Kathleen Abrams Hacker joined the Lompoc Valley
Master
Chorale as director in 2007, bringing to the position a broad musical
experience, with over 30 years
experience as a professional choral conductor, pianist/ organist,
trumpet player, mezzo-soprano soloist, and music educator. She has many
years of experience directing choirs and has a wealth of repertoire
knowledge. A native Californian, she grew up in El Monte, east of Los
Angeles and received her Bachelor of Music degree in voice
and music education from California State University, Fullerton.
Kathleen has studied with many prestigious teachers including
choral conducting studies with Dr. Howard Swan, Dr. William Hall and
David Thorsen, choral master classes with Dr. Weston Noble, Brad
Ellingboe and Peter Aston and vocal studies with Lois Wells, Joseph
Klein, Dr. Daniel Scott, Su Harmon and Robert Kuyber. Kathleen was a
soloist and chorus member of The William Hall Chorale for many years
and concertized all over the USA and Europe under Columbia Artists
Management.
Other credits include performances with The Los Angeles
Master Chorale, Glendale Symphony, Pasadena Symphony, The Philharmonia
Orchestra of Vienna, The Spoletto Festival, Pacific Opera Theatre, The
Whittier/La Mirada Light Opera and numerous vocal recitals.
Since her move to the Central Coast in 1987, Kathleen has
served as Director of Music for First Presbyterian Church of Lompoc,
First Presbyterian Church of San Luis Obispo, and currently serves as
Organist/Choirmaster for St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Santa Maria. One
of the major highlights of her career was the great privilege of
directing the Santa Barbara Boys Choir on their 1998 tour of England
and Wales, providing daily evensong services for Christ Church, St.
David’s and Norwich Cathedrals. Kathleen is Regional Sales
Representative for Schulmerich Bells, the worlds largest producer of
bells and carillons, for all of California and Nevada and when her
schedule permits, provides music workshops in local public schools for
Children’s Creative Project, through the Santa Barbara County Education
Office. She also currently serves as Dean of the Central Coast Chapter
of the American Guild of Organists. Kathleen and her husband Tommy
reside in Lompoc and have four children, Robin, Trevor, Colin and
Clive.
