IHS&VR Fellows
Christy Elsner
Fellow, Institute for Healthy Singing
Shawnee, Kansas
Christy Elsner joined the Institute for Healthy Singing as a fellow in 2020. A native Kansan, she is Founder and Artistic Director of the Allegro Choirs of Kansas City. Under her direction since 2000, Allegro has grown from one choir of 38 to six choirs with more than 250 singers. Heralded as “the voice of angels” by The Kansas City Star, Allegro has performed at the White House, St. Peter’s Basilica, Notre Dame, Carnegie Hall, and Myerson Hall, and is a yearly guest of the Kansas City Symphony. The choirs have performed at state, regional, and national conventions, including as the opening choir of the 2019 National ACDA convention.
As a clinician for children’s, youth, and treble choirs, she gives workshops on innovative rehearsing and the female changing voice and conducts regional, state, and national honor choirs. Her first book, Gadgets for Great Singing, was published in 2013 by Hal Leonard; she is completing a second, The Athletic Singer. She received the 2010 Kindest-Kansas Citian award and the 2008 MENC Outstanding Middle Level Educator award. She earned her music education degree from the University of Kansas, receiving the Marcus E. Hahn Award for Outstanding Senior in Music Education. Professional memberships include NAfME, Choristers Guild, Chorus America, and ACDA.