The Huron High School Choirs have completed seven European tours including a 2006 appearance at the Verona Choral Competition, where both the A Cappella Choir and Bel Canto Choirs were awarded the Gold Trophy as the outstanding choir in their category. The Huron choirs have been invited to perform for Michigan State-wide Music Conferences for MSVMA and ACDA in 1994, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2011,2014 and 2016. In 2010, the Huron A Cappella Choir was awarded Second Prize in the High School Division of the prestigious American Prize National Competition.
Director of the A Cappella Choir, Richard Ingram, conducts three choirs at Ann Arbor Huron High School, where he is also chairman of the Music Department. He has taught at Huron High School since 1978. Ingram is also in his eleventh season as conductor of the Plymouth Oratorio Society, an adult community choir. Along with two music colleagues, Dr. Ingram founded the Ann Arbor Youth Chorale in 1987. He served as a conductor of the group until 2006, and continues as an artistic advisor for the organization. Ingram’s post-secondary education took place at the University of Michigan and included degrees in Music Education, (BME) Choral Conducting (MME) and Vocal Performance (DMA). His conducting teachers included Maynard Klein, Thomas Hilbish and Elizabeth Green. Voice study was with Harold Haugh, Eva Likova and Lorna Haywood.
Choirs under Dr. Ingram’s direction have been featured throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe, including New York’s Carnegie Hall. His honors and leadership positions include: Michigan School Vocal Music Association Teacher of the Year for 2007; Presidential Scholar Distinguished Teacher, 1997; President of the Michigan School Vocal Music Association (1995-1997); and MSVMA State Honors Choir Director in 1995 and 2009. Ingram has served as an ACDA-Michigan board member for many years including the office of ACDA-Michigan State President (2009-2011).
Bonnie Kidd
Bel Canto Choir Director, Bonnie Kidd, has been directing choirs at Huron and Tappan Middle School since 1993. Ms. Kidd also directs the Concert Choir of the Ann Arbor Youth Chorale, a community children’s chorus, and is the Sanctuary Choir Director at First Baptist Church in Ann Arbor. Choirs under the direction of Ms. Kidd have consistently received outstanding ratings at both District and State level events. They have appeared throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. In January 2010 and again in 2016, Bel Canto Choir was chosen to perform at the Michigan Music Educators Conference in Grand Rapids. In January 2011, Ms. Kidd was chosen to conduct the Junior High SSA State Honors Choir of Michigan.
Choirs prepared by Ms. Kidd have sung with Leonard Slatkin of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Arie Lipsky of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, Martin Katz and Kay Castaldo of the University of Michigan, and Ann Cooper Gay of the Canadian Children’s Opera Chorus. Ms. Kidd studied opera performance at the Juilliard School and holds a Bachelors Degree in Vocal Performance from The Cleveland Institute of Music, and a Masters Degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theater, and Dance.