About – Intermountain Music

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 Directors

Leslie Walker & Leanna Crockett

Leanna Crockett and Leslie Walker have worked together in a variety of musical endeavors for over thirty years. These endeavors have included directing musical theater productions and performing in small community choral ensembles. They are both former members of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.

Leslie Walker has organized and directed children’s choirs for the past forty years. She has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in vocal performance and pedagogy from BYU. She served as a board member of the American Choral Directors Association. Leslie is the former director of choral activities at Springville High School and Springville Junior High and taught voice lessons. She and her husband, Mark, have five children and thirteen grandchildren!

Leanna has worked for 42 years as a music educator. She taught orchestra, general music, band, Advanced Placement and beginning music theory. Her primary teaching responsibilities were to serve as director of choral activities at Springville High School from 2000 – 2015. Her education includes a Bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University in Music Education. She is also a Kodaly certified music educator. Leanna retired from teaching choir at Springville High School. Leanna and her husband, Brad, have three children and ten grandchildren.