Children are our Future-Growing Through Performing ARTS

Children are our Future – Growing Through Performing ARTS

Speakers names:  Kris Pierce, Greeley Children’s Chorale; Amy Johnson, Union Colony  Children’s Music Academy; Emily Stanfill, COO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Weld County; Ben Barnhart, E.D., Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra / GP Youth Orchestra

We will be meeting at the  Boys & Girls Club of Weld County’s New TEEN CENTER, an historic building many remember as the Warnoco Skating Rink, 1407 2nd St., Greeley from 7:45 – 10 a.m.

Catering will be a lovely experience coordinated by owner Michelle Krusmark, Olive & Herb, with locations in Centerra, Loveland & off HWY 34 in Greeley along 71st Avenue NW of King Soopers

Kris Pierce, Conductor-Greeley Children’s Chorale has been one of the  conductors with the Greeley Children’s Chorale (GCC) for 30 years.  She know the organization inside and out.  Kris helps write grants and solicits Corporate Sponsors & Program Ads.

She will encourage attendees  to look into having their children come sing with the GCC.  She encourages all NorCoWIB members, families and co-workers to attend their GCC Concerts.  Kris shared: “First and foremost we would love for more people to attend our concerts and celebrate these talented young singers.  We have a volunteer board and always welcome parents of singers as well as community members to join.  We fundraise primarily through private donors and corporate sponsors (the goal of our fundraising is to keep our tuition/costs reasonable for our families.” Let Kris know if your business would like to help.

RECOGNITION: She will show a video that was made for the GCC when they were inducted into the Greeley Arts Legacy Hall of Fame this year.

Two key points our participants will gain and take away following Kris’ presentation…

1. Learn more about the organization and where/when to attend concerts.
2. Learn more about the GCC’s history, as well as their mission.

Kris will have some GCC Concert tickets to give away!

Meet Kris:

Kris Pierce retired from Dist. 6 in 2020 after 31 years of teaching children music. Most recently Kris has served as Director of Choral Music and Elementary Music Specialist at Chappelow K-8 Arts Magnet School.

For the past 30 years, Kris has served as a conductor of the Greeley Children’s Chorale, where she has helped them to make tour appearances at the Colorado Music Educator’s State Conference as well as at tour sites in Boston, Washington DC, Hawaii, California, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Washington and Vancouver, Canada; as well as some extensive touring around Colorado (including singing the National Anthem yearly for the Colorado Rockies and Eagles).

She was a guest conductor for the Fort Collins All-City Elementary Choir and the Brighton Middle School Honor Choir as well as other regional honor choirs.  Kris holds a Bachelor of Music Education with a vocal emphasis, a Masters degree in Elementary Education and received her Orff Certification from the University of Northern Colorado.

She is currently an adjunct professor for the General Music Pedagogy class at UNC. She has been the music director for many musicals, most recently Greeley Stampede Troupe’s rendition of The Music Man.  She has conducted several church choirs and currently serves as choir director for St. Patrick’s Presbyterian Church in Greeley.

In her spare time she loves to hang out with her husband Larry and their 5 grandkids as well as her 5 kids (Nana is her favorite job!).

You can learn more about & contact Kris Pierce, Conductor of the Greeley Children’s Chorale at:

1. Website: www.greeleychildrenschorale.org
2. Email: greeleychildrenschorale@yahoo.com
3. Personal email: tigerp7213@yahoo.com
4. Phone: 970-302-8297
5. Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GreeleyChildren’sChorale
6. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growtobegreat/
7. Mailing Address:  P.O. Box 336891, Greeley, Colorado 80633

Amy Johnson, Program Director/Teacher-Union Colony  Children’s Music Academy   Our classes bring the joys and benefits of music and movement to your child, and set the stage for a lifetime of music making and enjoyment. Early childhood classes can be joined throughout the year, and we’d love to see your children for singing, dancing, learning, and musical fun.

Baby and Toddler Family Classes (child and adult participate together) Experience the joy of music and movement with your child as we nourish their developing body and brain with song, dance, instrument play, and community music making.

Preschool Classes Explore music and movement with your child as we nurture their growing curiosity about the world around them as well as their growing body, mind, and independence with purposeful music and movement.

Pre-Piano Classes Build aural, motor, and reading skills for successful future piano study with song and dance as we play keyboard percussion, explore music notation, and grow in confidence and musicality.

Group Lessons Learn to play the piano, guitar, or ukulele as we drum, dance, and sing with friends in our engaging group classes.

