ABOUT KATE
Kate Crellin (she/her) is a vocalist, educator, composer & conductor.
Kate serves as the Choir Director for the Grammy Award-winning program at Mira Costa High School and Manhattan Beach Middle School. Kate is an Associate Conductor at the Grammy Award-winning National Children's Chorus, where she conducts the LA Concerto Level Ensemble. Additionally, Kate is on staff at A Cappella Academy.
In 2020, Kate graduated top of her class with a Masters in Choral Music from the University of Cambridge (Queens' College). At Cambridge, Kate sang with the Queens' College Chapel Choir, Selwyn Jazz Big Band, and conducted throughout the university with Stephen Layton, Graham Ross, Ralph Allwood, Voces8, and more.
In 2019, Kate graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) with a double major in Choral Music & Law, History and Culture with relevant coursework in jazz studies (magna cum laude). Kate received one of 11 Renaissance Scholar Prizes for her interdisciplinary work and the Choral & Sacred Department's "Outstanding BA" honor. While at USC, Kate sang in the Thornton Chamber Singers (four-year member/section leader), Reverse Osmosis A Cappella (music director), and CreSCendo Jazz Ensemble (lead soprano). She also served as the President of the USC ACDA Student Chapter (2018-2019).
Kate is a published composer/arranger, with works under Heritage Music Press and Alfred Press. Her piece, "Home-Thoughts from Abroad," earned her the CCDA/George Heussenstamm Composition Competition prize (2021) and Queens' Cambridge Competition award (2020). Kate studied under Morten Lauridsen (USC) and Jonathan Rathbone (Cambridge). As an arranger, Kate has commissioned work for collegiate and professional a cappella ensembles (Cape Harmony, USC Reverse Osmosis, Emerson Acappellics, Jesus College Cambridge, Burroughs NeoChromatics, and more).
As a performer, Kate has sung with the Rolling Stones, John Rutter, Eric Whitacre, Pentatonix, Simon Carrington, David Crosby, LACO, and ICYOLA in locations around the world: Westminster Abbey, Notre Dame Cathedral, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Chichester Cathedral, and more. In 2018, Kate moved to Cape Cod, where she sang with the professional treble a cappella group, Cape Cod. From 2020-2022, Kate served as Music Director at Moorpark United Methodist Church, where she lead weekly services as lead singer and pianist. She is on the roster for Tonality.
As an educator, Kate has taught pre-K through 12th-grade music in both public and private schools across Los Angeles (Pacifica Christian High School, Paul Revere Middle School, Marquez Elementary, and more). She has won both the “Rookie of the Year 2016” and ‘Outstanding Mentor” awards through the Thornton Outreach Program. In 2021, Kate received her teaching credential from CSUN (Music) and sang in the premiere a cappella ensemble, Acasola.
Education
Masters in Choral Music (Conducting)
Queens' College, Cambridge
Graduated Nov 2020
Top of Class
BA Choral Music
BA Law, History, and Culture
University of Southern California
Graduated May 2019
Magna Cum Laude, Outstanding BA Choral, Renaissance Scholar
Credential & PD
LinkedIn Learning
Teaching Techniques: Developing Curriculum Course
Cal State Northridge
Single Subject Credential: Music
Added Authorization- Social Science