Leslie Moruza Dripps serves CSYC as Executive & Artistic Director and Director of Upper Choir and has been teaching with City Singers Youth Choirs since 2007. A passionate advocate for equitable access to music education she has taught vocal, choral, and general music at the elementary, middle, high school, and adult levels. She provides music education consulting to schools, school districts, churches, and museums, and as a conductor has served all-area choirs, workshops, clinics, and adjudications across the state. Leslie will teach you to sing unless you are very, very careful.
A published songwriter with international commercial and film credits, Leslie is an active independent choral composer and also performs as a vocalist in a variety of venues, from recording studios to classical mezzo-soprano repertoire. She is a member of Richmond’s professional choral ensemble, Vox Humana, under the baton of Dr. William Bradley Roberts.
Leslie holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from James Madison University and Orff I certification at VCU and currently studies voice under Margaret Woods. An ardent proponent of work-life balance for musicians and their students, she practices what she preaches by spending ample time in her ornery garden while homeschooling the three Dripps boys, and it’s ok that the laundry is never, ever done.
Alden Blevins, Director of Elementary Choir (PK-2nd grades) has seven years of teaching experience in public school settings, and over 14 years of experience as a professional singer. She holds her Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Virginia Commonwealth University, Vocal/Choral concentration, and her Master of Music Education from New York University. Alden has also completed all levels of training in both Kodaly and Orff methodologies of teaching music.
Alden has a passion for inclusive education, focusing on universal design for music learning in her NYU coursework. Working with students who experience access barriers to understanding the building blocks of music is one of her greatest interests in part because she herself grew up as one of those learners. Her different brain now makes her an effective teacher and leader, because she is able to anticipate student needs through this lens.
In working with students, it is her primary aim to: foster a joyful love of music-making, create an environment in which each student feels supported, and help her community shape singers to become positive citizens of our larger world.
Chorus was the first group environment where she felt nurtured, safe, included, and loved. It is her sincere hope to pay the debt of what music did for her forward to the next generation of music-makers!
Kim Chenoweth Crowley, Director of Progressing Choir (3rd-6th grades) is an experienced teacher and leader of young voices, previously serving as Children’s Choir Director at River Road Church, Baptist and Assistant Choir Director and Piano Teacher for Greenspring Music Academy. She values every child, and takes special care helping singers to find and love their voices, even if they’ve been discouraged elsewhere.
Kim holds a Bachelor of Music in vocal/choral music education from East Carolina University, as well as a Master of Divinity with concentration in Church Music from the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, and has previously served as Children’s Minister at River Road Church, and Associate Minister for Families at Seventh Street Christian Church. Kim is an ordained minister in the Baptist and Disciples of Christ traditions. Returning to the professional world after taking time off to raise their young children, she lives in the Westover Hills neighborhood of Richmond with her husband, Chris, as well as, Erica (11), Savannah (4), and David (2), and their dogs, Chance and Iris.
Lauren Neuhaus has served as CSYC Alumnus Intern since 2020. She is currently working on a certificate in cybersecurity, and considering what comes next. When she isn’t singing, she’s playing video games, volunteering at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, or reading. She loves singing, and loves the CSYC staff and the opportunity to work with them. Lauren runs rehearsal check-in, so her face is the first to greet singers each week!
Betsy Podsiadlo, Advancement & Community Engagement possesses a rich background as a professional choral singer, composer, and dedicated music teacher. Betsy prioritizes holistic, interactive learning processes that engage the artistry and humanity in all students. A Westminster Choir College graduate, Betsy has performed with the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra and Juilliard 415 in addition to being a resident choral singer at the Spoleto Festival from 2018-2019. While working on her Master’s of Music in Voice at The New School in New York City from 2021-2023, Betsy began additional studies to become an opera and theater producer with Beth Morrison Projects. Betsy was awarded the 2023 Mellon Producing Fellowship and associate produced large-scale productions and tours across the United States and abroad.
In addition to her work with City Singers, Betsy runs a thriving private voice and violin studio here in Richmond, and serves on the Lamb Arts Fest committee in Hopewell, VA. Learn more about Betsy’s ongoing projects at www.betsypodsiadlo.com
Margaret Woods serves CSYC as Director of Voice Pedagogy and enjoys a diverse career of concert work, opera, and teaching.
As a professional soprano, her many festival, masterwork, operatic, and recital credits are too numerous to list here, but include projects domestic and international, throughout the eastern United States and Europe.
Margaret values the transformative power of music across all ages and abilities. In addition to her singing career, Margaret is passionate about teaching voice and vocal pedagogy. She serves as adjunct voice faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University and Berkshire Choral International and has been a guest lecturer at Peabody Conservatory, University of Richmond and her alma mater, Lebanon Valley College.
Students in her private voice studio have won numerous competitions and have been accepted to some of the most prestigious music programs in the country. Margaret holds degrees from Lebanon Valley College in Music Education (B.S.) and Music (B.A.) and an M.M. in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College. For more information about Margaret, visit margaretwoodssoprano.com
After-School Programming
Staff Roster
Kimberly Fox Knight is an accomplished singer and performer serving as Music Instructor for CSYC’s After-School Programs in partnership with NextUp. A native of Hanover County, Kimberly has performed in countless settings, including Kings Dominion Entertainment, Riverside Dinner Theater and as guest artist for the VCU Theater Production of “HairSpray”, as well as in commercials for UPS, VA Lottery, The Virginia Housing Department, and Anthem.