Adaptive and Inclusive Music and Movement (AIMM) Experience the joys and benefits of music and movement in our adaptive classes from birth to piano and creative movement. All children are (always) welcome in any of our classes.  We believe that music is an essential part of life. As a nonprofit, we are dedicated to ensuring high-quality music and movement education for all children.  Contact us today if you’d like information on our need-based and adaptive scholarships.

Two key points our participants will gain and take away following Amy’s presentation…

1. The benefits of music and movement.
2. Classes Available

Meet Amy:

Amy is the Director of UCCMA and has been teaching with the academy since 2001. She Graduated from UNC with a Bachelor of Science degree in Therapeutic Recreation and a minor in Dance. Following graduation, she worked as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist with children from birth to age five and adults with developmental disabilities.

With extensive training in ballet, tap, jazz, modern dance, and creative movement, she has taught dance for over 42 years and has performed in various productions at UNC, as well as The Little Theatre of the Rockies.

She is married to Doug Johnson and they have two children, Colter and Elise.

You can learn more about & contact Amy Johnson, Program Director, Union Colony Children’s Music Academy at:

1. Website: www.Unioncolonychildrensmusic.org
2. Email:  Doug.amy4@gmail.com
3. Phone: 970-353-1116
4. Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/UCCMA
5. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unioncolonychildrensmusic
6.  Address: 2101 16th St. (basement of First Congregational Church) Greeley, CO 80631

Emily Stanfill, Chief Operating Officer – Boys & Girls Clubs of Weld County Mrs. Stanfill earned a B.S. in Human Services from Oregon State University.  Before moving to Colorado in 2009, Ms. Stanfill managed Youth Programs for a group of private, elite athletic clubs in Portland, Oregon. She joined Boys & Girls Clubs of Weld County in 2010 and has worked in just about every aspect of the clubs management serving youth and our community ever since.

Emily will escort us on a tour of the historic Warnoco Boys & Girls Club Teen Center…

Meet Emily:

She joined Boys & Girls Clubs of Weld County in 2010 first as a Clubhouse Director, then as Director of Operations where she managed all aspects of the Club Experience including supervision of all Clubhouse and Program Directors.

In 2016, Mrs. Stanfill advanced to become the Director of Program Services. In this role, she oversaw all Club programs, groups, and initiatives.

In early 2023, Ms. Stanfill was named Chief Operating Officer (COO) to continue overseeing Club programming, as well as all Clubhouse operations as the organization opened a new site in Fort Morgan, CO in partnership with the Morgan County School District. Her role as COO has continued as Boys & Girls Clubs of Weld County has undergone a multi-million-dollar capital campaign to open a new stand-alone Teen Center in North Greeley in May of 2024.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her two rambunctious children and two rambunctious dogs. She also has a deep passion for cooking and filling the bellies of the people she loves.

You can learn more about & contact Emily Stanfill, COO – Boys & Girls Clubs of Weld County  at:

1. Website: www.bgcweld.org
2. Email: estanfill@bgcweld.org
3. Phone: 970-573-7799
4. Address: 2400 1st Ave, Greeley, CO 80631 Admin & Pawl Clubhouse

Ben Barnhart, Executive Director, Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra (GPO) / Youth Orchestra we will get to learn some of the GPO history as well as the vision of the GPO, especially as it relates to our recent achievements in Education and Outreach and the value we will bring to the future of Weld County.

Ben will tell us about the newly revised Youth Orchestra program, contests, workshops, GPO Education Week, Composer-in-Residence Dylan Fixmer and his exciting contributions, a school supported field trip called ZoOrchestra. He will also share more about how the GPO  works with UNC students!

Two key points our participants will gain and take away following Ben’s presentation…

1. As a community nonprofit, the GPO has the responsibility to invest in youth arts education in Weld County. We are not doing it alone-we are coordinating with the school district and UNC to offer a better, more comprehensive arts education experience by augmenting what our schools are already doing.
2. The GPO needs your support (Word of mouth/Google Reviews, buy a ticket, share time, talent, and treasure) to help ensure our success. Colorado Gives Day on December 10^th is one good way to support this and other local non profits that need it.

Meet Ben:

Ben has a 20 year career as a fundraiser, and holds a residential real estate license.

He moved here from his home state of Iowa, and loves Greeley because of its people and the values like hard work, perseverance, collaboration, and care, that we hold true in our community. Ben is starting his second full season as Executive Director of the GPO.

Ben has served organizations like the American Red Cross, NOCO Humane, and UNC helping to connect individuals with organizational missions that they care about the most .

