About The Columbine Chorale

The Columbine Chorale was founded in 1987 by well-known Denver-area choral conductor Richard Eichenberger as a chamber choir of 35 selected voices. The following year the ensemble was enlarged to 60 singers, which remains its approximate present size. The Chorale was created to provide its singers and audiences with choral music experiences of the highest quality. It is the fundamental goal of the Chorale to present performances of great choral literature in a manner that reflects the Chorale's deep sense of commitment to the aesthetic beauty and integrity of the music itself.

Wish you could hear the chorale between concerts? We're working to make some of our concert recordings available on iTunes! Keep checking this website for announcements this summer and watch for an email.

In addition, the chorale plans to record a full length CD of favorites in the fall of 2013. This will require an initial investment for a recording session and duplication of the CD. We are turning to you, our loyal audience members, for help! Your donation of $25 will reserve your copy of the completed CD which will be mailed directly to you. You will also be able to deduct part of the amount on your next tax return. All funds received will be held in escrow until the CD production begins and will be returned if the project is not feasible. Donations are accepted here using PayPal or can be mailed to the chorale at:

Columbine Chorale, 2743 Milwaukee St. Denver, CO 80210

Be sure to note "CD donation" in the memo line of your check. Thanks for your support!

Presently the Chorale is seeking singers with quality voices in all voice parts. Even more importantly, we are looking for singers who are interested in a challenging experience, in participating in the performance of the world's great choral literature and in joining in the enthusiasm and camaraderie that has always been part of the Columbine Chorale. For further information visit our Member Information page or download a flyer that has our contact information.

The Columbine Chorale annually presents five or six concerts in the Denver Metropolitan area, and occasionally makes weekend trips to other towns and cities in Colorado. During past years, the Chorale has been heard in Aspen, Boulder, Breckenridge, Brush, Buena Vista, Burlington, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Fort Morgan, Lamar, Leadville, Pueblo and Salida.

In addition to performances in Colorado, the Chorale has made three European tours, including Belgium, Germany and Austria in 1990 and another in 1999 encompassing Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary. In 2003, the Chorale conducted on a highly successful 18-day concert tour which took it from St. Petersburg, Russia through Latvia, Estonia and Finland to Stockholm, Sweden.

Although primarily an a cappella ensemble, the Columbine Chorale has performed with the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, and the Jefferson Symphony Orchestra in Golden. The Chorale performed in the production of Karl Orff's Carmina Burana with the Colorado Ballet in 2000. With the Arapahoe Philharmonic the Chorale has performed Gustav Mahler's Symphony #2, Resurrection, Ludwig van Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, The Choral, and, most recently, a pops concert of Rodgers and Hammerstein favorites...

The Artistic Staff

BRIAN EICHENBERGER is honored to serve as Conductor and Music Director of the Columbine Chorale since the 2004-2005 concert season, after having served as co-Music Director for the previous eight seasons. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Adams State College, where he studied 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 Conducting Workshops in Cannon Beach, Oregon. 

Mr. Eichenberger teaches vocal and instrumental music at West High School in Denver, where he conducts the famous Singing Christmas Tree, a tradition at West since 1941.  West High School's select ensemble, Lariat, performs widely throughout the city during the school year, and in 2006, was honored to be invited to perform at the Inauguration Ceremony for incoming governor Bill Ritter. In addition to his teaching duties at West, Brian served as clinician for the Arkansas Valley High School Honor Choir in January of 2010, and will be directing the Denver Public Schools' Citywide Middle School Honor Choir in November of 2010.

Brian is a founding member of the Columbine Chorale and has enjoyed his role as a tenor/baritone soloist.  He is a current member of two professional music organizations: the Colorado Music Educators and the American Choral Directors Association. 

RICHARD EICHENBERGER, Music Director Emeritus and founder of the Columbine Chorale, 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.

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. He taught vocal music for two years in Sterling, Colorado 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.

MANDY BOMAR-TOWNEND, accompanist for the Columbine Chorale, received her doctorate in piano performance from the University of Colorado Boulder. She teaches privately and has served professionally as piano accompanist all over the United States. Currently she is the organist at King of Glory Lutheran Church and serves as accompanist for a number of choirs in Denver.