Alyson Bates founded Capriccio Youth Choirs in 2010 alongside the late Jane Griffin. As the Founding Artistic Director, Mrs. Bates fosters CYC with the mission that all young people can experience the joy of singing and all are welcome to be a part of a music family. She strives to continually improve on creating an environment of acceptance and artistry for developing singers.

Mrs. Bates holds a master’s degree in Education Administration from Ashland University and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Otterbein University. Her extensive experience with youth choirs ranges from teaching vocal and instrumental music in the public school setting (Switzerland of Ohio Local, Groveport Madison Local, and Worthington City school districts) to serving as a staff member of Kinderchor of Ohio and Con Brio Children and Youth Choirs. Mrs. Bates also serves as the Treble Festival Chair for the Ohio Choral Directors Association Board and is an active member of the Ohio Music Education Association and the Ohio Choral Directors Association. She is currently the vocal director for Worthington Kilbourne High School musicals and co-director for the 6th Grade Choir at New Albany-Plains Local Schools as well as a clinician for choral ensembles, mentor to future music educators, and a collaborative musician in her community.

Board Position: Member
Board Committees: Facilities/Logistics, Marketing

How long have you sung in the choir?
3 years

Why do you serve on the board?
I feel it’s important to the organization to have an engaged and passionate board. I also draw on my 18 years of experience serving on my Boston chorale’s board to give Capriccio a perspective on how other groups handle similar situations.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I was born and raised in Indianapolis and graduated from Miami University with a degree in communications. After spending the first part of my career in Indy, we relocated to the greater Boston area. I began singing with a chorale in Boston ;and served on their board for nearly 18 years. I was thrilled to find that there was a comparable organization here when I moved to the greater Columbus area a few years ago. I have two grown daughters and one grandson. I work in educational publishing for Savvas Learning, overseeing the manufacturing of textbooks and also marketing collateral.

Board Position: Treasurer
Board Committees:Governance, Finance

How long have you sung in the choir?
10 years

Why do you serve on the board?
I serve on the board to show my love and commitment to Capriccio Columbus by working behind the scenes to help the organization to grow and prosper.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I grew up in Philadelphia, PA, graduating from Muhlenberg College completing a degree in psychology and also earning a teaching certificate. I then moved to Ohio for a teaching job. I taught in Bucyrus, OH, for 13 years and then taught in Worthington Schools for 24 years. I have two grown daughters, and my husband and I still live in the Worthington community, enjoying retirement and our various musical endeavors, such as folk music, playing mountain dulcimer, and singing.

Any other information you think choir members need to know about you?
I am happy to help with all things Capriccio or with what anyone would need.

Ashley Brooks Wise is a GRAMMY®-nominated musician, entrepreneur, content creator, award winning musician, collaborative artist and community leader. Ashley and her creative family share inspiration, education and fun through music and videos on their family’s YouTube Channel “The Wise Channel.” The Wises are a part of the GRAMMY®-Nominated Album, “All One Tribe”. 

Ashley is a native of Jackson, Tennessee. She earned a B.M. in Piano Performance from Middle Tennessee State University and an M.M. in Piano Pedagogy from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. 

Since moving to Columbus in 2005, Ashley has been active in the music community as an educator, mentor and is the owner of Wise Notes Studios where she teaches private piano lessons. She serves as an accompanist for a variety of instrumental and vocal music programs including secondary, collegiate, community and professional artists throughout the Greater Columbus area. She has served as a group piano class instructor at Denison University, as a staff member of the Community Suzuki Program also at Denison University, and as an accompanist for Opera Columbus-Voice of Freedom and Capriccio Columbus. Wise continues to play for a variety of musical events while keeping the flute & voice as her secondary instruments. 

Ashley maintains multiple professional memberships as she serves as a committee member and board member for a variety of organizations throughout the community such as VP of Teacher Activities for the Central East Ohio Music Teachers Association and currently serves as VP of State Conferences for the Ohio Music Teachers Association. She is an ad-hoc committee member of the Olentangy Education Foundation. She and her husband are co-founders of the non-profit organization, Parent Diversity Network, Inc., which is a network of families, educators and community members who support the sense of belonging for all in school and throughout the community, 

Ashley loves being a mom, entertaining, meeting new people, and gardening. She is happily married to her gifted music director/songwriter husband, Ceylon, and is the mother of two wonderful boys.

