Leadership
Director and Conductor
Jennifer Ferguson is proud to be joining the Columbia Chorale as its new Music Director and Conductor. An experienced conductor with a lifelong passion for instructing ensembles, she is excited to bring her joy and love of music to Wenatchee. Jennifer has instructed groups of all ages and sizes including adult and youth choirs, orchestras, jazz bands, and pit. Additionally, she has worked in Denver as a music minister and as a K-12 music educator in Denver Public Schools. She believes the power of community music can bring renewal and hope into the world by aiding in our search for beauty and transforming lives.
Jennifer previously led the Colorado Women’s Chorale and was the founding director of the Colorado Men’s Chorale, choirs that collaborated throughout Colorado and under her direction toured to Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and Italy. Other appearances include as the principal conductor of the Mile High Youth Choir, guest speaker at Colorado ACDA in 2013, guest conductor of the Poudre District Honor Choir in 2014, and guest conductor of the Arvada Honor Choir in 2015. Jennifer was a guest commentator and conductor at the 2019 Treble High School Festival at Saint Mary’s College in Indiana.
She serves on the Board and is a singer in the Evans Choir, a professional choir in Denver under the direction of Dr. Catherine Sailer. With the Evans Choir, Jennifer has performed with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, the Colorado Ballet, the Philadelphia Symphony, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the New York Symphony Orchestra, Morten Lauridsen, Eric Whitacre, and others. In the summer of 2024 Jennifer is looking forward to returning to the Bravo! Vail Music Festival to sing Holst’s The Planets with the Philadelphia Symphony under the baton of Marin Alsop.
Jennifer holds her Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver. She also holds a Bachelor of Music in K-12 Music Education from Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana.
ACCOMPANIST & COMPOSER
Ron Lodge, born and raised in Wenatchee, has spent most of his life accompanying school and church choirs, soloists and ensembles, and participated in the outstanding choral programs at Wenatchee High School and Wenatchee Valley College. Ron studied piano with Pauline Lieb and Joy Henderson in Wenatchee, and with Gwendolyn Harper at Eastern Washington University. He is currently staff Organist & Accompanist at Faith Presbyterian Church, and accompanies students and choirs at Eastmont High School. Affiliated with the Columbia Chorale since 1985, Ron has served as choir member, soloist, music composer and arranger, board member, board president and program editor. Ron became the Chorale's accompanist in the fall of 2001. He has arranged and composed a number of choral works specifically for the Chorale.
Board of Directors:
Jean Butler - President
Shelley Sargur - Vice President
Rhonnie Craven - Secretary
Kate Gregg - Treasurer
Phil Greg - Membership
Timmee Keys - Concert Coordinator
Brita Chavez - Public Relations
Virginia Kellogg - Board
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Jennifer Ferguson - Director, Conductor
Ron Lodge - Programs, Accompanist
“Music is the great uniter. An incredible force. Something that people who differ on everything and anything else can have in common. ”