Our staff strives to create an inclusive, encouraging environment, in which all students feel valued and safe. We build a culture of positivity and fun, and then aid our students in singing musically, taking risks, and learning new skills.
Mr. Nathan Wubbena
Director, High School Ensemble
President of the Board
nathan@ascentvocals.org
​Nathan Wubbena (Mister Wubbs) has performed as a soloist and chorus member locally and internationally; he has won awards in both classical and musical theater competitions, and he been cast in several lead roles in musical productions. He has performed with critically acclaimed choral ensembles, most recently performing with the Denver-based group Kantorei. He also arranges a cappella music, which he uses with the groups he directs and performs himself; he has several years of experience with a cappella groups, both singing in and directing them, and currently directs Ascent Vocals' top ensemble.

Mr. Wubbena holds a Master of Music Education (with a Conducting Specialization) from Colorado State University. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Northern Colorado with his Bachelor of Music Education, specializing in Vocal, Piano, and General Music. 

​He has taught students in the public schools from K-12. He has been the director of numerous well-received musicals, and his choirs have won competitions with superior ratings. In 2015, Nathan received the Outstanding Young Music Educator Award from the Colorado Music Educator's Association. He is the founder and President of the organization. 

Nathan resides in Longmont with his wife, Anna, his son, James, and daughter, Claire. He enjoys cheering for the Broncos and spending time outdoors with his family and two dogs.
Mrs. Kim Watkins
Director, Middle School Ensemble
kim@ascentvocals.org
Kim Watkins - Kim Watkins completed dual master's degrees in music education and vocal performance at theUniversity of Colorado at Boulder. Her professional experience includes twenty-seven years of secondary choral teaching in Colorado and in North Carolina public school systems. During her graduate studies at the University of Colorado, Mrs. Watkins advanced as a finalist in voice competitions sponsored by the Denver Lyric Opera Guild and the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Additionally, she appeared as Madame Lidoine in Dialogues of the Carmelites, and as Gianetta in L'Elisir d'Amore. She also served as conductor of the University Women's Choir and as an instructor for various music education courses.

Mrs. Watkins has been a soloist with The Arvada Chorale, The Boulder Chorale and The Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra (through a Boulder Chorale collaboration). She has adjudicated the undergraduate vocal competition at CU Boulder, as well as vocal competitions by the Longmont Chorale and the Saint Vrain Valley School District. Mrs. Watkins is the Founding Director of The Boulder Children’s Chorale, which launched in 2010. In 2013 and in 2016, Mrs. Watkins was selected as an Encore Award Finalist by the St. Vrain Valley Education Foundation. In 2014, Mrs. Watkins received The Saint Vrain Valley Superintendent’s Excellence in Education award.​
Mr. Ben Thompson
Pianist, Middle and High School Ensembles
Ben Thompson is a piano player, composer, and teacher that currently lives in the Boulder/Denver area. He is a versatile musician, mixing jazz improvisation, classical music, salsa, funk, and rock to create his own musical identity. Ben has a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies which he attained in 2020 from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

During the summer of 2018, Ben played with the National Repertory Orchestra where he worked with Michael Stern, Chris Deviney, and She-e Wu. In 2020, he was selected to participate in the IASJ music conference in New York City before the conference was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
    
While being a gigging and composing musician, Ben also loves teaching music. He works with CCJA (Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts), an organization that’s purpose is to let kids learn jazz from professional jazz musicians, of which he is an alumni. In addition to CCJA, he works as an accompanist at Niwot HS, as well as teaches students individually.