History
Windsong was formed in the fall of 1991 by Kerry and Marilee Barnett with the objective of establishing a chamber choir which could achieve the finest results in the style of a European professional ensemble. The choir is comprised of singers from throughout Oklahoma, who bring to the organization an impressive range of musical experience and expertise. A cappella singing and the performance of music with an unusual multiplicity of voice parts are especially prominent in most concerts. Most recently, Windsong was a featured performer at Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry's Inaugural Prayer Service and in February 2003 presented a benefit concert for, and under the auspices of, Civic Music Association of Oklahoma City. A prominent feature in Windsong's recent concert seasons are choral/orchestral presentations in ideal concert venues. The past four years have seen performances of Mozart's Requiem, Solemn Vespers, Bach's Magnificat, Fauré's Requiem, Haydn's Nelson Mass and Handel's Dixit Dominus.
Windsong has performed throughout Oklahoma in many of the state's universities, on a variety of community and church concert series, for a number of professional organizations, and for private occasions. The ensemble has three times been selected to perform for conventions of the American Choral Directors Association and in 1998 the group performed for the yearly conference of the Oklahoma Choral Directors Association, while in 2001 it sang for the Fall Arts Institute at the Quartz Mountain Conference Center. Windsong has been invited to perform at the 2005 American Choral Directors Association National Convention in California. 1999 marked the debut and many subsequent airings of Windsong on "The First Art", the nationwide radio broadcast of exemplary choral music produced by Chorus America, and the ensemble has subsequently been heard frequently on similar radio programs in Oklahoma and Texas. The ensemble has produced many recordings, including its latest Christmas offering "Glory to the Newborn King". All of these recordings are available on the website. While Windsong is a non-profit organization, it operates in a semi-professional capacity in that its singers are compensated for their performance related expenses. To make a tax deductible contribution, or for further information about Windsong and its concerts, please write to 8100 W. Lakeshore Drive, Oklahoma City, OK 73132 or phone (405) 837-2152.
Kerry Barnett
Dr. Kerry Barnett is a native of Southern California with degrees in vocal performance and choral conducting from the California State University at Los Angeles. Kerry studied conducting with both Roger Wagner and William Hatcher, performed frequently as a soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and the Los Angeles Master Chorale, and toured throughout the world as a baritone soloist with the Roger Wagner Chorale.
Since relocating to Oklahoma in 1983, Kerry earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting at the University of Oklahoma. He has had numerous articles and essays published dealing with one of his areas of expertise-the preparation and presentation of works for chorus and orchestra. Kerry has continued his singing career, appearing as soloist with the Oklahoma Symphony Orchestra, the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Orchestra, the Canterbury Choral Society, as well as many other performing entities across Oklahoma. He has made a specialty of the baritone solos in Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, for which he has been invited to perform throughout the country.