Charlie’s Background

I was blessed to have been raised in a musically-gifted family, and knew from a young age that my God-given talents would one day help others. Both of my parents are accomplished and award-winning jazz artists. There was always tasteful music being played in the car! As a child I was busy with piano lessons, church choir, concert band (percussion), musicals, variety shows, and marching band competitions.

Although I loved playing classical piano and working on my technique as a percussionist, I always gravitated more towards choral and vocal music. It was probably all of the Al Jerreau, Take 6, Hi-Lo’s, and other great singers and groups my family listened to growing up. I still did my fill of piano competitions, state festivals, and percussion ensemble performances (my favorite was always leading the drumline). But I became the typical choir nerd: a two-time Missouri All-State Choir member, always trying to enter as many vocal ensembles combinations for state festival, and singing and performing outside of school as much as possible.

There are many honors I hold close to my heart. I’ve had arrangements premiered at the Missouri Choral Directors Association annual conference and the World Choir Games in Belgium. I’ve been invited to be a clinician at many acappella summer camps. And I have traveled the world doing what I love – singing.

I’m the former director of the St. Charles Christian Home Educators Choir and I spent many of singing-time years in the Ambassadors of Harmony – a 4-time international championship chorus – where I wrote arrangements, produced choral rehearsal tracks, and stepped in as director when needed. But I’m currently the Assistant Dean of Fine Arts at John Paul II Preparatory School where our own children attend. And I’m their music teacher! I also just started the renaissance of the St. Louis Archdiocesan Youth Choir. But when I’m not in front of a microphone or keyboard, you can usually find me at home playing with our 5 beautiful and silly children.

Carrie’s Background

I grew up surrounded by music, although everyone in my immediate family is in healthcare; no one else pursued music seriously as a hobby or profession. Nonetheless, one of my first memories is singing along to “A Chorus Line” soundtrack in the car as a youngster and teaching myself to play piano by ear at age four.

As a child I dove headfirst into studying piano and made my way into vocal music and musicals in middle school, with the support of some life-changing teachers (you know who you are!) By high school, I was an official choir-nerd, serving as section leader (I have piano skills to thank for that ability!) in choirs and performing in various honor choirs, developing deep friendships along the way that anchored my heart in the beauty and community of choral music.

After studying anthropology and Asian Studies in college, traveling the globe, and teaching children in India, Vietnam and Seattle, I realized teaching was in my heart, and what better subject to teach than choral music – the art that stirs the soul unlike any other! I returned to school for a second undergraduate degree in music education in 2013, where I met a cute tenor…

After teaching and working with choirs professionally for several years, I decided to work from home in a more flexible capacity to accommodate the “creative” needs and sleep schedules of our young children. Now, I support Charlie in his work as a director and teacher, sing in our church choir when I can, and most of all, enjoy recording all of the beautiful music our amazing clients send us. An entrepreneurial spirit at heart, I have dreams of starting several other choral projects to impact more lives through choral music.

We were married in May of 2016 while we were both teaching and welcomed our first child in February 2017. The transition to parenthood brought out our entrepreneurial spirits, and we started Kinnison Music (now Kinnison Choral Co.) in 2017.

This is us and our four children–Nora (8), Noah (7), Isaiah (5), and Emma (3), and Josephina (6 months). They’re a ton of fun and obsessed with Pentatonix and John Williams–so we must be doing something right. 😉 We are so grateful to be able to use the talents that God gave us while still raising our family. Just another day at the office!