Directors
Kelly Pfaffenberger
Director of Choirs
Email
The Creekview choir department is incredibly special to Mrs. Pfaffenberger! She was a part of the inaugural Creekview staff when the school opened in 1998. Prior to teaching in CFB she was a choral educator in the Richardson and Plano school districts. Mrs. Pfaff stepped away from full time teaching when her children were young. During her time away from the classroom, she continued as an active clinician, judge and accompanist for surrounding choral programs and served as adjunct professor in the music schools of SMU and Dallas Christian College. In 2009, Mrs. Pfaffenberger joined the artistic staff of the former Children's Chorus of Greater Dallas where she conducted the high school Women's Youth Chorus until spring, 2022. She is currently on the artistic staff of the newly formed Greater Dallas Choral Society for Children and Youth, where she is a principal conductor. Mrs. Pfaffenberger also serves as Director of Worship and Music at First Baptist Church, Farmers Branch.
Choirs under her direction consistently received Sweepstakes ratings at UIL Contests and “Best in Class” distinction from numerous festivals. During her first tenure at Creekview HS, the A Cappella Women’s Chorus was chosen as a featured choir for the 2002 Southwestern Division Convention of the American Choral Directors Association.
Mrs. Pfaffenberger earned the Bachelor of Music Education from Hardin-Simmons University and a Master of Music in choral conducting from the University of North Texas. During her studies at UNT, she served as the director of the UNT Men’s Choir and the UNT Women’s Chorus and as a teaching fellow in the music education department. Her professional affiliations include: TMEA, ACDA, TCDA, and the honorary fraternity, Pi Kappa Lambda.
Mrs. Pfaffenberger grew up in the Texas public schools and is the daughter of two retired public school music educators. Her passion for teaching music began at a very early age as she watched them in rehearsal and sat in the audience of their performances. The difference they made and connection they had with their students was inspiring! She was also fortunate to be in
outstanding choral programs at Crockett JH and Irving HS in Irving, TX.
Mrs. Pfaffenberger lives in Farmers Branch with her husband John (who has a beautiful tenor voice!) and her very busy children, Madison (a UNT choral music ed major!) Ian and Reagan.
Ruth Atkinson
Associate Director of Choirs
Email
Ruth Atkinson is beyond excited to be a part of the Creekview Choir family as the Associate Director of Choirs! She comes from Blalack Middle School (right down the road!) where she served as an Assistant Choir Director for 3 years. Choirs under Mrs. Atkinson’s direction have consistently received excellent and superior ratings at UIL Concert and Sight-Reading.
Mrs. Atkinson holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from West Virginia University. During her time there, she specialized in both french horn and voice. Mrs. Atkinson spent time studying choral conducting with Prof. Kym Scott, and was the music director for the Kappa Lambda Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota. She studied voice with Dr. Hope Koehler, and was student director for the Mountaineer Chorale.
Mrs. Atkinson grew up in a suburb of Buffalo, NY, where she was active in all things music and musical theater. She began playing piano at age 6, performed in musicals and danced starting at age 8, and participated in band and choir all the way through high school. She played many sports during her childhood as well, but she was always drawn back to music.
Mrs. Atkinson believes that music allows us to learn more about who we are while also discovering the person we still want to become, and she hopes to hand that down to her own students as well.
Mrs. Atkinson maintains active memberships in the American Choral Director’s Association and the Texas Music Educator’s Association.
When she isn’t teaching, she enjoys running and run coaching! her business is called Run with Ruth Coaching, and she currently has athletes ages 12-62. Mrs. Atkinson has raced the Marathon (26.2 miles) twice now, and hopes to time-qualify for the Boston Marathon in the near future.
Mrs. Atkinson resides in Little Elm, TX with her husband Max (who was a former Creekview Band Director!) , their two black cats, Piper and Winston, and their salt water reef tank friends.