Making Music and the Love of Song Accessible to Everyone
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Making Music and the Love of Song Accessible to Everyone
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Kristen Walter, Director Whether conducting, singing or teaching, since her arrival in Hendersonville in 1996, Ms. Walter has continually been involved in making community music. Ms. Walter studied voice and conducting at Florida State University under the direction of Andre Thomas, Rodney Eichenberger, Larry Gerber and Judy Bowers, earning both an undergraduate degree and a Master’s degree in Choral Music Education. Ms. Walter has also been a featured vocal soloist throughout the Carolinas and Florida. Locally, she has performed with the Carolina Concert Choir, the Hendersonville Symphony, the Asheville Lyric Opera and the Brevard Music Center. She has taught music in both Hendersonville and Asheville and was the Director of Music at Covenant Presbyterian Church. Kristen and her husband Steven live in Flat Rock with their two sons, Thomas and Samuel. She is currently the conductor of The Hendersonville Chorale, The Hendersonville Children’s Chorus, the music teacher at Sugarloaf and Dana Elementary schools, and a teacher for the SC Suzuki Institute at Furman University. Most recently, Ms. Walter was recognized as a distinguished music educator by Yale University’s School of Music, and has been invited to participate in their bi-annual Symposium on Music in Schools.
Michael
Stephen Brannon - accompanist Beginning a career at the age of eight may seem strange but that is just what Michael S. Brannon did. Starting piano at the age of seven, he took his first organ lesson at the age of eight and played in church the following Sunday. From that point on, he has never stopped. Mr. Brannon was the assistant organist/pianist for Northbrook Baptist Church of Spartanburg for five years. Then he assumed the position of organist for Valley Falls First Baptist Church of Spartanburg, remaining for six years. At the age of nineteen he became the Choir Director/Organist for the Second Presbyterian of Spartanburg, where he stayed for fourteen years. Before moving to Hendersonville, he taught piano and organ at Converse College in the Pre-College Department of Music and was the accompanist for the Converse Chorale. Mr. Brannon was a member of the Spartanburg Symphony Chorus, The Music Club of Spartanburg and a member and former Dean of the Spartanburg Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. He then assumed the position of Director of Music/Organist for Grace Lutheran Church of Hendersonville where oversaw a music program of over a dozen choirs and ensembles and taught private piano and organ lessons. He was also a faculty member of Brevard College where he accompanied the Brevard College Concert Choir. He was also the Conductor of the Hendersonville Chorale. After serving Grace Lutheran for nine years, Mr. Brannon moved to Key West, Florida where he served as Director of Music/Organist for The First Congregational Church, Director of Music/Organist for St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and Organist for Key West United Methodist Church. Currently, Mr. Brannon is the Organist for the First United Methodist Church of Hendersonville and is the Accompanist for the Hendersonville Chorale. Presently he is the Sub-Dean and past Dean of the Western North Carolina Chapter of the American Guild of Organist's. Mr. Brannon currently resides in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Mr. Brannon attended Converse College where his teachers were Dr. John R. Turnbull and Ms. Beverly Barrs. |
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