Carolyn Cline is a pianist, violinist, performer and educator from Columbus, Ohio. She graduated from Capital University with a music degree studying under world renown names such as Dr. Tianshu Wang, Seymour Fink, and Mark Flugge. She has performed and recorded with groups such as the Columbus Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Capital Symphonic Winds and the Boston Brass, while accompanying and performing with various professionals in the greater Columbus area. Carolyn has also performed internationally in New Zealand and Japan. To date, she has accompanied for Columbus School for Girls, the Columbus School for the Blind, Meadow Park Church of God, Bethel Road United Methodist Church, the Little Theater Off Broadway, the Ukrainian Opera Ensemble and many more. She is currently the resident accompanist for Groveport Madison High School and teaches private lessons during the week.

Board Position: Member
Board Committees: Fundraising

How long have you sung in the choir?
9 years

Why do you serve on the board?
Being in Capriccio has allowed me to keep singing, meet new people, travel the world, and share my love of music with others…being on the board is the best way I can give back and make sure that Capriccio continues to thrive!

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I grew up in the Dayton, OH area and moved to a Columbus in 2013 to pursue my Master’s degree on Arts Administration at Ohio State University. I work on the non-profit arts and culture industry as a fundraiser at Franklin Park Conservatory, but have previously worked at a variety of museums, including COSI, the Ohio Craft Museum, the Indianapolis Children’s Museum, and more. I’ve always sung – in a choir, on stage, in voice lessons, in the car – and can’t imagine my life without it, so I’m so glad I found Capriccio! My mom, Jeni, also sings in Capriccio in the alto section, and my dad, Mark, joined us on the 2023 Austria, Slovenia, and Croatia trip.

Any other information you think choir members need to know about you?
When I’m not singing, I love to read (especially fantasy!), travel, play with my dog, hike, and bake!

Board Position: Member
Board Committees: Facilities/Logistics

How long have you sung in the choir?
18 years

Why do you serve on the board?
Capriccio has been the source of so much joy in my life over the years, and being on the board is a way to give back to the organization that has given me so much.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
After moving around a lot as a kid, I landed in Columbus in 1981 and have been here ever since. I have a bachelors and masters degree from Ohio State, and taught elementary and middle school in Worthington Schools for almost 35 years. I retired in June 2020. My husband Jim and I have been married for 40 years; he retired from teaching in New Albany Schools in July 2022. We have two sons; Ethan, his wife Cassondra, and our grandson Talon live near Buffalo, NY; Evan lives in Chicago. I love to travel, cook, bake, garden, knit, sew, bike, read, practice yoga, and be with friends. I’m grateful for all the good things in my life, and singing with Capriccio is definitely one of them. 🙂

Any other information you think choir members need to know about you?
There are a number of very talented singers in Capriccio who volunteer for and sing beautiful solos. They are amazing artists! However, I’m not one of them. I love Capriccio because there is room for folks like me: solid, enthusiastic choral musicians who love to sing with a group. The beauty of Capriccio is that we come to the table from a variety of backgrounds, experiences, voices, and ages and learn to sing as one. What lucky people we are to get together once a week to nourish our souls with choral music. I never, ever to take it for granted.

Board Position: Member
Board Committees:Staffing

How long have you sung in the choir?
15 years

Why do you serve on the board?
To try and make Capriccio a better organization

Tell us a bit about yourself.
Wife Katherine, four gown children (Katie sometimes sings with Capriccio) as well as 6 grandchildren. I am a Manufacturing Safety Manager and grew up in Mansfield, Ohio with a very musical family.

Board Position: Member
Board Committees: Marketing

How long have you sung in the choir?
10 years

Why do you serve on the board?
To facilitate growth, professionalism and continuity of Capriccio Columbus family of choirs.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
From Akron, Ohio. University of Akron graduate. Retired Veterans Program Manager for the State of Ohio, Past Commander Vietnam Veterans of America, Disabled Veterans of America, & Military Order of the Purple Heart, Trustee of St. John AME Church.

Board Position: CYC representative to the board
Board Committees:Governance

Why do you serve on the board?
To support the mission of Capriccio Columbus and volunteer on behalf of the youth choir.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am a lifelong Ohioan who relocated to Columbus from Belmont County to attend Ohio State – and never left. I am an attorney and executive for the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System and the Ohio Deferred Compensation Program. I participate on the Capriccio Board because our children are signers with the Capriccio Youth Choir over the last several years. My husband, John, and I appreciate the bonds our kids have developed at CYC and the skills they have learned. I’m proud to share my time with this organization and support the music they bring to central Ohio.

Any other information you think choir members need to know about you?
Many hands make light work! Please support us through song and volunteering when you can.

Larry Griffin is well known and widely respected among Central Ohio’s music educators and conductors. From 1991 until his retirement in 2013, he was director of choral music at Worthington Kilbourne High School. He formerly led the St Charles Preparatory School’s men’s ensemble and the Mansfield Symphony Chorus. He currently teaches voice privately in his home studio and served as bass soloist for Linworth United Methodiest Church.

