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2026 ACDA Western Region Conference March 4-7, 2026 San Jose, California

Performing Choirs

Los Gatos High School Northern Arizona University
Treble Choir High Altitude

The Los Gatos High School Treble Choir has main- Now in its eighteenth year under the direction of Dr.
tained a tradition of choral excellence and active com- Ryan Holder, High Altitude has become one of the pre-
munity service for years. The choir participates in con- mier collegiate vocal jazz ensembles in the Southwest.
certs, festivals, and competitions throughout the year With a strong emphasis on solo singing, stage presence,
and consistently receives unanimous superior ratings in and vocal improvisation, the group is open to students
California MEA Large Ensemble Festivals and CMEA of all majors. High Altitude has performed at state and
all-state choral festivals. In 2019 and 2025, the LGHS regional conferences and shared the stage with inter-
Treble Choir was selected as one of the featured ensem- nationally renowned artists, including the New York
bles at the California All-State Music Conference. In Voices, The Real Group, and The Swingles. In 2012
addition to performing locally and regionally, including the ensemble was one of only three groups from the
Carnegie Hall, the choir has performed in prestigious United States invited to perform at the Jazz Educators
venues internationally. Network Conference in Louisville, Kentucky.

Ricel Riley is the choral activities director Ryan W. Holder is the associate director
of Los Gatos High School and the artistic of choral studies at Northern Arizona
director of A Sharp Chorus based in Los University, where he directs the vocal
Altos, California. Riley made her inter- jazz ensemble High Altitude and over-
national conducting debut with the Los sees multiple a cappella groups. A recog-
Gatos High School Choirs in England in 2014. Her nized vocal jazz educator and conductor, he has led all-
audition choirs were chosen to perform at the CMEA state and honor vocal jazz ensembles across Arizona,
All-State Choral Festival in 2024. Riley debuted her Nevada, California, and Utah, and frequently serves
Carnegie Hall conducting with the Los Gatos High as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the western
School Choirs in 2023. Choirs under her direction United States. He coordinates the annual NAU Jazz
have earned unanimous superior ratings in the CMEA Madrigal Festival, one of the nation’s largest non-com-
Large Ensemble Festival, first place at the Worldstrides petitive choral events. His ensembles have performed
Heritage Festival, and have performed in venues in Eu- at state, regional, and national conferences, and in
rope, including an invitation of her community choir to 2023 he made his Carnegie Hall debut conducting the
sing at a High Mass at the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Basilica. world premiere of Lionteeth by Anders Edenroth of The
Real Group.

184 CHORAL JOURNAL January 2026 Volume 66 Number 5