COLORADO
SPRINGS
CHORALE
Premier chorus of the Pikes Peak Region
Colorado Springs CHORALE
Staff & Board
ARTISTIC Staff
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ADAM TORRES
Artistic Director
& Conductor
Adam Torres, a Denver-based artist, is quickly emerging as a significant musical voice in the United States and beyond. 2022 marks the beginning of Torres’ tenure as Artistic Director of the Colorado Springs Chorale, and he is excited to bring his energy and passion to the Chorale’s 66th season through standalone concerts and collaborations with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic and other organizations. Additionally, Maestro Torres holds appointments as Music Director for Stratus Chamber Orchestra and Senior Instructor for the Colorado State University School of Music Theatre and Dance, where he also serves as the Program Director for the Summer Residency Master of Music Program (Conducting Emphasis) for Music Educators.
​Recent highlights of Torres’ work include his main stage conducting debut with the Cheyenne Symphony, alongside engagements with Colorado Symphony (Cover Conductor), St. Louis Symphony (Cover Conductor), and the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music (Assistant Conductor) in Santa Cruz, CA.
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Through the years, Adam has been a significant contributor to the arts scene along the Front Range. In addition to his work with the Cheyenne Symphony, Torres served as Principal Conductor for Loveland Opera Theatre and held Assistant Conductor positions with Fort Collins Symphony and Denver Young Artists Orchestra. Guest conducting and cover conducting engagements include Opera Fort Collins, Opera Steamboat, Colorado Pops Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of the Springs, Boulder Chamber Orchestra, Colorado Springs Conservatory, and Hyperprism Music. Beyond the US, Adam served as a rehearsal pianist and assistant conductor for Opera Orvieto (Italy) and traveled to Paris and Cologne in
2022 to apprentice with Cristian Măcelaru and the Orchestre National de France and WDR Sinfonieorchester of Cologne.
​​Deeply committed to inspiring young minds through music, Adam has assisted with community programs such as El Sistema Colorado and has served as a clinician in public schools in Colorado and Texas. Recent guest conducting with Honor Orchestras include the Continental League (2022) and Cherry Creek Honor Orchestra (2023). Other community and student engagement projects include work with ensembles such as the Alpharetta Symphony, Fort Collins’ Health and Wellness Orchestra, Bas Bleu Theatre, San Angelo Symphony Chorus, Colorado State University Orchestra and CSU Opera, Angelo State University Wind Ensemble, and Angelo Civic Theater.
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For more information on Adam’s work and upcoming engagements, please visit http://www.adamtorresmusic.com.
Joseph Galema recently retired as music director and academy organist at the United States Air Force Academy, a position he held for almost 32 years. He currently serves as principal organist at First United Methodist Church in Colorado Springs, one of the largest and most active congregations in the city. In September 2008, he joined the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver, as organ instructor and taught there until 2024.
JOSEPH GALEMA​
Collaborative Pianist
Galema was born in West Lafayette, Indiana, and chose to pursue his college education in Michigan. He received a bachelor of arts degree from Calvin College in Grand Rapids. He pursued post-graduate work in organ performance studying with the renowned artist-teacher Marilyn Mason at The University of Michigan, earning both master of music and doctor of musical arts degrees.The University of Michigan's 1987 Palmer Christian Award is one of many honors Galema has received for outstanding accomplishments in the field of music. Other achievements include several United States Air Force Sustained Superior Performance awards, a listing in the 1985 edition of Outstanding Young Men of America and current listings in Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the World. He maintains leadership positions in the Colorado Springs chapter of the American Guild of Organists (AGO) and is on the National Board of the Association of Anglican Musicians (AAM).
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​A critically-acclaimed organ soloist, Galema has toured throughout the United States, England, France, Scandinavia and the Baltic States. He has
also performed at Region VI AGO Conventions, at an Organ Historical Society National Convention, at an American Institute of Organ Builders' National Convention, at AAM Conferences, for the national biennial convocation of the Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts and at an annual conference of the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada.​Galema's editions of Widor's Organ Symphonies and Reubke's Sonata on the 94th Psalm for Organ have been published by Masters Music Publications, Inc.
He can be heard on six recordings – Fireworks for Organ and Brass with Stellar Brass (USAFA Band AFA 0602); From Age to Age with The Denver Brass (Klavier K 11165); Brass and Organ: Feel the Sound with The Denver Brass; 'Twas the Brass Before Christmas with The Denver Brass and Young Voices of Colorado; The Last Full Measure of Devotion with the USAF Academy Cadet Chorale; and Soaring Sounds, featuring solo organ music in celebration of the 50-year anniversary of the USAF Academy Protestant Cadet Chapel organ.
Don began his musical career on the back of an elephant in a production of Aida 70-some years ago. After 47 years of conducting the Colorado Springs Chorale, Don retired and was named "Conductor Emeritus" at the close of the 2013-14 season. Even when not on the podium, Don's leadership and vision continue to impact and inspire the Colorado Springs Chorale.
Conductor Emeritus
DONALD P. JENKINS
ADMINISTRATIVE Staff
JAMIE GRANDY
Executive Director
The Chorale was performing in Verdi’s Aida when Jamie joined the office staff. Aida was also her first opera chorus performance in the mid-1990s, lending life a bit of symmetry. Jamie comes to the Chorale with a background as a Neurolinguistic Programming Master Practitioner and teacher. She was the Artistic and Administrative Coordinator for Serpentine Visions Dance
Troupe, and has also worked in social media marketing, copy writing, and even welding. She is a twice published author with a 2004 COVR award nomination and a third book laboriously underway. Jamie is a belly dancer and colored pencil artist. She is a Colorado Springs native with a couple of kids and a couple of cats at home.
CLAIRE WILLIAMS
General Manager
Claire has been singing soprano in the Chorale since 2017 and served on the Board for 2 years. She sang in her high school choir, as well as the Choir of the North at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, where she received a Bachelor's degree in Foreign Languages and Elementary
Education. Claire moved to Colorado in 2015 and has been working in the arts ever since. She has several years of arts administration and customer service experience and is thrilled to be part of such an awesome staff at the Chorale!
JACKIE FOORMAN
(RETIRED) FINANCE MANAGER
Jackie served the Chorale for many years as singer and in key administrative roles, and it is likely that she knows the answer to almost any question about the Chorale (and about life in general). As Finance Manager, she managed the Chorale's bookkeeping and kept the rest of the staff on track for 35 years! Jackie sings with her church choir.