
The award winning Austin Children's Choir was founded in 1986
by the late Dr. Bernard Gastler of Concordia University as a gift to the
community. The choir provides children ages 7 to 18 an excellent choral
music experience taught by the highest trained professionals in the
industry. The Choir provides the Austin music scene the unique
spectrum of sound that only a children's choir can produce.
The Choir, which has an enrollment of singers from the greater Austin
metropolitan area, is organized into three singing groups based on a
chorister's age as well as his or her musicianship level.
The Choir offers a two-hour rehearsal session every week for each age
group. The Choir performs three, large-format concerts every year.
Select members of the Choir are also invited to perform at weddings,
benefit events, children's festivals, and productions with other
community arts groups throughout the year.
In select summers the Choir makes special appearances throughout
Texas and the United States while on tour. In addition, the Artistic
Director sponsors summer camps that is open to the community. Any
child, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or national origin, is eligible to
audition for and join the Choir.
The Choir is committed to providing every child the opportunity to
participate in and benefit from the joys of music. That is why full and
partial scholarships are available for all Choir members and all Choir
activities.
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, Kathleen Turner
Artistic Director Kathleen Kalin Turner is one of only a few graduates of the
Eastman School of Music to be awarded the prestigious Performer's Certificate in
two disciplines, earning hers in organ and oboe. In addition, she holds a Masters
of Music in Sacred Music from Westminster Choir College, (Princeton, New Jersey)
and was the 1988 winner of the national MTNA-Wurlitzer Collegiate Artist
Competition in organ. Since 1988, Kathleen has held sacred music positions in the
Episcopal denomination, most notably Organist/Choirmaster of Trinity Cathedral in
Little Rock, Arkansas and historic Christ Church, Frederica on St. Simons Island,
Georgia. In addition to her work with the Austin Children's Choir, Kathleen also
serves as the Director of Music for St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Austin, TX.
Kathleen enjoys an active performing career and presents workshops in various
facets of music education throughout the country. She lives in Austin with her
husband, Te and son, Chris.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, Kelley Glover
Kelley earned her Bachelor of Music Education from
Howard University with a voice minor, and a Master of Arts
from the Eastman School of Music with an emphasis in ethnomusicology. Kelley is
a professional singer who has performed onstage with Denzel Washington, Ruby
Dee and Ossie Davis, Pat Benatar, Bonnie Rait, Ruthie Foster, and Kris
Kristoffersen among others. She studied voice with Grammy Award
singer/songwriter, Jon Secada, and the Metropolitan Opera Mezzo Soprano, Hilda
Harris. Kelley has also performed as a professional percussionist with “Mitra
Kusuma,” a professional Balinese gamelan ensemble in Maryland.
During her 12 years as a choral director/theater teacher/world music drumming
teacher, highlights include, selection of her choir to sing on two world music CD’s,
one of which was recorded with “Sweet Honey in the Rock,” selection of her
elementary school choir to perform during the “Kennedy Center Honors” show in a
salute to Bill Cosby, and 2006 “Teacher of the Year” at Ridgeview Middle School
in RRISD.
In addition to producing her web show, Mrs. Glover is the proud assistant director
to Mrs. Kathleen Turner, and works part time as private vocal coach, world
drumming teacher with the “Austin School for the Performing and Visual Arts” and
is vocal team leader/ soloist at “Unity Church of the Hills” in Austin, TX.
Austin Haller, Accompanist, serves as Organist and Associate Director
of Music at St. David’s Episcopal Church (in Austin), where he plays for over 120
services and concerts annually and conducts the St. David’s Singers, one of the
parish’s adult choirs. As a recitalist and accompanist, he has been heard in
Texas, Colorado, Montana, and South Carolina; and he performs regularly with a
number of local ensembles. Austin also music-directs for regional and local
theatre productions – favorite shows include The Music Man, My Favorite Year, A
Journey through 50 Years of Zilker Summer Musicals (Zilker Theatre Productions),
Golf, the Musical (TexArts), Present Laughter (Zachary Scott Theatre; B. Iden
Payne Nominee for Music Direction), and Rockin’ Christmas Party (Zach). His
cabaret act with singer Kara Bliss can be seen regularly at various venues.
Christina Marie Ortiz, Choir Intern is currently a first
year student at Austin Community College, with plans
to pursue a profession in Vocal Performance and Music Education.
Christina’s love of music is not limited to her participation in solo and group
performances throughout her school years, but in the Spanish and English choirs
at per Parish, the Austin Children’s Choir as well as other personal performances
for family and friends.
She is a seven year member of the Austin Children’s choir and is honored to have
the opportunity to give back to this program the education and support that have
been presented to her during her membership.

ACC Logo Designed by Ben Bologna
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This project is funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts and an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.
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