Mission

 Cache Children’s Choir inspires and nurtures children
from diverse backgrounds to develop a lifelong love of singing,
greater self-esteem, and good citizenship through excellent
musical education and performance experiences.
Founded in 1987, Cache Children’s Choir is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

History

Founded in 1987 by Russell Wilson, Cache Children’s Choir has enriched the lives of children and families in Cache Valley for nearly four decades through exceptional musical education and performance opportunities. What began as a small local choir has grown into a vibrant organization with a lasting legacy of artistic excellence, innovative music education, and community collaboration.

In 1989, Bonnie Slade assumed leadership of the choir as part of her master’s degree work in Communicative Disorders and quickly discovered a passion for the developing child’s voice. Beginning with only a few singers, Bonnie grew the organization into a multi-level choir program with four training levels. In the early 1990s, Leslie Timmons joined the choir and collaborated with Bonnie to strengthen the choir’s musicianship curriculum by integrating Orff-Schulwerk training into rehearsals. This distinctive approach set Cache Children’s Choir apart from many children’s choir programs across the country and remains an important part of its identity.

Under Bonnie’s more than twenty years of leadership, Cache Children’s Choir flourished artistically and organizationally. The choir toured, commissioned and premiered new music, hosted a biennial ChoirFest, and expanded its programming to include a summer camp for children ages 12 and under. Bonnie also laid the structural foundation for the organization’s long-term success by securing 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, establishing an active parent board, and creating the Horrigan Scholar Internship Program, which provides teaching opportunities for selected Utah State University undergraduate choral education majors. She retired in 2011 after leaving an enduring mark on the choir and the community it serves.

Following Bonnie’s retirement, Sylvia Munsen served as Artistic Director from 2011 to 2016. Sylvia continued the choir’s tradition of commissioning new repertoire for children’s choirs, including works by noted composers Rollo Dilworth and Bob Chilcott. She was succeeded in 2016 by Claudia Bigler, who had recently retired from Box Elder High School. Claudia sustained and strengthened the choir’s longstanding relationship with the Utah State University Music Department, providing practicum experiences for preservice teachers and deepening the organization’s educational mission. During her tenure, Cache Children’s Choir also became the official children’s choir for The American Festival Chorus and Orchestra, performing major choral works and concerts with guest artists such as Gentri and Kurt Bestor. CCC singers also formed the foundation of the children’s choir for the Spike 150 commemoration. In 2019, recognizing the growing administrative needs of the organization, Claudia and the board established the position of Administrative Director to support the Artistic Director and the choir’s continued growth.

In 2020, Jaron Putnam was appointed Artistic Director and guided the choir through one of the most challenging periods in its history. Beginning his tenure during the COVID-19 pandemic, Jaron led Cache Children’s Choir through a virtual season and then successfully returned the organization to in-person rehearsals, performances, and renewed growth. An experienced conductor, vocalist, and collaborator with strong ties to the local arts community, Jaron also resumed the biennial ChoirFest and commissioned “On This Frozen Night” by Cache Valley composer and pianist Dan Tate. During his leadership, the board of directors and community supporters established and funded an endowment to sustain the Horrigan Scholar Internship Program in perpetuity, further strengthening the choir’s connection to Utah State University and its role in training future music educators.

Chris Machado served as Artistic Director for one memorable year following Jaron’s tenure. Prior to his appointment, Chris directed CCC’s Chorale choir while completing a master’s degree in Choral Conducting at Utah State University under Dr. Craig Jessop. Having begun his own musical journey in a children’s choir, Chris brought a deeply personal commitment to the work, describing choir as a place to build “community, belonging, selflessness, dedication and hard work.” During his year as Artistic Director, Cache Children’s Choir continued its own concert season while also collaborating with the USU Youth Conservatory on its Monster Concert and with The American Festival Chorus on Carnegie Hall Link Up. Under Chris’s direction, singers also participated in a memorable tour that included the St. George Children’s Choir Festival.

In 2024, Allen Matthews was appointed Artistic Director, becoming only the sixth artistic leader in the choir’s history. Allen brings a deep commitment to artistic excellence and transformative music-making, reflected in his belief that when an ensemble consistently performs music of uncommon excellence, it has a profound and lasting impact on both performers and listeners. Under Allen’s leadership, Cache Children’s Choir looks toward a new chapter while building on the remarkable foundation established by those who came before him.

During the 2026–2027 season, Cache Children’s Choir will celebrate its 40th Anniversary—a milestone that honors decades of musical excellence, innovation in children’s choral education, and the thousands of young singers whose lives have been shaped by the choir. From its beginnings in 1987 to its role today as a treasured cultural and educational institution in Cache Valley, Cache Children’s Choir continues to inspire young voices, strengthen community, and foster a lifelong love of singing.