Our Staff
Founded in 2001, Children’s Choir of Chico has served over 1000 children, young people and women in the greater Chico area, performing for numerous organizations and community events each year. Bel Canto and Cantiamo have traveled to central and southern California, performed in Disneyland, and delighted audiences in Petaluma, Santa Rosa, and San Francisco; and Bel Canto members have sung on the historic stage at Carnegie Hall.
Our highly-trained staff leads choirs of many ages and is committed to the development and nurturing of our young voices.
Susan Tevis
Artistic Director, Conductor, Ready, Set, Sing!, Preparatory Choir, Bel Canto, & Bella Voce
Founder
Susan Tevis is the Founder and Immediate Past Artistic Director of the Children’s Choir of Chico. Ms. Tevis holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in piano pedagogy and music education from California State University, Chico. She completed a Kodály Certificate at the Kodály Institute at McNeese State University (Lake Charles, Louisiana) and completed advanced studies both at the McNeese Institute and at the Kodály Pedagogical Institute in Kecskemét, Hungary.
Ms. Tevis has been an adjunct faculty member at McNeese State University, CSU Chico, Capital University Conservatory of Music (Columbus, Ohio), and the Kodály Pedagogical Institute in Kecskemét, Hungary. Susan has been on the faculty at the Kodály Institute at McNeese and the Kodály Institute at Capital University, teaching in summer courses for professional music educators.
As a choral specialist, Susan is active as a guest clinician and conductor for treble choirs, and is frequently invited to present music education workshops for various state and national music organizations and at regional, state & national music conferences. In addition to clinics and workshops, she also presented a scholarly paper, in conjunction with two colleagues, at the 1999 Symposium of the International Kodály Society. The Classroom Music Project, founded by Ms. Tevis at Citrus Elementary School in Chico, provided a field studies opportunity for music education majors at CSU, Chico for 5 years.
She is currently enjoying retirement with her husband Royce, but still finds time to enjoy the music created by this warm organization.
Samantha Nickel
Conductor, Cantiamo
Samantha Nickel was born and raised in Sonoma County and moved to Chico as a CSU student. She graduated from college with a B.A. in Music and Humanities and her Teaching Credential in Music. Since graduating she has gained experience directing intermediate and advanced level choirs, bands, and musical theater classes at the secondary level, as well as organizing and directing multiple junior level theater productions. She now teaches TK - 5th grade general music and 5th grade beginning band in Chico and is thrilled to be working with the CCOC Preparatory Choir.
When Samantha is not teaching she makes music with solo artists and in various performance groups throughout the Northern California area, performing as a vocalist and flutist. She enjoys spending time with friends at local shows and events, playing tabletop games, listening to a good audiobook, and spending quality time with her fiance and two cats at home.
Brianna Lee
Teacher, Preparatory Choir Level I
Brianna Lee was born and raised in Truckee, CA and moved to CSU Chico to study music and education. She received her BA in Music and a multiple subject credential with a supplemental authorization in music. The majority of her teaching years were at Blue Oak Charter School, a Waldorf-methods charter school, where she taught 1st-8th grade and started the school’s first middle school band program.
Last year Brianna joined the elementary music team for Chico Unified and is teaching TK-5th grade general music and 5th grade band. She loves being part of such a dynamic team and helping to bring weekly music classes to all CUSD elementary students. She is honored and delighted to be part of the CCOC team!
When Brianna isn’t teaching she enjoys playing trombone with a few CSUC ensembles, traveling, hearing live music, home time with her boyfriend and pets, devouring a good book and phone calls with her son off at college.
Shari Summers
Accompanist, Cantiamo, Bel Canto, & Bella Voce
Shari received her B.A. in music education from CSUC in the late 1980's. She was very fortunate to have studied piano with Dr. Bob Bowman during her time at CSUC as well as serve as the accompanist for both Dr. Sharon Paul and Gwen Curatilo within their choral and opera programs.
After graduating, she returned to her high school stomping grounds in the Bay Area to take on the position of Choral Director, where she worked for the next 29 years.
Now, happy to be retired and back in Chico, she's thrilled to have the opportunity to work with CCOC.
Shari has 3 grown children, 4 grandchildren, 2 cats, 1 lizard, enjoys hiking, traveling and being with fun people!
Gina Mitchell
Rehearsal Assistant
Gina Mitchell has been part of CCOC since she was 8 years old and started in Prep Choir. She started taking voice lessons at 13 from the opera singer and supporter of the choir Gwen Curatilo. With the Children’s Choir Gina has been in youth honor choirs around the country and even gone to Europe twice. She has studied vocal performance at both Chico State and the University of the Pacific. She hopes to go back to school for music education. She loves music and choir is her favorite thing to do and place to be.
