Shawn Kirchner, composer/arranger

With the Chorale: 9 seasons as a member of the tenor section

Hometown: Cedar Falls, Iowa

Education: MA in Choral Conducting (University of Iowa), BA in Peace Studies (Manchester College)

Bluegrass/Country/Jazz: in 2006 Kirchner wrote and recorded Meet Me on the Mountain, a set of original songs inspired by the film Brokeback Mountain (available through CDBaby.com); also writes original jazz tunes performed regularly by the Shawn Kirchner Quartet and other area jazz artists

Christmas: in 2004 Kirchner was music director for Enter the Light of Life, a CBS Christmas Eve special which featured his choral and instrumental arrangements; a subsequent commission by Juniata College augmented this body of Christmas choral arrangements, many of which have been featured on LAMC Holiday Wonders concerts

Awards and Honors: Top Honors in University of Oregon's “Waging Peace Through Singing” choral composition contest for Rain Come Down, written following the Columbine school tragedy

Published by: Boosey & Hawkes and Santa Barbara Music Publishing; after the LAMC premiere of his new piece Heavenly Home: Three American Songs in May, 2010, Boosey & Hawkes elected to publish this work, along with two Christmas favorites heard on previous Holiday Wonders concerts: Silent Night and Brightest & Best