BRIAN EICHENBERGER

Brian has been the Conductor and Music Director of the Columbine Chorale since 2004, after serving as co-Music Director with his father, Richard, from 1996-2004. Brian holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Adams State College, where he studied the art of choral music with Randolph Jones. As a graduate student at Oklahoma State University, he studied choral conducting with Dr. Jerry McCoy, serving as President and Student Director of the University Choir. He currently receives ongoing training from Rodney Eichenberger each summer at his Choral Conducting Workshops in Cannon Beach, Oregon.
Mr. Eichenberger recently retired from teaching music in the Denver Public Schools. He taught vocal and instrumental music at West High School in Denver, where he conducted the famous Singing Christmas Tree for 15 years. West High School’s select vocal ensemble, Lariat, performed widely throughout the city, and in 2006 was honored to perform at the Inauguration Ceremony for incoming governor Bill Ritter. In addition to his teaching duties, Brian has served as clinician for the Arkansas Valley High School Honor Choir, the Denver Public Schools’ Citywide Middle School Honor Choir and the Young Voices for Peace.
Brian is a founding member of the Columbine Chorale and has enjoyed his role as a tenor/baritone soloist. He is currently a member the Colorado Music Educators and the American Choral Directors Association.

To read a recent profile of Brian Eichenberger in the Washington Park Profile, please click on the following link.  http://www.denvermetromedia.com/Profile/people/people-of-south-denver-brian-eichenberger-of-columbine-chora/

RICHARD EICHENBERGER

Music Director Emeritus and founder of the Columbine Chorale, Richard has been a respected choral conductor in Colorado since 1951. As a soldier in World War II, he was tenor soloist and later director of the Fifth Infantry Soldier Chorus. This well-known Army chorus sang concerts in Germany and Austria after the war, including command performances for Generals Patton and Eisenhower. The chorus sang the final concert of the 1945 Salzburg Music Festival to an overflow audience in the Mozarteum.   Richard founded the Colorado Choir jointly with Casey Jones in 1977 and founded the Columbine Chorale ten years later.

Mr. Eichenberger holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colorado State College (now the University of Northern Colorado) where he studied under Dr. J. DeForest Cline. He did postgraduate work with Paul Christiansen at Concordia College and earned his Masters degree at the University of Denver, studying choral conducting with Daniel Moe.  Richard also received a JD degree from the University of Denver in 1974, passed the bar in 1975 and practiced law from 1981 to 1984.

Mr. Eichenberger started his teaching career in Sterling, Colorado in 1948.  He also taught in Alliance, Nebraska and for 30 years in the Denver Public Schools, ending his public school teaching in 1981. He then served as Principal and teacher of mathematics at Yeshiva Toras Chaim High School, retiring in 1997.

Margaret Stookesberry  Margaret became Business Manager for the Columbine Chorale after singing tenor in the chorale since 1998. She handles detail work for the Chorale, finding venues for performances and  retreats.  Margaret keeps us organized, sending out publicity for performances and seeing that official paperwork is filed on time.  Her previous non-profit experience includes the Denver Chamber Orchestra and Colorado Public Radio where she was music librarian for 13 years.