Chorus pro Musica is pleased to announce that the Board of Trustees has unanimously selected Dr. Jamie Andrew Kirsch as its next Music Director and he has accepted.  Kirsch succeeds Dr. Betsy Burleigh who steps down as Music Director of Chorus pro Musica as of June 30, 2013, in order to accept a new position with Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music where she will be teaching graduate choral conducting, giving seminars in choral repertoire and conducting ensembles.

“We found Jamie Kirsch to be a very talented and passionate young musician and conductor, and this was echoed in his stellar references,” stated President Drew Hammond.  “In addition to his ability on the podium, Chorus pro Musica’s board was very impressed with his thoughtful and creative ideas about programming, audience development and fund-raising.  And, it was clear to us that Jamie would be integrally involved in these efforts for Chorus pro Musica.  In the five years, while he has been with the 130-voice Cambridge Community Chorus, he nearly doubled their operating budget,” continued Hammond.

“I am honored to be chosen as Chorus pro Musica’s new music director.  I look forward to meeting and working with such a wonderful group of singers, and to continuing Chorus pro Musica’s long history as one of the finest choruses in Boston,” said Kirsch.

Kirsch holds a Bachelor of Music degree with Honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he graduated in 2001.  He also received his Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from the Yale School of Music in 2003 and his Doctorate of Music in Choral Conducting from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music in 2008.

In addition, Kirsch is a Lecturer of Music and the Director of Choral Activities at Tufts University, where he conducts the Tufts Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, and teaches music theory and conducting. From 2008 to 2013 he was Music Director of the Cambridge Community Chorus.  From 2009 to 2011 he was Director of Children’s Choruses at New England Conservatory.  In 2006-08 he served on the faculty of the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University, where he was Interim Director of Choral Activities from 2007-08.

A native of Merrick, New York, Kirsch currently lives in Medford with his wife, Dr. Diana Lemly, their daughter Amelia and their wheaten terrier, Madigan.