KENTUCKYBachCHOIR
S O L I D E O G L O R I A
Established 2007
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Susan Byars, President
Roberta Chase-Borgatti
Vice President
Nancy J. Vickers, Secretary
Rod Brotherton, Treasurer
Jonathan Allison
Dianne Bazell
Jennifer Brock
Richard Dirksen
Joseph R. Jones
Mary Reed
Audrey Rooney
Dan Rowland
Meg Saunders
Ervy "Whit" Whitaker
MISSION
The mission of the Kentucky Bach Choir is to perform the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and master composers of like stature; enlightening, entertaining and educating audiences about the life and work of Johann Sebastian Bach and similar master composers; presenting musical works through the single and combined talents of chorus and orchestra; and to provide professional performing oppor-tunities with high artistic standards for exceptional singers and instrumentalists.
•FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE•
KENTUCKY BACH CHOIR APPOINTS NEW ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
The Board of Directors of the Kentucky Bach Choir is pleased to announce the appointment of Richard Waters as its third Artistic Director beginning with the 2023-24 season. Waters succeeds Marlon Hurst, who led the Choir from 2009 to 2023.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to collaborate with some of the finest musicians in the region and look forward to building upon the legacy established by Marlon Hurst and others,” said Waters.
Founded in 2007 by Richard Sowers, the Kentucky Bach Choir presents distinguished choral masterworks of J. S. Bach and other composers of like stature at a high level of artistic excellence. "We are thrilled that Richard Waters has accepted our invitation to be the next Artistic Director of the Choir! He is uniquely qualified to step into this role, given his vast choral experience, and we are all eager to start working with him on our next season,” said Susan Byars, Choir President, and Roberta Chase-Borgatti, chair of the search committee.
Waters is Director of Choral Activities, Voice Area Coordinator, and Professor of Music at Eastern Kentucky University, where he directs two choirs, teaches courses in conducting and choral literature, and oversees the graduate choral conducting program. In addition to his university responsibilities, he conducts the annual Stephen Foster Summer Music Camp High School Choir at EKU, is the Chancel Choir Director at First Christian Church in Richmond, and maintains an active schedule as a composer, clinician, and adjudicator. He holds degrees in music education and choral conducting from James Madison University (B.M.), the Hartt School of Music (M.M.), and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (D.M.A.). In 2022, he received the Robert K. Baar Choral Excellence Award, presented annually by the Kentucky chapter of the American Choral Directors Association in recognition of service to the choral art and dedication to the promotion of music education in the state.
For more information about the Kentucky Bach Choir, visit:
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