New Musical Leadership for the York County Choral Society

Quick Facts

The York County Choral Society has been under the direction of David Lowry, Winthrop University professor of music emeritus, for the past 31 years.

Kinsey, who will begin as the new society director in August, intends to continue its tradition of excellence and will offer future collaborative opportunities not only for Winthrop singers and instrumentalists but for others.

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Katherine Kinsey

ROCK HILL, S.C. - Katherine Kinsey, associate professor of music and director of choral activities in the Department of Music at Winthrop University, has been elected the new conductor/artistic director of the York County Choral Society.

The York County Choral Society has been under the direction of David Lowry, Winthrop University professor of music emeritus, for the past 31 years. Lowry, along with Shirley Fishburne, Winthrop alumna, former Winthrop Department of Music professor, and recipient of the prestigious Winthrop Medal of Honor in the Arts, co-founded the organization in 1981.

The society has performed large choral master works and oratorios over the years in several foreign countries, the Washington Cathedral in Washington, D.C., the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, S.C., and in various local and state venues. In February 2011, it performed Verdi’s Requiem with the Winthrop Chorale and the S.C. Philharmonic Orchestra in Byrnes Auditorium to celebrate its 30th season. It most recently joined with the University of South Carolina Chorale and Orchestra and the Davidson College Chorus to present the internationally recognized Defiant Requiem, a work based on performances of Verdi’s Requiem by prisoners in Nazi concentration camps during the World War II.

Kinsey, who will begin as the new society director in August, intends to continue this tradition of excellence and will offer future collaborative opportunities not only for Winthrop singers and instrumentalists but with other community based ensembles and college choral programs within the surrounding area and state. She hopes to attract enthusiastic singers for the 2012-13 season who share a passion for performing challenging choral works that result in musical and artistic growth for all who participate. Experienced high school singers also will be considered for membership.

For more information contact Kinsey at kinseyk@winthrop.edu or access the society's website (yorkcountychoralsociety.org) for information regarding upcoming auditions and concerts.

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