Shawn Kirchner is a composer/songwriter and singer/pianist whose choral works are sung throughout the world. He served as Composer in Residence for the LA Master Chorale from 2012-2015 and has collaborated with many leading choirs including Conspirare, Santa Fe Desert Chorale, San Antonio Chamber Choir, Lorelei Ensemble, Elektra Choir, Vancouver Youth Choir, Princeton Chapel Choir, Atlanta Master Chorale, Tonality, and Coro Allegro. Kirchner’s choral works reflect his reverence for the inherited traditions of folksongs, carols, and hymns, and incorporate the rhythmic vitality, counterpoint, and improvisatory spirit of Baroque and bluegrass traditions. His original songwriting ranges in style from jazz/gospel to folk/bluegrass, the latter featured on his album Meet Me on the Mountain.

 

As a classical choral singer, Kirchner has sung with the LA Master Chorale for 24 seasons under the leadership of Grant Gershon, and with the LA Philharmonic in hundreds of concerts at LA’s Disney Hall and the Hollywood Bowl with the world’s leading conductors. He has also sung on four dozen feature film soundtracks, including Avatar, Frozen, La La Land, and the X-Men series.

 

Kirchner’s improvisation at the piano has fueled his creativity since childhood, and his unique style, often featured in his choral works, synthesizes his classical background with the folk/bluegrass influence of his music mentor, Steve Kinzie. Kirchner was raised with his triplet siblings in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Growing up in the Midwest in the Church of the Brethren (an historic peace church) has shaped his life-long focus on issues of peace and justice, gardening, and earth-friendly ways. www.ShawnKirchner.com