Meet our team!
The performing arts department here at CCHS is made up of multiple educators, community members, professionals, and all around super stars! What we do here is truly special, and it would not be possible without the support of the community, parents, or these individuals!
CCHS Performing Arts Faculty
Ryan Walter
Vocal Music Director / Musical Theater Director
Mr. Walter is from pueblo, co, and graduated with his B.A. in music education (emphasis in vocal and instrumental music) from Colorado State university- Pueblo. Mr. Walter had his sights on performing at a semi-professional level in Chicago, IL upon graduating college, then… FATE! He found himself back in his path of teaching. CCHS provided Ryan with a whole new love for the art of performing and the community of Cañon. When his predecesor and long time friend stepped down in the midst of the pandemic, it was a no-brainer. Mr. Albrecht is still a huge help and support of the program, and a very close friend to Mr. Walter. Some shows he has performed in include ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ (Seymore), ‘Grease’ (Doody), ‘Beauty and The Beast’ (Lumiere), and ‘Les Miserables’ (Thernardier). He has also performed with The Pueblo Symphony as a vocalist and saxophonist, along with numerous Big Band groups. His family is his biggest support! He loves his family, friends, and students! He is sure he’s found his happy place!
Damion Kudel
Vocal Music Accompanist / Assistant To The Director
Damion Kudel was born in Newport News, Virginia on June 20, 1995 but has lived in Colorado Springs for nearly his whole life. Damion has a passion for engaging students into the art of music and facilitating the process for studying musicians to become even better. His method on teaching is focused primarily on the interests and motivations that engage the students specifically over a general opting method. The passions of any individual student are more important than any other factor when it comes to cultivating a truly inspired and talented musician, but still without sacrificing work ethic required for any musician to succeed. Damion has been teaching students individually since 2016. Damion is also an accompanist for First Christian Church and Harrison School District 2 in Colorado Springs. He often times does accompaniment for solo musicians around the state. He cares deeply about music and for music within the community.
Andrew Fisher
Director of Dramatics / Technical Director / Fine Arts Chair
Andrew has been teaching Theatre for 21 years with the past 13 here at CCHS. He graduated from Adams State College with a Bachelor of Arts in Speech/Communication/Technical Theater and then received his Master of Arts Degree from Central Washington University in Theater Production. Andrew teaches 3 levels of Drama, Technical Theatre, Video Production and Film Editing. In his spare time he is directing one acts, main stage plays and a main stage musical, or designing and building sets for productions. At other times he is working and training technicians for the various events that come through the auditorium. In Andrew's down time he spends time with family and races a sport mod in dirt circle track events!
Dan Wiley
Instrumental Music Director
Mr. Dan Wiley is in his 14th year as a music educator, and received his Bachelor’s of Education in K-12 Music from Colorado State University-Pueblo. Now beginning his fifth year at Cañon City High School, he previously taught at South High School and East High School in Pueblo, where he also maintained a private studio as a trombone instructor. He has played in numerous area bands and ensembles, including the Pueblo Symphony Orchestra, SoCo Brass Quintet Pueblo Municipal Band, and Southern Colorado Community Band, as well as Martini Shot, The Insecurities, Autonomous, and Last Reel Hero. He is proud to be a member of the Tiger Pride Band family!
Nicole Janitell
Instrumental Music Assistant Director
Ms. Janitell graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a Bachelor's in Music Education in 2017 and is currently pursuing her Master's in Music Education with an emphasis on the Kodály method at Colorado State University, visiting Fort Collins during the summers and studying online during the school year. She has been an educator for 6 years, all of which have been in Cañon City, and is currently serving as an Assistant Director for the Cañon City High School Bands. Before becoming a part of the CCHS bands, Ms. Janitell served as the music specialist at Cañon Exploratory K-8 school. She continues to teach there in the afternoons, working with Kindergarten, Guitar, and Piano students, the 5-8 Band program at CES, and the Cañon Exploratory concert band and choir. Under her direction, the CES concert groups have achieved success at festivals across the state of Colorado, alongside her collaboration for excellence with the CCMS and Harrison band directors. Ms. Janitell is beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Mr. Wiley and the CCHS bands.
