Michael Kemp, Acting Head of Performing Arts of Germantown Academy in Ft. Washington, Pennsylvania, conducts all Upper School choruses and orchestras, as well as the Academy's two adult ensembles, the Academy Chorale and the Academy Chamber Society, a semi-professional symphony orchestra. In addition to his conducting responsibilities, he teaches Advanced Placement Music Theory. He was awarded the Barness Chair for Distinguished Teaching in the Fine and Performing Arts. He is a Fellow of Melodious Accord and was awarded inclusion in the Marquis Who's Who in America. Before coming to Germantown Academy, Michael served as Director of Music Ministries of Abington Presbyterian Church in Abington, Pennsylvania, after holding other significant church music positions in Nashville, Tennessee and Arlington, Texas. While in Texas, he founded and conducted for 11 seasons the Arlington Choral Society, which critics placed "on the top rung of choral music in the Dallas Metroplex." During that time he was also a choral and church music lecturer at SMU's Perkins School of Theology. Recognized for his exceptional ability to build programs, Michael has built from ground level 4 church youth choirs and 2 high school choral programs, 2 community choruses and one community symphony orchestra. Educated at Oklahoma University, Westminster Choir College, and the Royal Conservatory of Music in The Hague, Holland, Michael was trained equally in the areas of voice performance, viola performance, and conducting. In addition to this formal education, he also studied privately with renowned choral authorities Paul Salamunovitch, Phillip Brunelle, and Alice Parker. Michael has been an internationally respected clinician for 36 years, conducting and lecturing in over 300 workshops and festivals in 43 states and 5 Canadian provinces. He has served extensively as clinician for Choristers Guild, the American Guild of Organists, the American Choral Directors Association, and the Presbyterian Association of Musicians. Michael has the distinction of having served as clinician for the national worship and music conferences of 13 different denominations in the United States and Canada, as well as having conducted numerous All-Province and All-State Honor Choruses. Reaction to choral workshops and festivals by Michael Kemp have garnered strong response: From Bingham Vick, Jr., Director of Choral Activities of Furman University, Greenville, S.C.: " It is difficult to express how excited everyone was with the conference. I heard nothing but glowing remarks about your lectures, your attitudes, your enthusiasm, and the vigor and understanding with which you worked. Thank you for presenting one of the finest music conferences here ever." From Jocelyn Pritchard, Church Music Center, British Columbia (Alberta Choral Directors Association): "Everyone I talked to had such positive things to say about your workshop. Your energy level is fantastic, and your enthusiasm is contagious. That, plus your experience and knowledge, are great assets and make a workshop with you a very good experience. We all loved it!" He has twice trained choral conductors in Jamaica, and his choirs regularly tour internationally, most recently to Poland. Michael is equally at home working with adults and youth, and his expertise encompasses both choral and orchestral conducting. In his 40 year career, he has conducted well over 300 masterworks of the standard choral and orchestral repertoire. He is a published composer with the Augsburg and Choristers Guild publishing houses. His new book, The Choral Challenge: Practical Paths to Solving Problems, will be available by the summer of 2008 by G.I.A. Besides his enjoyment of conducting, singing, viola and violin, Michael plays and has coached tennis and table tennis, is an accomplished landscaper, and an avid reader. Michael's website (updated 2008)

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