Welcome to the Choral Foundation!

On behalf of our Board of Trustees, our Music Staff, and the over 600 men, women and young people who participate in our choral ensembles, I thank you for your interest in music of timeless beauty and worth, and I appreciate your taking the time to visit with us. It is my hope that we at the Choral Foundation will have the privilege of serving you for many years to come.

The growth of the Choral Foundation in recent years has been stunning and dramatic. It all began on February 26, 1985 when some twenty singers gathered in the basement of a suburban Atlanta church to form the original Festival Singers. Now, there are four Festival Singers choirs that include the Kansas City and Atlanta ensembles of the William Baker Festival Singers, the Cobb Festival Singers under the direction of Lynn Swanson, and the new Lawrence (KS) Festival Singers under the direction of Kathryn Huey.

Our first summer ensemble, the Summer Singers of Atlanta, was created in 1990. To celebrate their twentieth summer of singing in 2009, they joined with distinguished soloists and symphony orchestra to perform Beethoven’s epic Symphony No. 9 in D minor. The Summer Singers of Kansas City followed in 1999, and the Cobb Summer Singers was created in 2006.

The Choral Foundation is committed to serving children and youth with opportunities for meaningful choral participation. The Northside Young Singers, now including a Training Choir for grades 2-3 and a Concert Choir for grades 4-8, was created by Lynn Swanson in 2008. As part of the Northside Young Singers in 2010 Lynn Swanson and Dr. William O. Baker will co-direct the Youth Chorale for students ages 13-18.  The Kansas City Youth Festival Singers under the direction of Christine Freeman, and the Columbus (GA) Chamber Singers under the direction of Matthew White, were added in 2009. The annual Summer Music Camp involves dozens of youth and children in a week-long exploration of great music for chorus and handbells.

In addition to our performing ensembles, the Choral Foundation offers printed music through Amber Waves Music Publishing, a creative company that supports emerging composers, authors and arrangers. Our Student Intern and Choral Scholars program has opened the door to continuing education and apprenticeship to over two dozen young men and women pursuing a career in choral leadership. Graduates of our student programs now lead excellent choirs from California to Georgia.

In the 25 years of Festival Singers tradition, and in the 20 years since the Choral Foundation itself was created, our thousands of singers have given hundreds of concerts and offered dozens of recordings, broadcasts and tours. It has been and it remains our vision to enrich lives and change destinies with every note of music that we offer.

It is my hope that the music of the Choral Foundation will be a blessing to you. As new dreams come true for our musical family each and every day, it will be our purpose to grow in service to our communities and to music lovers just like you.

Please enjoy your visit.

Soli Deo Gloria,

William O. Baker, DMA

Founder & Music Director

William O. Baker, DMA, Music Director & Conductor, WBaker@FestivalSingers.org

Melissa Ann Shallberg, Executive Associate Music Director, Senior Vocal Coach, MShallberg@FestivalSingers.org

Lynn Swanson, Director of Northside Young Singers, Cobb Festival, Singers, Cobb Summer Singers, LSwanson@FestivalSingers.org

Christine Freeman, Director of Kansas City Youth Chamber Singers, CFreeman@FestivalSingers.org

Kathryn Huey, Director of Lawrence Festival Singers, KHuey@Festival Singers.org

Matt White, Director of Columbus Chamber Singers

Scott Smith, Choral Associate and Administrator, SSmith@FestivalSingers.org

O. Wayne Smith, DMA, Staff Accompanist

Leanne Herrmann, Staff Accompanist

Sue Goddard, AAGO, Staff Accompanist

Ivy Belk Pirl, Staff Accompanist for The Northside Young Singers

Administrative Staff

Michael S. McGarry Ph.D., Director of Choral Initiatives

Board of Trustees

Trustees Emeritus