She recently starred as the lead role in the 2022 hit gospel play “Hypocrite The Musical”, directed by Glennis Crosby of Imani Productions.
As a wife and mother of 2, Kimberly is a jack of all trades and is not slowing down anytime soon! She is the proud owner of Gimme Pound Cakes and co-owner of Sweets In The City. To close out busy days providing pound cakes for The Market at 25th, Kimberly spends her evenings maintaining her private studio as a voice teacher and acting coach.
Kimberly graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelor of Music degree concentrating in Vocal Performance.
FACULTY
A published songwriter with international commercial and film credits, Leslie is an active independent choral composer and also performs as a vocalist in a variety of venues, from recording studios to classical mezzo-soprano repertoire. She is a member of Richmond’s professional choral ensemble, Vox Humana, under the baton of Dr. William Bradley Roberts.
Leslie holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from James Madison University and Orff I certification at VCU and currently studies voice under Margaret Woods. An ardent proponent of work-life balance for musicians and their students, she practices what she preaches by spending ample time in her ornery garden while homeschooling the three Dripps boys, and it’s ok that the laundry is never, ever done.
Alden has a passion for inclusive education, focusing on universal design for music learning in her NYU coursework. Working with students who experience access barriers to understanding the building blocks of music is one of her greatest interests in part because she herself grew up as one of those learners. Her different brain now makes her an effective teacher and leader, because she is able to anticipate student needs through this lens.
In working with students, it is her primary aim to: foster a joyful love of music-making, create an environment in which each student feels supported, and help her community shape singers to become positive citizens of our larger world.
Chorus was the first group environment where she felt nurtured, safe, included, and loved. It is her sincere hope to pay the debt of what music did for her forward to the next generation of music-makers!
Kim holds a Bachelor of Music in vocal/choral music education from East Carolina University, as well as a Master of Divinity with concentration in Church Music from the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, and has previously served as Children’s Minister at River Road Church, and Associate Minister for Families at Seventh Street Christian Church. Kim is an ordained minister in the Baptist and Disciples of Christ traditions. Returning to the professional world after taking time off to raise their young children, she lives in the Westover Hills neighborhood of Richmond with her husband, Chris, as well as, Erica (11), Savannah (4), and David (2), and their dogs, Chance and Iris.
Lauren Neuhaus has served as CSYC Alumnus Intern since 2020. She is currently working on a certificate in cybersecurity, and considering what comes next. When she isn’t singing, she’s playing video games, volunteering at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, or reading. She loves singing, and loves the CSYC staff and the opportunity to work with them. Lauren runs rehearsal check-in, so her face is the first to greet singers each week!
Betsy Podsiadlo, Advancement & Community Engagement possesses a rich
background as a professional choral singer, composer, and dedicated music teacher. Betsy prioritizes holistic, interactive learning processes that engage the artistry and humanity in all students. A Westminster Choir College graduate, Betsy has performed with the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra and Juilliard 415 in addition to being a resident choral singer at the Spoleto Festival from 2018-2019. While working on her Master’s of Music in Voice at The New School in New York City from 2021-2023, Betsy began additional studies to become an opera and theater producer with Beth Morrison Projects. Betsy was awarded the 2023 Mellon Producing Fellowship and associate produced large-scale productions and tours across the United States and abroad.
In addition to her work with City Singers, Betsy runs a thriving private voice and violin studio here in Richmond, and serves on the Lamb Arts Fest committee in Hopewell, VA. Learn more about Betsy’s ongoing projects at www.betsypodsiadlo.com
Margaret Woods serves CSYC as Director of Voice Pedagogy and enjoys a diverse career of concert work, opera, and teaching.
As a professional soprano, her many festival, masterwork, operatic, and recital credits are too numerous to list here, but include projects domestic and international, throughout the eastern United States and Europe.
Margaret values the transformative power of music across all ages and abilities. In addition to her singing career, Margaret is passionate about teaching voice and vocal pedagogy. She serves as adjunct voice faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University and Berkshire Choral International and has been a guest lecturer at Peabody Conservatory, University of Richmond and her alma mater, Lebanon Valley College.
Students in her private voice studio have won numerous competitions and have been accepted to some of the most prestigious music programs in the country. Margaret holds degrees from Lebanon Valley College in Music Education (B.S.) and Music (B.A.) and an M.M. in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College. For more information about Margaret, visit margaretwoodssoprano.com
After-School Programming
Staff Roster
Kimberly Fox Knight is an accomplished singer and performer serving as Music Instructor for CSYC’s After-School Programs in partnership with NextUp. A native of Hanover County, Kimberly has performed in countless settings, including Kings Dominion Entertainment, Riverside Dinner Theater and as guest artist for the VCU Theater Production of “HairSpray”, as well as in commercials for UPS, VA Lottery, The Virginia Housing Department, and Anthem.
She recently starred as the lead role in the 2022 hit gospel play “Hypocrite The Musical”, directed by Glennis Crosby of Imani Productions.
As a wife and mother of 2, Kimberly is a jack of all trades and is not slowing down anytime soon! She is the proud owner of Gimme Pound Cakes and co-owner of Sweets In The City. To close out busy days providing pound cakes for The Market at 25th, Kimberly spends her evenings maintaining her private studio as a voice teacher and acting coach.
Kimberly graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelor of Music degree concentrating in Vocal Performance.