Aimee Stewart, Executive Director/Artistic Director
Aimee Stewart is the Founder and Artistic Director of Chandler Children’s Choir. Since its inception in 2008, CCC has grown from a young choir of 27 singers to a a highly respected choral organization in Arizona, with four performing ensembles and an introductory choir. This spring, Ad Astra was honored to perform at the Western Region ACDA conference under her direction as a selected, auditioned ensemble. She also conducts the Chamber Singers at Chandler-Gilbert Community College, the Tempe Community Messiah, has served as President of the Arizona chapter of ACDA and was recently elected as Western Region ACDA President for 2026-2028. In 2022, she was awarded AzACDA Choral Director of the Year.
As a youth, Aimee sang with the Salt Lake Children’s Choir, studied voice and violin, and performed in a string quartet. Mrs. Stewart earned her bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and has sung in established choirs such as the Roanoke (VA) Symphony Chorus, Connecticut Master Chorale, Utah Baroque Ensemble, and The Phoenix Symphony Chorus.
Mrs. Stewart is in a Master’s program for Choral Conducting at Arizona State University. Her hobbies include skiing with her husband, Adam, and their four children, Lizzie, Eli, Ivy, and Oliver, all of whom have sung with CCC.
Julie Schlarmann, Operations Director
Julie Schlarmann has been involved with the Chandler Children’s Choir since 2011, when the first of her three kids joined the choir. During that time Julie has served as interim executive director, Tempo president, tour manager, music librarian and uniform coordinator. She enjoys musicals, attending her kids’ activities and spending time with her family and friends. She also enjoys visiting the Midwest where she is originally from.
Ashley Whipple, Business Director
Ashley Whipple started her journey with CCC when her then 10-year-old son joined Encore Choir in 2014. Her youngest child joined Junior Choir the following year. After two years of the choir parent life, Ashley began working as the Choir Manager. In her eighth year as a CCC staff member, Ashley transitioned to Business Director.
Ashley earned a Computer Information Systems degree from the W.P. Carey School of Business. Her eclectic interests ranging from all things crafty to photography to well-organized spreadsheets has been a great asset in her role at CCC.
Mandy Clegg, Encore and Junior Choir Director
Mandy Clegg is in her third year with Chandler Children’s Choir as the director of Junior and Encore Choir. She holds a BM in Voice Performance from the U of A and received her MME from ASU in 2013. Following graduation from ASU, she founded the choir program at Benjamin Franklin High School in Queen Creek, growing the program from 80 singers in 3 choirs to 200 singers and 6 choirs in 5 years. She left Ben Franklin in 2018 to stay at home with her 2 children. A private teacher and active singer, she maintains a small studio and sings with choirs around the valley including the Sonoran Desert Chorale (2019-2021) and Solis Camerata - an early music chamber choir.
Jenni Layton, Junior Choir Rehearsal Director
Jenni Layton served as the Junior Choir Rehearsal Director last season and has long been a valued member of our choir community. Many of you may recognize her as a former choir parent, a teacher at our 2022 summer camp, and the backstage lead for Junior Choir at our 2022 Winter concert. Currently the music teacher at Brisas Elementary and pursuing her master’s degree in Music Learning and Teaching at ASU, Mrs. Layton brings incredible expertise and enthusiasm to this role.
Dr. Andrew Campbell, Principal Collaborative Pianist
Dr. Andrew Campbell has established himself as one of the most versatile collaborative pianists in the United States with a performing career that has taken him to over 40 states and six continents. Dr. Campbell studied with the renowned collaborative artist Martin Katz and is currently Director of the Collaborative Piano Program at Arizona State University. His early musical foundation was based on choral singing, as his mother was the founder of the San Diego Children’s Choir. After hearing the CCC Holiday Concert many years ago and observing the amazing work of Aimee Stewart and her team, he enrolled his own daughters as soon as they were old enough. He is the volunteer collaborative pianist for Cantus and Ad Astra Choirs.
Haley Kessler, Collaborative Pianist
Haley Kessler holds a bachelor's degree in Piano Performance and recently graduated from Arizona State University with a master’s degree in Collaborative Piano, where she was privileged to play with choirs, chamber ensembles, and soloists. She currently enjoys working with several different choirs, vocalists, and instrumentalists across the valley. Her other musical interests include playing viola and teaching. In her free time, Haley enjoys spending time with family and friends, crafting, and drinking hot chocolate!
Taylor Day, Prelude Choir Director
Katie Gerrich, Education Outreach
Katie Gerrich is very excited to join the CCC team in the role of Educational Outreach! Mrs. Gerrich is the Director of Choirs at McClintock High School in Tempe, where she has taught for 20 years. She also serves as the President of the Arizona Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). She has been teaching choral music for a total of 23 years, all in Tempe! She holds a Bachelor of Music Education and a Masters in Education/Human Relations, both from Northern Arizona University. Mrs. Gerrich has served as the chair for both the Arizona Southwest Regional Choir and the Arizona All-State Jazz Choir. She is often requested as a guest director, clinician and collaborative pianist throughout the state. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and traveling, and she lives in Chandler with her husband and 8-year-old daughter (who sings in Junior Choir!)
Stephanie Nuttall, Data Manager & Bookkeeper
Stephanie Nuttall has been involved with Chandler Children’s Choir for over two years, currently serving as Data Manager and Bookkeeper. Stephanie’s oldest daughter has been a part of CCC going on six years now. We have loved every moment and memory of Chandler Children’s Choir! Stephanie enjoys spending time with her family, playing games, organizing, family trips, and relaxing at the theatre, listening to a good audiobook, or watching a good movie from the comfort of her couch.
Charlene Sorensen, Choir Manager & Uniform Coordinator
Charlene Sorensen has loved being involved with Chandler Children's Choir and is excited for her new role as Choir Manager! As a homeschooling mother of six, Charlene's days are filled with teaching, learning, and playing with her children, all of whom are enthusiastic members of the choir and avid piano students. In her quieter moments, she loves reading, and doing graphic design. She also loves spending time outdoors camping, hiking, and traveling with her family and friends.
Charlene graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Utah Valley University and has since received a certificate in graphic design from California Institute of the Arts. She previously worked in the honors department at UVU and taught as adjunct faculty in the philosophy department.
Megan Jurado, Auditions Coordinator
Hello, my name is Megan Jurado and I currently serve as the Auditions Coordinator for Chandler Children's Choir. I was also the assistant choir manager for a few years previously. I am the lucky mother to two teenage daughters that have both been a part of CCC for over 9 years!. My family is originally from the beautiful state of Washington and we have lived here in Chandler Arizona for 10 years now. We love all of the outdoor activities the area has to offer year round, we are often off exploring new hiking adventures. We love being a part of the wonderful family that is CCC and look forward to creating more memories this season.