He really like to get outdoors. He used to spend most of his free time coaching his three sons in their sports. Now he also enjoys playing golf, being involved with the T.H.O.G.s, with Greeley Satellite Rotary Club and with the Greeley Chamber/Leadership Weld County Steering Committee.

Ben’s wife, Allie, has worked at UNC for 7 years and is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in communications from UNC. He’s very proud of her and all his family!

You can learn more about & contact Ben Barnhart, E.D. of the GPO at:

1. Website:  https://www.greeleyphil.org/board-staff
2. Email: ben@greeleyphil.org
3. Phone: 970-534-5440 personal
4. Office Phone:  970-356-6406
5. Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GreeleyChildren’sChorale
6. Mailing Address: 801 8th St Ste 230, Greeley, CO 80631

For excellent customer service, Kristi wants to share the link to the UCCC ticket office so you can get your Poinsettia Pops concert tickets for Saturday night Dec. 7th @ 7 p.m. Let’s ALL go and kickoff the Christmas season together!  https://ucstars.showare.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=812

This is a regional calendar highlight and Greeley’s favorite holiday tradition, your Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra, Greeley Chorale, and Greeley Children’s Chorale again take the stage in the poinsettia-adorned Monfort Concert Hall! Start the evening with the Magic Baton Melody Contest celebrating our winning Greeley-Evans School District 6 middle school student composer. Then, the musicians fill the hall with holiday spirit as they perform classic gems such as “The First Nowell,” “Sleigh Ride,” and Victor Hely-Hutchinson’s Carol Symphony. Sure to have you singing all the way home, the concert “wraps” up with the orchestra and choir performing “Angels from the Realms of Glory,” arranged by Mack Wilberg. Come gather with us, experience the last night of the Festival of Trees, and have your photo taken with Santa – all included with your ticket!

Venue Location hosting: Boys & Girls Club New TEEN CENTER (old Warnoco) 1407 2nd St., Greeley

Catering: Olive & Herb, Michelle Krusmark with locations in Loveland & Greeley

Please thank these member-volunteers who are helping to enrich your Workshop experience:

Set-up DIVAS Tuesday, 12/3 from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Gena Wickes, Tails Animal Clinic; Kate Howell, Mongan’s Own Natural Lotions / Reflexology /Pet Massage; Ciara Wortley, Envision; Barb Wasung, Community Grief Center 

Check-in Hostesses 7:30 a.m.: Debby Baker, Community Grief Center; Amie Cieminski, UNC / Youth Empowerment 

Greeter: Diane Holmberg, AIMS Foundation

Thank you to our Speaker Sponsor/Underwriters – Introducing Guest Speakers:

• Kris Pierce / Lori Gama, DaGama Digital Marketing Agency
• Amy Johnson  / June Lemmings, June’s TEAM Powered by Keller Williams
• Emily Stanfill  / Melanie Cyphers, Pregnancy Resource Center
• Ben Barnhart  / Glenda Haines, Eves & Haines Wealth Management

Thank you to members providing Speaker Gifts:

• Kris Pierce / Rachealle Gamache, Esthebella Skin & Nursing
• Amy Johnson / June Lemmings, Verniece Thomas, Life Stories
• Emily Stanfill / Heather Ingersoll, Hometown Insurance
• Ben Barnhart / Kristi & Rich Helzer, NorCoWIB & T.H.O.G.’s

7th Inning Stretch: Emily will give us a our tour of the B & G Teen Center

Clean-up DIVAS: Debby Baker, Community Grief Center; Rachealle Gamache, Esthebella Skin & Nursing; Julie Villumsen, Mary Kay / 60+ Ride; Christine McDermott, Habitat for Humanity Farm

Sister-to-Sister Pay-it-Forward: Will benefit the local programs participating on this day:

• Union Colony Children’s Music Academy; Greeley Children’s Chorale; Greeley Philharmonic Youth Orchestra will split the donations being collected by Fidelia Muniz, Organo Gourmet Beverages and Sue Helfrich, Teen Safe Driving Advocate

The Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra is in its 113 concert season. They have the distinction of being the longest continuously playing orchestra West of the Mississippi! Donations will be collected in $5 increments; your $5 + 1 business card…or $15 + 3 business cards will financially benefit local youth programs in the performing ARTS that provide direct services to young people from preschool through college ages. Your generous financial support will help keep costs down for local families whose children are participating!    Thank You!

NOTE: NorCoWIB meets the 2nd Wednesday in January on the 8th, 2025 Due to New Year’s Day falling on the 1st Wednesday.  We will target our Sister-to-Sister/Pay it Forward then to honoring the Boys & Girls Clubs of Weld County’s Teen Center where we are meeting on 12/4/24!