ABOUT KINNARA

  • Grounded in the belief that communal singing is inherently connective for singers and listeners, Kinnara crafts exemplary musical experiences that speak to the modern soul and creates space for professional ensemble work in America.

  • Heralded as “luxurious, lush, and verdant” (New York Classical Review), and “breathtakingly beautiful” (Arts ATL), Kinnara is one of America’s premier professional chamber choirs. Under the direction of J.D. Burnett, Kinnara performs a wide variety of repertoire from all eras, captivating audiences with its unique programming and memorable artistic communication. Distributed internationally by Naxos Records, Kinnara’s debut album “Provenance” is lauded as “a jewel that combines appealing, varied programming with sterling musical qualities and direct, memorable artistic communication.” (Choral Journal). Through our commitment to collaboration and innovation, Kinnara strives to build a more harmonious and compassionate world through choral music with its passion, creativity, and dedication to excellence.

    In 2020, Kinnara commissioned composer Heather Gilligan to create its first major work, Southern Dissonance: Portraits of a New South. Drawing on texts from prominent Georgian civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Alice Walker, John Lewis, Jimmy Carter, and Stacey Abrams (including the first-ever choral setting of her now-famous “non-concession speech”), the piece offers a compact yet impactful commentary on the social issues facing America today and in the future. The work premiered in Atlanta in January 2022 to critical acclaim, with ArtsATL praising the performance as "clear and lovely" and delivered "with ear-catching directness."

  • GENEROSITY of time, talent, and spirit

    AUTHENTICITY of personal and artistic interaction

    STEWARDSHIP of the resources and opportunities we’re given

    EXCELLENCE of craft

    LOVE of each other, the music we sing, and those who listen

  • "CONSISTENTLY TOP NOTCH"
    — ArtsATL

    "KINNARA REVELS UNABASHEDLY IN LUXURIOUS SOUND...LUSH AND VERDANT."
    — New York Classical Review

    “...YOU'D BE HARD PRESSED TO FIND A CHOIR THAT CREATES A LOVELIER SOUND.”
    — American Record Guide

    "EXACTING STANDARDS AND DEEP-FELT MUSICALITY, WHERE EVERY PHRASE, EVERY BLOCK OF SOUND, WAS BALANCED AND PERFECTLY POLISHED."
    — ArtsATL

    "PROVENANCE (2017) IS A JEWEL THAT COMBINES APPEALING, VARIED PROGRAMMING WITH STERLING MUSICAL QUALITIES AND DIRECT, MEMORABLE ARTISTIC COMMUNICATION."
    — Choral Journal

    "A PERFORMANCE THAT SOUNDED LIKE ABSOLUTE PERFECTION."
    — Jon Sobel, blogcritics.org

    “BREATHTAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL.”
    — ArtsATL

    "YOUTHFUL ENERGY AND FRESH PERSPECTIVE…A SENSE OF EMOTIONAL INVESTMENT AND SHARED MUSICAL IDEALS…EFFORTLESS SINGING, LYRICAL IMPULSE, AND THOUGHTFUL INTERPRETATION."
    — Choral Journal