has accompanied at other local schools.

Lara Jean O'Connor
Principal Accompanist, Denver Women's Chorus
Principal Accompanist, Out Loud: The Colorado Springs Men's Chorus

Lara Jean holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education and Oboe Performance from Dana College in Blair, Nebraska. After post-graduate work at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, she returned to Denver to pursue her music career. In addition to accompanying the Denver Women's Chorus, Lara Jean is an accompanist at Metropolitan State College of Denver and the principal accompanist for Out Loud. She is also the pianist/organist at Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Broomfield.

Ben Riggs
Artistic Director, Denver Gay Men's Chorus

Ben Riggs is a conductor, singer, and pianist living in Denver, CO. Ben is passionate about music making and the ritual experience, both in sacred worship and secular concert venues. Ben's professional experience leading volunteer choral ensembles and teaching burgeoning musicians have made him in demand as a clinician, teacher, and conductor both in Denver and throughout the United States.

In addition to conducting the Denver Gay Men's Chorus, Ben is also the Artistic Director of the Boulder Chorale, a 130-voice community chorus in Boulder. An experienced church musician, Ben currently serves the congregation of Boulder's Atonement Lutheran Church as Cantor/Director of Music. He was previously Director of Music at Christ Church United Methodist and Wellshire Presbyterian Church in Denver.

Ben is an active performer in the Denver musical community. Recently, Ben helped found the brand new Firesign Vocal Quartet and the Colorado Conductors' Chorus, a unique ensemble made up entirely of choral conductors.

Ben holds a Bachelor of Music in piano from Wheaton College Conservatory of Music, and a Master of Music in choral conducting from the University of Colorado. At present, Ben is completing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Literature and Performance, also at the University of Colorado.

Mark Zwilling
Artistic Director, Denver Women's Chorus
Artistic Director, Out Loud: The Colorado Springs Men’s Chorus

Mark's educational and professional background in music is extensive. Currently, he is the Director of Music (overseeing eighteen choirs!) at St. Andrew United Methodist church in Highlands Ranch. Mark is in his tenth year as the Artistic Director of the Denver Women's Chorus and fourth with Out Loud: The Colorado Springs Men's Chorus. Mark is also the staff accompanist for the Colorado Academy. Prior to coming to Denver, Mark worked with Tim Seelig and the Women's Chorus of Dallas on several special projects, and he was the Director of Worship for the Cathedral of Hope, the largest Metropolitan Community Church in the world. Mark is an actively performing pianist and private voice teacher as well. His talents have led him throughout the country where he has worked with individuals such as the former Phantom of the Opera star Michael Crawford, and he has performed under the auspices of the National Endowment for the Arts. Mark holds three undergraduate and master's degrees in music, including graduating with honors from DePaul University in Chicago.