About Us
About Us
The Ralston Valley Choral program aims to create community and meaning through musical excellence. In a program that feels like family, students work together to create beautiful music that uplifts each other and our community. From being invited as the State of Colorado representative in the celebration of the end of World War II in New York City in 2005 to singing at High Mass in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, our choirs have been around the country and the globe. The choirs have worked with artists such as Voces8, Taylor Scott Davis, Eric Whitacre and Elaine Hagenberg. Throughout the years, RVHS choral ensembles have been invited to perform as an Honor Ensemble at the Colorado Music Educators Association annual conference. Additionally, each year numerous students are selected for both the Jeffco All County Honor Choir and the Colorado All State Choir.
Meet the Director
Kirsten Carpenter-Ortman is a Denver-based soprano, educator, and conductor. She is the Director of Choirs at Ralston Valley High School where she conducts five choirs of various voicings and levels. Additionally, Ms. Carpenter is the Vocal Music Director at the Colorado School of Mines and assistant director of the Evergreen Chorale. Ms. Carpenter’s choirs have performed in a variety of venues including Carnegie Hall, The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. In addition to conducting, Ms. Carpenter is also an accomplished singer and performer. Recent roles include Gretel (Hansel und Gretel), Jenny (The Threepenny Opera), Hodel (Fiddler on the Roof), and Despina (Cosi fan tutte). Ms. Carpenter proudly holds both a BME in vocal music and MM in conducting from the University in Northern Colorado. Additionally, Ms. Carpenter is a Ralston Valley HS alum!