The Jo(e)y of Opera II

Meet Chorus Master Kelly Turner

Piedmont Opera is proud to welcome Kelly Turner, our very first chorus master. As chorus master, he sets the tone for every performance, guiding musicians and inspiring audiences alike. 

What is your hometown? I was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida but have lived most of my adult life here in Winston-Salem.

What was your musical/educational path that led you to your current position? I have a Bachelor's degree in music education and both a Master's and Doctoral degree in Choral Conducting. While I ultimately chose a career path in the field of Information Technology, I have remained active as a freelance musician in the Winston-Salem area as both a conductor and singer.

Describe your job duties as chorus master. In a nutshell my job is to teach the music to the chorus, help them get the music memorized, and get them musically prepared as much as possible before staging begins. Then I continue to shepherd them through the end of the production, providing feedback during the subsequent rehearsals with the full cast and the orchestra.

What is the most challenging aspect of being a chorus master? Teaching the music to the chorus is not difficult, but I do find it challenging giving them a sense of the bigger picture and how they fit into the context of the full opera before staging has begun. What music is playing and who is singing just before a chorus entrance? What is the chorus singing about (in a foreign language) in a particular passage and to what/whom are they reacting? What emotions might their characters be experiencing?

What is your favorite opera? Hard to pick just one, but L'elisir d'amore by Donizetti is the first opera I ever saw decades ago and it will always hold a special place in my heart because I will never forget how pleasantly overwhelmed I was with the beautiful music, vividly colorful costumes and staging, and wonderful humor, all of which dispelled the negative pre-conceived notions I had about opera going into the experience.

What is your favorite opera chorus? Again, hard to settle on just one, but "Va, pensiero" from Nabucco is definitely a favorite.

What are your hobbies? Other than music, I love troubleshooting and fixing things. Cars, electronics, computers. I get a great deal of satisfaction figuring out why something isn't working correctly and restoring it to working order.

What is your favorite restaurant in Winston-Salem? Milner's, 2520 Tavern (in Clemmons), Mozelle's & Village Tavern