2024 Guest Conductor

Kimberly Ahrens,

Artistic Director of the Greater Dallas Choral Society

Kimberley Ahrens is a nationally recognized choral conductor, educator, and clinician with more than 20 years’ experience enriching children and youth through the study and performance of the choral arts. Recipient of the 2022 Choral Director of Distinction Award from the Texas Choral Directors Association, Ahrens is currently founding Artistic Director of the Greater Dallas Choral Society for Children and Youth (GDCS), which was established in 2022 to carry on the legacy of the prestigious Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas (CCGD). GDCS was recently named official children’s chorus for The Dallas Opera, and will be featured at the national convention of the National American Choral Directors Association in 2025. 

From 2005 to 2023, Ahrens taught choir in the Texas public school system, leading her ensembles to national awards and performances at major conferences for the Texas Music Educators Association and American Choral Directors Associations. In 2009, she received the Texas Choral Directors Association’s Distinguished Young Director Award. She also served nine years as principal conductor for CCGD.

An expert in the adolescent voice, Ahrens is regularly engaged as a clinician and guest conductor for elementary- and middle-school honor choirs throughout the United States. She has also taught at the university level as an adjunct professor and guest lecturer at Southern Methodist University, Abilene Christian University, Texas Tech, and Florida State. She holds a bachelor's degree in music education from Texas Christian University and a master’s degree in music education from The University of North Texas.