SCCC Directors

Concert Chorus & Ensemble 2006 Euro Tour Info

“With acclaimed faculty, national and international concert tours, and appearances at Carnegie Hall, the Southern California Children’s Chorus is well on its way to world-class performance status”

Henry Leck
Founder/Director
Indianapolis Children’s Choir

Lori Loftus
Director, Concert Chorus
and Ensemble
Lori Loftus, the founding artistic director of the Southern California Children’s Chorus, has taught the art of music, singing and musicianship to children for over 25 years. Under her leadership, the SCCC’s Concert Chorus is rapidly becoming the leading children’s chorus in Southern California.

Lori’s musical credentials are impeccable. She has a B.M. in Piano Performance and has been the accompanist for many fine choral conductors including David Thorsen, Helmuth Rilling, Howard Swan, Zubin Mehta, John Alexander, Harold Dekker, Joseph Flummerfeld and Carl St. Clair.

Throughout her career, her choirs have sung on professional artists’ CD’s and have received many awards at festivals and competitions. She has also been asked to provide trained children’s voices for Touchstone films, MGM films, music videos, commercials, symphony concerts, operas, television specials for Disney and many musical productions.

Lori is currently working as a children’s choral coordinator in vocal music at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach. Constantly in demand as an organist, harpsichordist or pianist, she plays for concerts, recitals, orchestral works, festivals and auditions. Frequently she is also a guest conductor, lecturer and adjudicator for children’s choral festivals. Her passion for children and her commitment to music excellence make her a very unique and successful director.

Carol Aspling
Director, Advanced Chorus
Carol holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from Biola University, and has been a director with the Southern California Children's Chorus since 1996. She is currently the Director of Children's Music at the Crystal Cathedral Academy and Church, where she directs five choirs and supervises the children's music education program. Carol is also the vocal and voice teacher, coaching children with special vocal needs. She has studied conducting with Mr. Henry Leck and Dr. Doreen Rao. Mrs. Aspling is certified in the Kodaly Method of music education. She is a frequent clinician and presents workshops throughout California.

Betsy Olson
Director, Intermediate Chorus
Betsy has been teaching music for over 20 years. After graduating from California State University at Long Beach, Betsy taught flute and piano in her private studio for the next 14 years. During these years she played with the Cypress Ensemble, doing flute and vocals. Betsy has been a music teacher in the La Habra City School District for the past nine years, and a mentor teacher for CSU Fullerton under graduate music education students for the past six years. Her efforts in teaching music in La Habra earned her the La Habra Masonic Lodge Outstanding Educator Award in 2000. She founded and organizes the Annual La Habra Middle School Chorus Invitational, in which the SCCC choruses have been highlighted. Betsy is Kodaly trained and currently working on her Master's of Music Education at CSU Fullerton.

Susan Gerling
Director, Apprentice Chorus
Susan Gerling graduated with honors from California State University, Fullerton, with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education. She holds a Master of Music in Music Education from Silver Lake College in Wisconsin.

Mrs. Gerling is fully certified by the Kodaly Association of Southern California, and has additional continuing education in early childhood music, Orff, and Dalcroze. Her professional work experiences include directing children’s church choirs, teaching chorus and general music in both private and public schools, and serving as the founding director of a large community music school.

At the present time she is employed by the Capistrano Unified School District, teaching elementary music education classes and directing choirs. She has presented workshops, served as guest conductor in area festivals, and teaches graduate level music education classes. Susan has two grown daughters and resides in Oceanside with her husband Larry, who also serves as chorus accompanist.

Jerome Healy
Director, Kinder Chorus
and Primary Chorus
Jerome has been the Director of the Kinder Chorus and Primary Chorus since they were formed in September, 1998. Mr. Healy has taught elementary music with the Capistrano Unified School District in San Juan Capistrano since 1991. He is trained in the Kodaly Method of music education for children and received his California Teaching Credential and Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from California State University, Northridge. In addition to teaching children, he serves as a clinician within his district and with the Orange County Department of Education training primary grade classroom teachers in music and movement. In May 2001, Jerome was awarded the Orange County Music and Arts Administrators' 2001 Outstanding Arts Educator Award in Elementary Vocal/General Music.