A past president of the Ohio Music Education Association, Griffin has served in many OMEA events as an adjudicator, director of honors choir festivals and clinician. In 2005, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra presented him with the Secondary School Music Educator Award.

From 2001 to 2003, Griffin directed Vaud-Villities. He has served a number of Greater Columbus churches as a choral director and soloist.

Griffin holds a Master of Music degree from The Ohio State University, where he studied conducting with Hilary Apfelstadt. He received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Eastern Kentucky University, and has done graduate work at Ohio State and Wright State University.

Karrie Horton has earned a reputation as an extremely versatile vocal performer, conductor and educator. She served as director of vocal music at New Albany High School until her retirement in May of 2025 and musical theater vocal coach at St. Charles Preparatory School since 1991.

Horton is familiar to many in Columbus as soprano soloist at St. Joseph Cathedral, former director of Worthington Songsters, and lead singer for Buckeye Brass, a jazz band. She has performed with Opera Columbus, backed up Celine Dion and Gladys Knight and sung commercial jingles.

A member of the Ohio Music Education Association and the Ohio Choral Directors Association, Horton earned her master’s degree from VanderCook College of Music and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Ohio State University. She has continued with graduate work in Theatre Education at Akron University.

Board Position: CYC representative to the board
Board Committees: Marketing

How long have you sung in the choir?
Since Fall 2017

Why do you serve on the board?
As both a CYC parent AND a singer in Capriccio, I offer a unique perspective as a Board Member.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
“Originally from Northeast Ohio, I attended Otterbein College – where I earned my degree in Music Education, and also met my husband. We’ve made our home in Central Ohio, and have always participated in various choirs and ensembles. Now, both of our children sing with CYC, I sing with Capriccio, and my husband sings with Jubilee!

In my day-job, I am Director of Children’s Ministries at Church of the Master, UMC in Westerville, and also lead LGBTQ+ Ally-ship ministry there.”

Kristen Jarzecki has over 22 years of teaching elementary music education.  Kristen teaches K-5 music at Evening Street Elementary in Worthington City Schools. Mrs. Jarzecki received her bachelor’s degree in music education from Otterbein University and her master’s degree from Capital University.  She teaches general music, guitar, and choir, and directs an annual Broadway Junior musical.  Her favorite part about being a music teacher is teaching the joy of singing and music-making.

Carol Jeckavitch, a native of Johnstown, PA, has sung with Capriccio Columbus since 2013 and became its music librarian in 2014.

Carol is a retired music educator, directing choral activities at Salem High School, in Salem, Ohio for 30 years before retiring to Columbus with husband and fellow Capriccio member, Jeff, to be nearer to their children and grandchildren.

Board Position: Member
Board Committees: Governance

How long have you sung in the choir?
6 years

Why do you serve on the board?
Because I have enjoyed participating in the wonderful community and musical opportunities Capriccio provides, I want to make sure the organization stays strong for others to experience as well.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I grew up in Circleville, Ohio, and started playing violin when I was 8 years old. I went to Miami University for my Music Education degree, followed by earning a Master’s degree in String Pedagogy at the Ohio State University School of Music. I have been teaching middle school orchestra in Dublin since 2006. In addition to singing with Capriccio, I enjoy playing violin and viola with the Central Ohio Symphony, and percussion with the Dublin Wind Symphony and Dublin Cornet Band.

Evan T. McIntyre is a doctoral candidate in Music Education at The Ohio State University, where he is a guest lecturer on literacy in the content area. He holds a Master’s of Music in Music Education from Capital University, and his Bachelor of Music Education and Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Otterbein University. He is certified in Kodaly, Orff-Schulwerk, and Feierabend, and has training in Music Learning Theory.

McIntyre currently teaches general music at McVay Elementary in the Westerville City Schools, where he received the 2024 Great Educator Mentor award, 2023 A+ Award of distinction and was named 2014-2015 Educator of the Year. He routinely presents sessions on early childhood music pedagogy and the integration of music and literacy.

Ellen Moore Griffin has been a member of Capriccio Columbus since 2009, serving as board secretary before assuming her current role as Managing Director, overseeing all administrative aspects of managing the chorus, including internal and external communications, scheduling, grant writing, program design and layout, and website management.

Mrs. Griffin, a Columbus native and graduate of Groveport-Madison High School, holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Ohio University.  She has extensive administrative management experience in the arts (Players Theatre Columbus) and government (Governor Celeste’s office and the Ohio Building Authority).  In 1992, she was hired as the assistant director of Community Crime Patrol, a local, non-profit, crime prevention organization based in the University District, and assumed the executive director position in 2001.

