Key Chorale Announces Newly Appointed Principal Accompanist

May 8, 2023 – Sarasota

Key Chorale, the Suncoast’s premier symphonic chorus, announces the hiring of principal accompanist, Glenn Priest. Mr. Priest is an accomplished concert pianist, organist, choral conductor, clinician, adjudicator and conference speaker. He is a former guest artist with the Boston Pops Orchestra, having performed several seasons making his piano debut with Arthur Fiedler at the age of 22. He also served as staff accompanist/vocal coach for Boston University’s Young Artists Tanglewood Institute for seven years.

Mr. Priest has recently retired as Worship Director and Chapel Organist of Fairhaven, a mega Church in Dayton, Ohio where he served for 20 years. He is also an ordained Minister of Music, with course study at Gordon Conwell Seminary. Glenn will replace Nancy Yost Olson who served as accompanist for Key Chorale for 14 years.

“I am over the moon that Glenn will be our principal accompanist. His skills as a keyboard artist are exemplary,” says Maestro Joseph Caulkins. “Adding to that, he has extensive experience as a choral conductor, a real dedication to his craft, and a welcoming and collaborative spirit.”

Glenn graduated Boston University with a BMus and MMus in piano. While in Boston, he studied piano with Bela Nagy, Anthony di Bonaventura, organ with Douglas Marshall, voice performance and choral conducting with Joseph Huszti, and vocal accompanying with Allen Rogers.

As an artist, he has served with many organizations, including The Knoxville Choral Society and Symphony, Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra, Fraze Pavilion, Culture Works and St. Peter’s Anglican Cathedral Series in Tallahassee, FL. Glenn has assisted master classes with conductor Leonard Bernstein, composers Aaron Copland and Norman Dello Joio, and as accompanist to trumpeter Rolf Smedvig, the Empire Brass Quintet and international violinist In-Hong Cha.

“Glenn is excited with this new appointment to be able to focus more of his energy on performing. He is a gifted concert artist, as well as a superb collaborative accompanist, and this appointment will allow him the opportunity to do both,” said Caulkins. “He will be traveling back and forth from Ohio to Florida for this season until he relocates to Sarasota later next year. This allows him to cultivate a number of artistic ventures both in Florida and Ohio.”

A welcome reception: Prosecco, Nibbles, & Nosh, will be held for Glenn on Friday, May 19^th, 5:00-6:30 PM at the Center for Arts & Humanities, 1226 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. The public is invited but ask that they RSVP to info@KeyChorale.org by Wednesday, May 17^th.