KIMBERLY
ADAMS
PROFESSOR, DIRECTOR OF CHORAL ACTIVITIES
323, Swope Music Building
KAdams2@wcupa.edu
Education
- D.M.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison
- M.M., Yale School of Music
- B.M., Oberlin Conservatory
- B.A., Oberlin College
Curriculum Vitae
Dr. Kimberly Dunn Adams is the Director of Choral Activities at West Chester University, where she conducts the Concert Choir and Allegro Voices. She also teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in choral conducting and literature. Dr. Adams previously served as the Director of Choral Activities at Western Michigan University for thirteen years; prior to that, she was the Director of Choral Ensembles at Mount Holyoke College.
Dr. Adams holds a Bachelor of Arts in religion from Oberlin College, a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance from Oberlin Conservatory, and the Master of Music degree in choral conducting from the Yale School of Music. She earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting with a minor in music theory at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Dr. Adams maintains an active profile as a presenter and clinician. She has presented at the World Choral Symposium, Nordic Choral Conference, National Collegiate Choral Organization (NCCO) biennial conference, American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Region Conference, Michigan Music Conference, New Mexico Music Educators Association State Conference, Kansas Music Educators Association In-Service Workshop, Southwest Michigan AGO Workshop, and the Michigan School Vocal Music Association (MSVMA) Summer Workshop. She has been invited to lecture and teach at other universities throughout the country, giving graduate and undergraduate masterclasses, conducting lessons, lectures, and professional development workshops. Additionally, she frequently serves as a speaker and clinician for collegiate ACDA chapters, K-12 school in-service days, and high school choirs. Dr. Adams has guest conducted choirs throughout the United States and internationally, and she is frequently engaged to conduct All-State, honor, and festival choirs.
Choirs under Dr. Adams' direction have won prizes in national and international competitions and been selected for live and virtual performance at the Michigan Music Conference, NCCO conference, and multiple ACDA conferences. She has conducted ensembles on several recordings, including the premiere recording of Paul Lansky's cantata, Contemplating Weather (Bridge Records). Dr. Adams has been recognized for her work as a conductor, winning the Director's Prize – given for exceptional conducting – at the 2017 Kaunas Cantat competition. She was named a Conducting Fellow in the ACDA International Conductors Exchange Program (Sweden, 2015) and authored an article in the Choral Journal about the experience.
Dr. Adams has served on the boards for both Massachusetts and Michigan ACDA as well as the National Board for NCCO. Her professional affiliations include MSVMA, Chorus America, NCCO, ACDA, CMS, and PKL.