Founder & Artistic Director

Dr. Cory J. Mendenhall

Cory Mendenhall and his wife, Aprel, are the parents of four beautiful and musical children. His teaching and conducting career has taken him to conduct ensembles in stunning concert halls throughout the United States, including Carnegie Hall, Chicago Symphony Hall, the Salt Lake Tabernacle, Abravanel Hall, the Music Center at Strathmore, Segerstrom Concert Hall, Meyerson Symphony Center and more. 

Dr. Mendenhall currently serves as Founder and Artistic Director of Intermountain Choral Artists and Symphony Orchestra, and Director of Choral Ensembles at Springville High School. He formerly served as Director of Choral Activities at both Maple Mountain High School and Provo High School. Selected by rigorous audition, Mendenhall collaborated with his colleagues in preparing and conducting the MMHS Choirs and Orchestra for a solo performance of Vivaldi’s Gloria RV 589 in Carnegie Hall in February 2016. While he was at Provo High School, the PHS Chamber Singers were also featured in the National High School Choral Festival at Carnegie Hall. Dr. Mendenhall’s unique and informed work with adolescent voices in the choral setting brought celebrated regional and nationally renowned attention to his high school choirs, known for their beautiful tone, musicianship, and choral artistry.

Mendenhall earned a doctor of musical arts degree in choral conducting, with cognate studies in orchestral conducting, from the University of Utah. He earned a master’s degree in choral conducting from Brigham Young University and a bachelor of music degree in choral music education from Utah State University, with related studies in organ performance. During his graduate work, Mendenhall conducted the University of Utah Chamber and A Cappella Choirs; while at BYU he served as the Assistant Conductor of the BYU Men’s Chorus and conducted the BYU University Chorale. His mentors include Barlow Bradford, Robert Baldwin, Ronald Staheli, Rosalind Hall, Jean Applonie, Will Kesling, Lane Cheney, the late Douglas Bush, and the late James Drake. 

Dr. Mendenhall also served as Conductor and Artistic Director of the Mapleton Chorale and enjoys serving as the choral director for the Provo (Utah) Missionary Training Center for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Aside from his musical work, Mendenhall enjoys spending time with his wife and children and extended family and friends in Utah’s stunning mountains. 

Young Artists Associate Director

Madison Paez

Madison Paez received her Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Brigham Young University in December 2025. She is the co-founder of Santos Chamber Singers, a nonprofit choir she established with her husband, Matthew, dedicated to high-level choral performance and community engagement.

Madison was a member of the internationally recognized BYU Singers for four years, performing at regional and national ACDA conferences, winning multiple choral competitions, and touring extensively throughout the Baltic States, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Greece, Switzerland, and Belgium. During her tenure, she also served as student president, providing organizational leadership for the ensemble.

As a soloist, Madison has appeared in three BYU operatic productions, including the role of Despina in Mozart’s Così fan tutte. She was also a soloist with the Ensign Singers on Faure’s “Requiem”. She has earned recognition in multiple vocal competitions, most notably as the winner of the BYU Concerto Competition in 2023. 

Madison continues to perform actively in both choral ensembles and operatic productions. She is passionate about music education and enjoys teaching private voice lessons and choir, striving to inspire technical excellence, musicality, and a lifelong love of music in her students.

Administrative Staff

Cindy Christensen

Director of Operations

operations@intermountainmusic.org

Kelsey Eastmond

Adult Choir Manager

adultchoirs@intermountainmusic.org

Rachel Walker

Interim Orchestra Manager

orchestra@intermountainmusic.org

Camille Neilson

Youth Choirs Manager

youthchoirs@intermountainmusic.org

Maren Christensen

Audition Manager

auditions@intermountainmusic.org

Gina Gifford

Music Librarian

librarian@intermountainmusic.org

Stacey Christensen

Production Manager

Nick Mendenhall

Assistant Intern Conductor & Composer

Christine Tanner

Graphic Design

Board of Directors

Aprel Mendenhall

President

Stan Green

Member

Yvonne Blonquist

Member

Shannon Brown

Member

info@intermountainmusic.org