Kate Oliver is a passionate music educator, singer, and storyteller with 20 years of experience sharing the joy of music with young children. A graduate of Otterbein University with a degree in music, Kate has dedicated her career to nurturing creativity and confidence through song, movement, and play.

She spent a decade in Australia teaching early childhood music with La Di Dah Colourstrings Music Kindergarten and Forte School of Music, while also working in the nonprofit arts sector with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. Now back in her hometown of Westerville, Ohio, Kate teaches preschool music and continues to inspire little ones through imaginative, joyful musical experiences.

Kate believes in the magic of music to connect, uplift, and empower—and she especially loves seeing children’s faces light up as they discover their voices and express themselves through rhythm, melody, and story. When she’s not teaching, Kate is busy singing, performing, and spending time with her two young children.

Audrey Rice currently teaches 3rd-5th grade general music at Winchester Trail Elementary School in Canal Winchester, OH.  She co-directs the Winchester Trail 5th grade choir and an all-school musical each spring.  Audrey has previously taught with the early childhood music program “We Joy Sing” and is an active member of the Tri-City Kodály Educators (TRIKE).  Audrey holds a Bachelor’s of Music Education from The Ohio State University and a Master of Music in Music Education with a Kodály Emphasis from Capital University.

Most recently, Collin Richardson served as University Organist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Music at Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia where he taught organ, piano, music theory, piano methods and accompanied the university choral ensembles. A native of Cincinnati, Mr. Richardson earned the Bachelor of Arts Degree in music at Morehouse College in Atlanta. Collin continued his music studies in earning the Master of Music Degree in Organ Performance from Emory University and the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Organ Performance with additional studies in piano pedagogy from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati.  He currently serves as director of choral activities at Linden-McKinley High School in Columbus.

Board Position: President

How long have you sung in the choir?
11 years

Why do you serve on the board?
I love singing with Capriccio Columbus – it’s my happy place! Being a part of this organization as a singer means so much to me personally for my mental health and happiness.

Serving as a member of the Board of Directors is also a happy place for me – I get to support the organization I love by offering my time and talents.

It’s so gratifying to know the work of the Board supports Capriccio’s ability to impact young singers involved with Capriccio Youth Choir, to encourage lifelong commitments to choral music among adult singers, and to introduce audiences to genres of music they likely will not experience with any other Central Ohio choir. Capriccio Columbus has so much to offer singers of all ages and to audience members. It’s an honor to serve on the Board of this amazing organization.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I grew up in rural Northwest Ohio and graduated from Heidelberg University with degrees in Business Administration and Psychology. I have spent my career in public service which includes work with children services, child support enforcement, job and family services, and the past fourteen years at the Department of Medicaid. I love doing work that helps others, which goes back to my desire to serve on Capriccio’s Board!

In my spare time when I’m not rehearsing my choir music or doing work for the Board, I love to hike with my husband and our dog, I treasure spending time with family and friends, and I love to travel ANYWHERE! Favorite destinations are Florida (grandkids) and NYC (Broadway shows!).

Any other information you think choir members need to know about you?
I’m always recruiting! Anyone with an interest in serving on the Board or learning more about what that entails, please reach out to me at diane@capricciocolumbus.org. Thank you!

Pamela Villarreal has been a pianist, vocalist, educator and director in the central Ohio area for 19 years. Along with teaching private lessons, she has been a collaborative pianist with various choral and musical theater programs including Capital University, The Ohio State University, Olentangy Berlin High School, and ACPA. Pam currently serves as a board member of Pickerington Community Theatre where she both accompanies and directs children’s musicals. She is also the music director of Grace Lutheran Church in Pickerington and is the resident accompanist of the Southwest Licking School District.

Board Position: Secretary
Board Committees:Facilities/Logistics, Member Engagement

How long have you sung in the choir?
10 years

Why do you serve on the board?
I wanted to serve on the board of Capriccio choir because I deeply value the role music plays in bringing people together. This choir is not just about performance—it’s about connection, inclusion, and shared joy. By joining the board, I hoped to contribute to the sustainability and growth of this group, support its members, and help ensure that we continue to make music accessible and meaningful for everyone involved

Tell us a bit about yourself.
Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, I graduated from Miami University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. I spent nine years as a vocal music educator with Columbus City Schools, where I had the privilege of helping students grow through music. I later transitioned to a role in after-school care in Worthington, Ohio, continuing my passion for youth development in a different capacity. In addition, I serve as the Director of Camp Life at Interlochen Center for the Arts in Interlochen, Michigan, where I contribute year-round to creating transformative experiences for young artists.