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Ginger Wyrick, conductor, author, clinician, lecturer, teacher, and performer, serves on the music faculty at UNC Charlotte. Ms. Wyrick is a life-long musician, established professionally in piano, flute, organ, harpsichord, and voice. The author of 16 books and numerous periodicals on music and curriculum development, Ms. Wyrick frequently leads workshops and lectures on music education; serves as an adjudicator for piano, voice, harp, and choral/band/orchestra; and appears as guest conductor for honor choirs and festivals. Performance engagements include events in 17 states, the District of Columbia, Poland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and Nigeria. Ms. Wyrick leads training events for all ages and has appeared at national symposiums presenting her research on the changing role of music in the United States and the local church. She is active in the local church as a liturgical arts consultant, choir director, and organist. Ms. Wyrick regularly appears as the invited guest conductor at the Charlotte Music Club’s annual performance of Messiah with community chorus and orchestra. She is former chorus master and a performer with Augusta Opera. Ms. Wyrick holds leadership positions in several professional organizations and is the former president of the North Carolina American Choral Directors Association. Ms. Wyrick earned music degrees from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Southern Methodist University. Honors include membership in Pi Kappa Lambda and Mu Phi Epsilon. Ms. Wyrick is the recipient of the Lara Hoggard Award for distinguished service in choral music.

In 1956, The U.S. Army Chorus was established as the vocal counterpart of TheUnited States Army Band “Pershing’s Own.” From its inception, The U.S. Army Chorus has established and maintained a reputation of musical excellence. Beyond the traditional military music and patriotic standards, the repertoire of the Army Chorus covers a broad spectrum which includes pop, Broadway, folk, and classical music. The Army Chorus performs frequently at the White House, theVice President’s Residence, the U.S. Capitol and the State Department. In 2007, the group was featured at the State Dinner held in honor of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and in 2008 at the State Arrival Ceremony for Pope Benedict XVI held on the south lawn of the White House. When in Washington, DC, foreign dignitaries and military counterparts visiting our nation’s senior leadership are greeted by songs performed in their native tongues, as the Army Chorus has performed in more than 40 languages and dialects. The Army Chorus was personally requested to perform for the private interment services of former President Ronald Wilson Reagan in 2004, and President Gerald R. and Mrs. Betty Ford in early 2007 and 2011, respectively. In late 2018, the Chorus was honored to help the Bush family lay to rest its patriarch and our 41st President, George H.W. Bush in a private interment ceremony in Texas. In 2021, the ensemble celebrated 65 years of service to the U.S. Army, its senior leaders, and the American people.

K.C. Armstrong

Bass, K.C. Armstrong has sung on national and international concert stages as a former member of The U.S. Army Chorus and former member of The U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants. He just recently retired from The U.S. Army with over 20 years of collective service. As a member of these ensembles, he had the opportunity to sing for the last four presidents and for the funerals of Presidents Reagan, Ford and Bush. A featured soloist on choir tours throughout the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, England, France, Netherlands and Romania, he is also a highly sought-after soloist for choral works/oratorios. He worked with teachers Dr. Robert Holquist, Dr. Noelle Woods and Dr. Thomas Jenrette during his studies at Western Carolina University and East Tennessee State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Performance. While in college, K.C. was a Junaluska Singer the summers of ’96, ’97, and ’98! He is currently a freelance musician and sings with professional groups such as Poet Voices, King’s Cadence, Brethren, Voci Virili and many other vocal ensembles. Originally from Mt. Holly, North Carolina, K.C. resides in Knoxville, Tennessee, with his wife, Chara, daughter Adaline, and sons Brogan and Calvin.