About Us

​Founded in 2013, Rio Rancho Creative Crossroads' (RRCC) mission is to bring high quality, reasonably priced cultural art to Rio Rancho. You heard me, right here in Rio Rancho. We focus on finding ways to introduce our members and our community to bigger, bolder, different, extraordinary artistic experiences you would never expect to get in Rio Rancho.

You may not recognize the name Rio Rancho Creative Crossroads, because you may know us by one of our program names. We have three chorale programs, Children's Chorus of Rio Rancho, Rio Rancho Youth Chorus, and our advanced chorus, Encore. We are also GenerARTistry, which helps local talents produce their art in an easily consumable fashion so they can use their gifts to gift their community. Our first project is called The Squeaky Shoes project. We helped local author Debbie Coston make a coloring book version of her story Stanley and the Squeaky Shoes and we will help her realize her passion, making sure every kid has a new pair of shoes for their first day of school. In November 2019, RRCC joined with Mel Sussman to bring a community theater group to town, Rio Rancho Players Community Theatre (RRP).  RRP is an all ages community theater that rehearses and performs in Rio Rancho!  In 2021, we launched the Children's Chorus of Rio Rancho.  Based on our RRYC model, this open, cooperative chorus for 2nd - 5th graders is extremely popular, filling to capacity in only it's first season!  And coming next, RIO RANCHO ART ON THE MESA, which launches in September with Mini Monet, a parent/toddler art class for ages 3-5.

If you are a lover of the arts, join us! RRCC is ready, willing, and able to build a diverse and thriving arts community inside our city limits. But we cannot do it alone. We need your help. We are always looking to partner with local businesses for sponsorship and support. We also collaborate/partner with non-profit organizations to create new experiences across different audiences.

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Leadership

​CCRR Artistic Director -  Michelle Zetterholm

Michelle Zetterholm is an Albuquerque native who was raised in the musical world.  Beginning with children’s chorus at a young age, through currently singing as a member of the Opera Southwest chorus, she has always had a love for singing and making music when any opportunity arises.  She received her BME from the University of Northern Colorado where she performed several well-known choral works, as well as sang in opera choruses in France and Germany.  After graduating she returned home to pass that love and passion for performance to a new generation of musicians.  She is currently the music teacher at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School, where she teaches children ranging in age from pre-K through 8th grade.  In addition to singing, she’s a trained violist who teaches a small studio of violin and viola students at home.  When she’s not teaching or performing, she’s a mom to two of her own children who are beginning their own journeys as musicians.

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Board of Directors and Committee Chairs

Neal Shotwell - President
Anne Kinney - Vice President
Jim Shotwell - Secretary/Treasurer
Aaron Howe - Chorale Programs Manager
Ryan Cooper
Audrey Troche

RRYC Artistic Director –
​Colin Burdge

The Rio Rancho Youth Chorus is thrilled to announce Colin Burdge as their new Artistic Director! The former director of the RRYC, Aaron Howe, has moved into the role of Executive Director of the umbrella non-profit Rio Rancho Creative Crossroads, after serving nine years as the founding Artistic Director. The RRYC looks forward with great enthusiasm to the leadership of Colin Burdge, a young director and performer of great skill and accomplishment!

Colin is extremely well known and respected in the local choral and theater community. His great talent and drive earned him a degree in Vocal Performance from Gonzaga University, and to many solo performances in NM with the New Mexico Symphony Chorus, the New Mexico Philharmonic Orchestra, and Opera Southwest. He also performs regularly with Polyphony Voices Of New Mexico. Colin has also served as the Assistant Director of the New Mexico Gay Men’s Chorus for the last 5 years, where he also directs the outreach ensemble of the NMGMC, the QTones. Colin has a vast array of experience performing challenging lead roles in community musicals, such as Company, Jekyll and Hyde, and Fun Home. He is also known for being a top notch music director, making his debut with Musical Theater Southwest’s production of Nine, and currently music directing two musicals at the same time: The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Carrie The Musical.

“Colin Burdge is one of the most talented and sought-after directors and performers around. I have had the privilege of working with him over the years, and I am continually astounded at the complexity of musical projects that he is able to master, and amazed at the high quality that he is able to bring out of a wide variety of performers. Any chorus or theater would be absolutely delighted to have Colin leading their music program, and the RRYC feels extremely fortunate and grateful that he will be joining us as Artistic Director. We are eagerly anticipating seeing and hearing what he will be able to accomplish with our enthusiastic singers,” says Aaron Howe, Executive Director of RRCC.

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