Our Purpose
The Children’s Chorus of Rio Rancho offers musical instruction in a welcoming, open, and fun environment. Singers are encouraged to use their voice to create music together with children in a healthy and pleasing manner. They will learn proper breath control, tone production, pitch and rhythmic accuracy, and elementary musicianship. Through the group’s musical instruction and performance experience, CCRR hopes to instill confidence and self-esteem, skills that will serve our members for life. CCRR unites children of diverse backgrounds by bringing them together with the common thread of music. CCRR also advances the role of children making community art by offering a public performance at the end of each season.
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Our Members
We know that there are many children in the community that are curious and enthusiastic about singing and performing, but as education budgets shrink, so do opportunities for these creative kids to participate and engage in musical activities. The CCRR welcomes prospective singers with all levels of talent and experience, whether it be to try something new or to further develop the skills and abilities of a singer with experience. We are proud that although our singers come from a variety of background and experience, they are able to come together as a group to create beautiful arts, lasting friendships, and community enrichment.
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Our Rehearsals
The CCRR rehearses every Saturday 12:30pm-1:45pm, September through early December, and February through early May. CCRR rehearsals begin with vocal warmups to physically prepare the chorus members’ voices for singing, and to teach vocal technique. After warm-ups, the chorus will work on repertoire for the season’s concerts, through which the director will help the singers to learn to read music and performance practice. Singers are encouraged to arrive 5 minutes early and to make sure they have their music with them and in their seats, ready to learn and participate. Some of the songs might have a movement component, so singers are encouraged to wear clothing appropriate for that activity. Parents are always invited to sit in on rehearsals as observers.
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Hear all about the Children's Chorus in our recent interview with Terry Travis on KKOB's This Weekend with Terry Travis
CCRR Artistic Director Louise Loomis
Louise Loomis received her BA and MA in Music Education from the University of New Mexico. She further specialized in the music education of children with training in Orff-Schulwerk - a developmental approach to music education that integrates music, movement, drama, and speech into a child’s world of play. She has received Orff Certifications from Denver University, Hamline University, the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She has also studied at the Orff Institute in Salzburg, Austria.
Ms. Loomis has taught music classes for the elementary students of Albuquerque Public Schools and San Felipe Pueblo. She taught music for over 20 years at Manzano Day School, and is currently the music teacher at Sunset Mesa School. Her choruses regularly performed with the NM Symphony Orchestra and NM Philharmonic Orchestra, and hundreds of her students have participated in NM All-State Choruses.
Louise is well-known in Albuquerque for her annual full-scale musicals with 4th and 5th grade students, with hits like The Pirates of Penzance, Into The Woods, Beauty and the Beast, and The Wizard of Oz. She is also renowned in NM for her preparation of young singers for opera performances, such as The Magic Flute and Carmen with the Santa Fe Opera, and La Boheme and Tosca with Opera Southwest.
Ms. Loomis has received the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra Teacher of the Year Award, the NM Educators Association’s John M. Batcheller Award for Excellence in Teaching Elementary Music, and the Bravo Award for Excellence in Arts Education awarded by the Albuquerque Arts Alliance.
Ms. Loomis has taught music classes for the elementary students of Albuquerque Public Schools and San Felipe Pueblo. She taught music for over 20 years at Manzano Day School, and is currently the music teacher at Sunset Mesa School. Her choruses regularly performed with the NM Symphony Orchestra and NM Philharmonic Orchestra, and hundreds of her students have participated in NM All-State Choruses.
Louise is well-known in Albuquerque for her annual full-scale musicals with 4th and 5th grade students, with hits like The Pirates of Penzance, Into The Woods, Beauty and the Beast, and The Wizard of Oz. She is also renowned in NM for her preparation of young singers for opera performances, such as The Magic Flute and Carmen with the Santa Fe Opera, and La Boheme and Tosca with Opera Southwest.
Ms. Loomis has received the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra Teacher of the Year Award, the NM Educators Association’s John M. Batcheller Award for Excellence in Teaching Elementary Music, and the Bravo Award for Excellence in Arts Education awarded by the Albuquerque Arts Alliance.
