Kansas City Ensemble of the
William Baker Festival Singers

Dr. William O. Baker, Music Director & Conductor
Melissa Ann Shallberg, Associate Music Director & Senior Vocal Coach
Dr. O. Wayne Smith, Staff Accompanist & Organist
Natalie Hackler, Executive Director
Christine Smith, Student Intern

The William Baker Festival Singers is a semi-professional choral ensemble specializing in sacred a cappella short form classics and spirituals. The Festival Singers also perform a variety of chamber works for chorus and small orchestra. First created in Atlanta in 1985 by William Baker and Janis Lane, the Festival Singers is now comprised of 50-voice ensembles based in Atlanta and Kansas City.

The distinguished history of the William Baker Festival Singers includes United States tours from Chicago to New Orleans to Charleston, and a 1988 concert tour of England, Scotland and Wales. The Festival Singers have performed in England's Canterbury Cathedral, Chicago's St. James Cathedral, New Orleans' St. Louis Cathedral and Atlanta's Spivey Hall. Festival performances have included The Bristol Festival in Wales, the DeKalb International Choral Festival, and fourteen appearances before capacity audiences at Charleston's Piccolo Spoleto Festival. The Festival Singers have been featured artists at regional conventions of the American Guild of Organists and the Music Educator's National Conference in addition to four appearances at divisional conventions of the American Choral Director's Association.

The William Baker Festival Singers have been featured in frequent radio broadcasts in their home cities of Atlanta and Kansas City in addition to national radio programs that include The Sounds of Majesty, The Protestant Hour, Atlanta Music Scene and National Public Radio's Performance Today. The Festival Singers in both cities have been featured in numerous Christmas Day television broadcasts by local network affiliates.

Since 1991 the Festival Singers have released a total of 14 CD recordings, six of which are in the current catalogue. Two new recordings, American Voices and Wondrous Love, are scheduled for release during the 2007-2008 concert season.

The William Baker Festival Singers celebrate their 10th anniversary season in Kansas City with a cappella performances across the Kansas City region, and with a gala March performance of the Requiem of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

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