Additional Staff of CCHS Performing Arts
Todd Albrecht
Guest Choreographer For Vocal Music
Todd Albrecht is the former director of the CCHS vocal music program of over 30 years! Today, he continues to help the program as a guest choreographer, as well as a mentor and dear friend to Mr Walter. Mr A attended CSU Pueblo with his bachelor's in music education, and went on to receive 2 master’s degrees in education from Adams State University. Todd started his career on another path, then found the ‘joy’ in performing through traveling with the Young Americans traveling theater troupe. Nearly teaching in pueblo as a native, he was asked to be a long-term substitute teacher for a semester back in the year 1989 at CCHS. When summer came and the position opened up fully as well (as some other opportunities in other cities), he decided to stay here and build a new program from the ground up.., getting kids to dance and entertain the community in a brand new way. One of his favorite parts of the job was working with his partner in crime of over 21 years, accompanist Arlene Watson. He continues to be the program's number one fan!
Alicia Smith
Guest Choreographer For Vocal Music
Alicia was born and raised in Canon City and is a CCHS and Encore! alumnus. She received her BFA in Dance at the University of Arizona. Alicia has been a dance instructor for the last 16 years, and has been choreographing for Encore! for the last 9 years. She also helps choreograph for other various programs throughout the community. She is a K-8 music teacher within the Fremont RE-1 school district. In her free time she likes to spend time with her husband and four kids, workout, dance, and enjoy outdoor activities!
Arlene Watson
Guest accompanist For Vocal Music
Arlene Watson was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. She began piano lessons any the age of 8 and attended Seattle Pacific College as a music major. Arlene and her husband, Jim, have been blessed with 5 wonderful children and 7 beautiful grandkids. They moved to Canon City in 1993 where Arlene served as accompanist for the CCHS Vocal Music Dept. from 2001-2020! She also accompanied The Pueblo Children’s Chorale, Broadway Music Fest camps at CSU-Pueblo, CCHS, and has served in music ministry for numerous churches in Washington, Alaska and Colorado. She and Jim recently celebrated 50 years of marriage and are still enjoying the journey!
Dena Brady
Guest Accompanist For Vocal Music
Dena Brady earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Southern Nazarene University and her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Adams State University. She was employed by Canon City Schools for 33 years, teaching K-8 music and 5-8 band. Dena started working with the CCHS Vocal Music Department over 20 years ago as an Accompanist, PRN. She has played for classes, musicals, concerts, auditions, and camps. Dena loves that, in retirement, she still gets to work with the most amazing kids through the music department. Dena is married to Randy Brady. They have five children and five grandchildren. Being a Bibi (Swahili for Grandma) is the best thing ever!
Richard Clark
Drummer For Vocal Music
Rich Clark (Drums/Percussion) is a graduate of CCHS as well as an alumnus of Boston's Berklee College of Music and Dick Grove Music Workshops in Los Angeles. He has enjoyed being active with the CCHS PA programs since 2010. He "gigs" the area extensively and teaches drums and piano privately.
Charlene Lindner
Photographer For Vocal Music
Charlene Lindner taught health and physical education for 32 years at Canon City Jr. High/ Middle School. Upon retirement in 2007 she started a photography business with proceeds going to the Canon City Rotary “Let There Be Light Scholarships” for first generation students. Watching and photographing so many great, talented young men and women under the direction of Ryan Walter and Todd Albrecht over the years has been a true blessing! Her hope is that the photos be shared with pride with families and even the students’ own kids someday!!! “Here’s what I did in high school!”
Ground 2 Air Productions
Photographer/Videographer For Vocal Music
Geoffery & Krista Brown are the outstanding owners of Ground2Air Productions! They absolutely love capturing moments as they turn into memories so that they can be accessed for a lifetime. Ground2Air Productions started as a way for them to do what they love with the flexibility required to raise a family, so now… you’ll find them capturing moments from the ground, and the sky! They’re honored to partner with the Cañon City High School Vocal Music Department to capture every musical memory. “It’s truly remarkable to watch students get out on stage and do what they love to do!” Krista was part of this program in high school, and finds it so special to be a member of the vocal music family once more. “Thank you for allowing us to be part of capturing the vocal music magic!”
Tailored West
Seamstresses, Costume Consultants and more For Vocal Music
The Team at Tailored West are monumentally essential to the Vocal Music Department at CCHS, and are the reason we always look and represent as nice as we do! They are simply the best at what they do, and we are honored to work with them. Pictured above is the stellar team we primarily work with. Pictured L to R: Aiden Rowe (former Encore! star), Nanci Kezar (Owner), Sydney Goodwin and Linda Kear.