Marla Wasson
Artistic Director, Arvada Chorale and Safonia
Marla is a graduate of the Choral Conducting Master’s Program at the University of Northern Colorado and has been involved in many forms of music from an early age. While a student of Dr. Galen Darrough at UNC, Marla was able to integrate the early music education she experienced within her very musical family with her passionate approach to teaching and choral conducting. As Artistic Director of the Arvada Chorale, Marla brings more than 20 years of leadership and conducting experience to the podium and encourages musicians and non-musicians alike to explore the deeper meaning of the art they present to their audience. She believes that choral music speaks to the conscious and subconscious human experience in a more profound way than almost any other art form. She also believes the choral arts offer a direct path to community energy, and that the choral arts are accessible to nearly every person no matter their level of expertise.
In 2005, Marla formed a women’s chamber ensemble dedicated to the synergy of music, passion and excellence. Since Safonia’s inception, they have performed throughout the Denver Metro area.
Chapell Kingsland
Chorale Accompanist and Organist
Chappell Kingsland’s diverse professional activities share a common goal: to promote cross-cultural understanding and create emotionally rich experiences through music. This concert marks his 10th season as accompanist/arranger for the Arvada Chorale! He is an adjunct professor at the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music, teaching aural skills, theory at the keyboard, music theory and arranging. Chappell’s classes explore music from different time periods, world cultures, and genres of popular music.
As a solo pianist and organist, his concerts and recordings weave together art music and popular music into a uniquely personal synthesis. As a composer, Chappell thrives at the intersection of musical worlds, drawing equal inspiration from the European/American tradition and from diverse musical sources ranging from Balinese gamelan and Japanese koto to Bulgarian dance and West African kora.
As the executive director of the Wild Beautiful Orchestra, he creates opportunities for many musicians to perform, record and collaborate. Chappell lives in Lakewood with his wife Jennifer and their three sons. Find him on the web at ck4piano.com or Facebook @ck4piano.
Jeffrey Harms
Conductor and Artistic Director, Rocky Mountain Ringers
Jeffrey Harms is a regionally recognized handbell musician, and is conductor and artistic director for the Rocky Mountain Ringers. He was a founding member of this auditioned community handbell ensemble, which started in 1997. He has served as the group’s director for most of that time. Until just recently, he was director of handbells at Bethany Lutheran Church in Cherry Hills Village. Mr. Harms began ringing handbells and studied organ in 1973 under the direction of Dr. Everett Hilty at the University of Colorado College of Music. Since then he has been involved with bells as ringer, conductor, arranger and workshop leader.
