Kathlene Ritch attended the University of Texas from 1991-1996, pursuing a Bachelors Degree of Music Studies with a vocal emphasis. While studying, she sang with the Concert Chorale and Chamber Singers under the direction of Dr. Craig Hella Johnson. She also joined the UT Early Music Project led by Danny Johnson, and was a proud member of SAI. After graduation, she worked on a cruise ship and then moved
to New York City where she made her living as a professional choral singer, performing regularly with such noted ensembles as the New York Philharmonic, London Sinfonietta, and the Vienna Philharmonic. She made her solo debut at Lincoln Center with the American Symphony Orchestra in Listz’s Dante’s Inferno. With that same ensemble, she recorded a live concert version of Die ägyptische Helena singing the role of Hermione. Kathlene’s true passion, musical theater, has been a lifelong pursuit. Two of her career highlights were performing Sweeney Todd at Lincoln Center, and Carousel at Carnegie Hall. Kathlene now lives in Santa Fe where she teaches music classes and voice at the New Mexico School for the Arts and cantors at the Church of the Holy Faith. She is also the Music Director for Tri-M Productions, a non-profit organization with the mission to give local ‘Millennials’ opportunities to perform musicals at a professional level. She continues to sing in professional choral ensembles, including the Santa Fe Desert Chorale and the Grammy-winning ensemble, Conspirare. When she isn’t singing or playing the piano, Kathlene is also an on-air announcer for Classical 95.5 KHFM Santa Fe/ Albuquerque, for which she has won a “Golden Mike” award from the New Mexico Broadcasters Association.

Jack is a three-time alum of Texas Choirs, having performed with the Concert Chorale under Dr. Suzanne Pence (2005-2006), Chamber Singers under Dr. Jim Morrow (2006-2009), and Longhorn Singers under Dr. John Wiles, Dr. Arlie Longager, and Dr. Tim Workman (2005-2009). He served as the President of Longhorn Singers during the 2008-2009 school year. He is also a double Longhorn, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration in 2009 and a Doctorate of Jurisprudence in 2012. Highlights from Jack’s time in Texas Choirs include performances at ACDA, SWACDA, and TMEA, performing in Chamber Singers with his sister, Annie Blancken (MM in Choral Conducting, 2009), and the close friendships he maintains with his fellow Longhorn Singers alumni to this day. He has since performed with Conspirare’s Company of Voices, Conspirare’s Symphonic Choir, the San Antonio Chamber Choir, and the Houston Chamber Choir, where he sang for 10 seasons. The highlight of his singing career remains his opportunity to stand on stage to accept the Houston Chamber Choir’s GRAMMY award for Best Choral Performance in 2020, something that would never have been possible without his experience with Texas Choirs. Jack owes his love of choral music to not only to the outstanding conductors with whom he studied at UT, but also the mentorship of Dr. Morris Stevens (BM, 1975 and PhD, 2001) and the support and love of his family. Jack currently practices law at Allensworth LLP in Austin.

Julie Whittington McCoy (BM/Music Education ’79, MM/Vocal Performance ’81) began her collegiate studies in music education at The University of Texas at Austin in the fall of 1975. She sang in Concert Chorale under the direction of Dr. Charles Smith for three years. During this time, the Chorale students raised funds through community workdays to contribute to the commission of Conrad Susa’s Hymns for the Amusement of Children.
In 1977, she began singing with Dr. Morris Beachy in Chamber Singers, highlighted by tours to Hawaii and Rio de Janeiro, and recording the choral works of Donald Grantham.

Julie’s education was greatly influenced by studies with Dr. Alaire Lowry (conducting) and voice professors Glenda Maurice, Doris Yarick and Norma Newton. She also credits many of her student colleagues with challenging and inspiring her toward deeper musicianship.
After student teaching and graduation, Julie earned the Master of Music degree in vocal performance at UT. She subsequently embarked on a career as both professional singer and teacher, teaching at Nicholls State University, Oklahoma State University, the University of North Texas, Texas Christian University and Texas Wesleyan University. Choral singing continued to be a passion as she sang and recorded with the Robert Shaw Festival Singers, Orpheus Chamber Singers and Conspirare Chamber Choir.

Julie met her future husband, choral conductor Jerry McCoy, while in Chamber Singers. They married in 1982, enjoying years of music, teaching, travel and friendships together.

J.D. Burnett enjoys a varied career as a conductor, singer, and teacher. He is Director of Choral Activities at the University of Texas Butler School of Music, where he conducts the UT Concert Chorale and guides the graduate program in choral conducting. Burnett is also the founding Artistic Director of Kinnara, Atlanta’s premier professional chamber choir, and Artistic Director of Orpheus Chamber Singers, the premier professional chamber choir in Dallas.

Formerly, he was Associate Director of Choral Activities at the University of Georgia Hugh Hodgson School of Music. Burnett has served as Assistant Director of the Dallas Symphony Chorus, conductor of the New Jersey Youth Chorus Young Men’s Ensemble, Associate Conductor of the Masterwork Chorus of New Jersey, and Acting Director of Choral Activities at Montclair State University. Earlier posts include Interim Director of Choral Activities at San Jose State University, Artistic Director of the New Jersey Chamber Singers, Music Director of the Houston Masterworks Chorus, and Founder of Men’s Consort Houston. He also served as Choral Editor at McGraw-Hill, Inc.
Burnett did undergraduate study at Stanford University and Oklahoma State University. He holds advanced degrees in choral conducting from Westminster Choir College and the University of North Texas.

As a professional choral singer, Burnett has performed and recorded with the Stillwater Chamber Singers, Cantare Houston, Fuma Sacra, Robert Shaw Festival Singers, Choir of Trinity Church Wall Street, Oregon Bach Festival Chorus, Santa Fe Desert Chorale, and Conspirare.

Suzanne M. Pence is Associate Professor of Music and Human Learning, and Associate Director of Choral Activities at The University of Texas at Austin where she has been teaching since 1996. Dr. Pence conducts the newly formed Treble Chamber Choir.  She has been the conductor of the Concert Chorale, the University Chorus, Women’s Chorus and the Choral Arts Society.  She teaches undergraduate conducting, choral arranging, secondary choral methods, supervises student teachers in secondary choral music education, and teaches graduate courses in choral music education. Under Pence’s direction, the Concert Chorale toured throughout the southern United States, performed for the regional conference of the Southwest American Choral Director Association, and performed in New York at Carnegie Hall. From 2003-2007, Dr. Pence held the administrative position of Director of Undergraduate Studies. From 2007-2012 she served the School of Music as Director of Admissions. Prior to coming to UT, Dr. Pence held the position of Director of Choral Activities at Meredith College in Raleigh, North Carolina from 1994-1996. 

Pence received the DMA in Choral Conducting from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1993 where she studied with Drs. Eph Ehly and Charles Robinson. She holds a Masters of Music Education degree from Wichita State University where she studied with Dr. René Clausen and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois where she studied with Richard Hoffland. Before pursuing the DMA, Pence was the choral music teacher at Neosho High School in Neosho, Missouri. 

Dr. Pence is active as an adjudicator and clinician/festival conductor throughout the country and was an invited conductor with the MidAmerica Productions Choral Festivals at Carnegie Hall. She is a member of TMEA, ACDA, and TCDA. She has served ACDA as the College/University R&S Chair of the Southwest ACDA, and TCDA as College Vice President.