Children's Chorus of Rio Rancho

Registration for Youth & Children's Choruses
is Open thru Sept 15.
Rehearsals are every SATURDAY AT 2PM
beginning Sat 8/24
Star Heights Recreation Center 800 Polaris
Rio Rancho's premiere children's (2nd-5th grade) chorus accepts singers of all backgrounds, styles, cultures, orientations, abilities, and identities. Our programs are led by professional chorale directors and accompanist at every rehearsal. Our concerts include some of the area's most talented local musicians. Discover the joy of singing in a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone is welcome. Enroll today and let your child's voice shine!
We rehearse Saturdays beginning August 24 at Star Heights Rec Center, 800 Polaris Blvd, Rio Rancho,
rr-cc.org/ email [email protected] for information on registration
or
come to any rehearsal in September to speak to us directly.
$125 fee -- Early bird, sibling discounts/payment plans available

Rehearsals:
Children’s Chorus (for 2nd-5th grades) will be 12:30-1:45 p.m.
Youth Chorus (for 6th-12th grades) will be 2-4:00 p.m.
Our rehearsal space is Star Heights Recreation Center, 800 Polaris Blvd. Rio Rancho, NM.

We accept singers of all experience levels, abilities, genders, identities, backgrounds, cultures, and orientations.
No auditions.
Come to learn about music, meet new friends, and have fun.

We are located in Rio Rancho, but you don't have to be!
The Children's Chorus of Rio Rancho welcomes (second-fifth grade) singers
of all backgrounds, styles, cultures, orientations, abilities, and identities.
No previous chorus experience is required – you just need to love to sing!
We accept new members twice a year in January/February and again in August/September. Everyone is welcome!
Tuition is $125 per season, which includes 10-15 sessions of two-hours of instruction and rehearsal and t-shirt. Full and partial scholarships and sibling discounts are available.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Kamtara Johnson

Rehearsal Accompanist

Kamatara Johnson has been a piano accompanist for church services, student performances, and community groups for over 35 years. She also taught quite a few summers at Hummingbird Music Camp and has been a director of music ministry in a few spiritual communities over the years. Her first career was teaching high school English and theater for almost 25 years. Now in her second career, Kamatara is the executive director of Circles USA, a national anti-poverty initiative with over 70 chapters across the United States and up into Canada. As Reverend Kamatara, she serves on
the weekends as a substitute minister for New Thought communities in ABQ and Las Cruces sharing inspirational messages, music, classes, workshops, and just good ol' visiting. Recently, Kamatara has reconnected with her first love: singing, performing with Opera Southwest and the New Mexico Symphonic Chorus in 2023.