Board of Directors
Nicole de Naray, Co-President
Nicole has lived in Colorado Springs since 1986. Her professional life was spent in various forms of financial management, inclusive of banking, government, small business, and non-profit accounting. Since her retirement from the Colorado Springs Philharmonic in 2010, she has served on various Boards—Chamber Orchestra of the Springs, Home Front Military Network Advisory Board, her HOA, and as a Mt. Carmel Community Ambassador. She studied piano as a “military brat” in Germany & France and continues to play. Her husband of 45 years, Andy, passed in 2020. She feels blessed to have her son, Andrew, and family nearby.
Kim Gunderson, Co-President
Kim has served the community in Colorado Springs for over 30 years, most recently with Tiemens Private Wealth Management Group. Formerly in the senior services industry, Kim has served as a volunteer and board member with several organizations, including the Colorado Springs Philharmonic Guild and the Community Development Committee at the UCCS Center on Aging. Kim currently splits her time between Colorado Springs and Summit County.
Elizabeth Leslie, Vice President
Elizabeth Is a Colorado native and grew up in Colorado Springs. Her MBA from Regis University in Denver is in Operations Management and project management specialization. The three most memorable highlights in her profession are bringing Nordstrom to Colorado with MCI, working on the ejection seats for airplanes for Goodrich Corporation, and pirates stealing parts from the transport ship in Asia with parts to make the monthly goal at Atmel Corporation. She works with her LLC on project management now.
Elizabeth took piano lessons for nine years and had an audition for the National Piano Guild. She gave her piano recitals at the Fine Arts Center when she was growing up, and her mother took her to concerts and the Opera. She has served non-profits in our area for two decades.
She is a current Board member for the Pikes Peak Opera League. Her service to the Philharmonic Guild Board led to raising money for scholarships for students in the Youth Symphony. She served in the Colorado Symphony Guild Board for fundraising the gift shop. She is a former Board member and Trustee for the Colorado Symphony in Denver. She is a current member of Women of Note with the Colorado Symphony and the Colorado Symphony Guild. Elizabeth also supports the Colorado College Summer Music Festival, and the Colorado Springs Chamber Orchestra.
Elizabeth has other community interests and belongs to two National groups, the Women’s Club of Colorado Springs, and the American Association of University Women. Both of these groups serve our community with financial support for the less fortunate.
Lynne Lange, Secretary
Lynne has been a resident since 2020 and was delighted to find Colorado Springs such a rich music and arts environment. Her management career in the public sector, followed by sales to the public sector, left little time to support live music but she’s making up for lost time by attending as many events as possible, often with her 2 grandchildren. “When I discovered PPOL I found a cooperative group that welcomes everyone to share their love and support of the vocal arts, plus provides assistance and opportunities to the next generation of performers and audiences – all for the benefit of the community at large.” Lynne hopes her energy will help PPOL continue to increase access to a wide range of opera and vocal arts lovers and even more importantly, to those who don’t yet know they are.
Sol Chavez, Treasurer
Solomon is retired from his consulting engineering business, CTA Engineering Corporation (est. 1979). He has served on the boards of numerous technical and civil organizations including the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, Colorado Springs Planning Commission, Colorado Springs Civic Theatre, the Pikes Peak Flyfishers, the Star Bar Players, and the Millibo Art Theatre. As an avocation, Sol has worked in numerous theater productions as a performer and in many technical capacities for over 60 years. Filmmaking, with his wife, Eve Tilley, is his current passion.
Eve Tilley-Chavez
Eve, whose parents were visual artists, grew up in the Colorado Springs arts scene, hanging out with painters, writers, and musicians. A student of J. J. Baird, she was in the chorus of several Colorado Springs Opera productions meeting several friends who also continue to support the vocal arts & PPOL. She has a BA in English and a Masters of Arts in Teaching, both from Colorado College. Eve was President and general factotum of The Star Bar Players in the 1980’s and the Pikes Peak Arts Council from 1996-2009. She is a “terrible singer,” but enjoys acting and directing in the theater, making pop-up cards, and paints a little, and loves attending various arts performances and cooking with her husband, Sol Chavez.
Chris Ruygrok
Eve, whose parents were visual artists, grew up in the Colorado Springs arts scene, hanging out with painters, writers, and musicians. A student of J. J. Baird, she was in the chorus of several Colorado Springs Opera productions meeting several friends who also continue to support the vocal arts & PPOL. She has a BA in English and a Masters of Arts in Teaching, both from Colorado College. Eve was President and general factotum of The Star Bar Players in the 1980’s and the Pikes Peak Arts Council from 1996-2009. She is a “terrible singer,” but enjoys acting and directing in the theater, making pop-up cards, and paints a little, and loves attending various arts performances and cooking with her husband, Sol Chavez.
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Shannon Talley
From California to New York Shannon’s performance experience includes various genres ranging from Broadway to oratorio. Her experience with professional opera companies and summer artist programs includes: Opera Theater of the Rockies (Vocal Arts Symposium), Fort Worth Opera, Seagle Music Colony, Opera in the Heights, The Living Opera, Midland Opera Theatre and Los Angeles OperaWorks. Her choral experience is comprised of over 25 years of performing as a section leader, soloist and clinician with collegiate and professional choirs. Shannon holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from Southern Utah University and a Master's of Music in vocal performance from The University of North Texas. Currently Shannon is teaching voice with her Voce Libera Studio and as an in-house teacher with Graner Music. She performs locally as well.
Christy Vest
Originally from Birmingham, AL, Christy Vest moved from Arizona to Colorado in 2024, and is thrilled to now call Colorado Springs home. A dedicated and passionate performer and teacher, Christy has a versatile background in classical piano, opera, musical theatre, and education, with over fifteen years of professional experience on various stages, in concert halls, and at exclusive venues.
Christy holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from Samford University and has enjoyed teaching, singing, music directing, and accompanying in a variety of theaters, opera programs, colleges, and churches, including Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center Theatre Company, Colorado Springs Conservatory, Opera Birmingham, Virginia Samford Theatre, Red Mountain Theatre, Birmingham Children’s Theatre, Samford University, All Saints Episcopal Church, and many more.
Christy's teaching extends to a wide variety of students, encompassing everything from orchestrating engaging sing-alongs in preschool classrooms to coaching professional performers on audition techniques to reawakening the musical enthusiasm of senior citizens. Her ability to connect with students, fostering a supportive, individualized, and encouraging environment, has earned her a reputation as a compassionate and inspiring mentor.
Outside of her teaching and performances, Christy finds joy in the world of books, namely fantasy, poetry, and memoirs. She also loves staying active, and enjoys dancing Argentine Tango and exploring the great outdoors while hiking alongside friends and family.