The Chorale encompasses a diverse group of amateur and professional musicians from all walks of life — from marketing directors, software designers and CPAs, to attorneys, engineers, artists and writers. Our common bond is a passion for the choral art as an essential ingredient of life, and a willingness to share it with the community at the highest level of performance.

To discuss an audition, call (214) 942 5085 or e-mail info@artsdistrictchorale.org.

Michie Akin is the founding Artistic Director and Conductor of the Arts District Chorale.Mr. Akin holds degrees from the School of Music, Baylor University, Waco, Texas; and the School of Music, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, awarded with distinction. Further studies in choral conducting have taken him to the Hartt School of Music, and Westminster Choir College. Conductors with whom he has worked include Robert Shaw, Howard Swan, Elaine Brown, Paul Salamunovich, Rosemary Heffley, Kate Tamakin and Constantina Tsolainou.

Originally trained as a pianist, Mr. Akin took a 16-year hiatus from playing the piano to pursue other professional interests. He returned to public performance in 1997, and in succeeding years has performed at the annual Summer Music Festival of Alta Riborgorza, Spain; in Italy at the Amalfi Coast Music Festival; and most recently, at the Seventh Festival Sauvanese in Monte San Savino. In 1999 and again in 2000, Mr. Akin was one of 100 candidates from around the world to participate in the Concours des Grands Amateurs de Piano in Paris, France. In 2004, and again in 2006, he was one of six finalists in the Rocky Mountain International Amateur Piano Competition. In the 2004 competition, he received two special awards from the panel of judges for Best Performance in Romantic and Contemporary repertoire.

Mr. Akin is current Organist/Choirmaster for the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Dallas. He previously served as Director of English Music for Cathedral Guadalupe and Director of Liturgical Music for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas. Mr. Akin is a native of Terrell, Texas.

Geoffrey Moore, Creative Director & Assistant Conductor
Geoffrey Moore has most recently served on the staff of Lovers Lane United Methodist Church where he was Director of Worship and Associate Director of Music. Before moving to Lovers Lane, he served for six years on the staff at Highland Park United Methodist Church. Mr. Moore is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. Geoffrey has served as an adjunct faculty member at his alma mater, Southern Methodist University, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and Music Theory and a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting, and currently serves as an adjunct professor in the humanities department at Brookhaven College.

Constantina Tsolainou, Principal Guest Conductor
Constantina Tsolainou, the Paul S. and Jean R. Amos Chair in Music and Director of Choral Activities in the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University, has held conducting positions at Southern Methodist University, Westminster Choir College, New England Conservatory, McGill University (Montreal, Quebec), Oregon State University, and Oklahoma City University. Ms. Tsolainou has also served as Artistic Director of the Canterbury Choral Society in Oklahoma City and Director of Music at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas. During her tenure at SMU, Ms. Tsolainou established the SMU/Dallas Vocal Arts Ensemble; while in Montreal she was the Artistic Director and Conductor of Anima Musica, an ensemble formerly known in Canada as the Donovan Chorale. She also serves as Principal Guest Conductor of the Aria Chamber Chorus (Dallas, TX).

Danny Ray, Administrator and Director of Arts District Cabaret