Craig Kenkel is a Tenor from Buck Grove, Iowa. He sang as an Iowa All-State Tenor I, in 1990 and 1991, and was a recipient of the 1991 Iowa Choral Directors Association Award.
Craig received a vocal scholarship to Missouri Western State College in St. Joseph, MO in 1991 where he sang in the choirs and studied Voice. In 1992, Craig moved to NYC and studied Voice with Joyce Hall. He received a University of Kansas full vocal scholarship in 1993 where he studied Voice with John Stephens and performed in over a dozen University of Kansas Theatre and Opera productions including the roles of Jesus, in “Jesus Christ Superstar” and Ormindo, in “L’ Ormindo.” Craig sang in the University of Kansas Chamber Choir under the direction of Simon Carrington. In 1997 Craig traveled with the KU choir to Southern England where they performed in several historic landmarks including Salisbury and Canterbury Cathedrals, St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle and Magdelen College Chapel, Oxford. The following year, Craig traveled with the KU choir on tour once again in the Quercy region of Southwest France.
In 1998 Craig moved to Los Angeles where he sang with some of the best choral ensembles in the region. He sang with the St. James’ Episcopal Wilshire choir for 5 years which included two week-long residencies in Westminster Abbey, London in 1999 and again in 2006. The St. James’ choir was selected to perform as the featured choir at the 2004 National Convention of the American Guild of Organists.
Other singing opportunities while in LA included a season with the William Hall Master Chorale with which he performed along with the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra on their Southern California Holiday Tour. Performances were included with the chorale at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. He auditioned for and was accepted into the Los Angeles Master Chorale under the direction of Paul Salamunovich and sang in the 2001 Corona Del Mar Baroque Music Festival.
Services were sung in Los Angeles at churches such as St. Paul’s, Westwood; and All Saints, Beverly Hills. Starting in 2003, Craig sang special concerts and services at the new Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles. The 2005-2006 season was sung with a group called Jouyssance Early Music Ensemble that perform familiar and obscure repertoire from the 14th through mid-17thcenturies.
In 2005, Craig attended the Sarteano Chamber Choral Conducting Workshop in Sarteano, Italy where Simon Carrington is a Master Class Tutor.
In the fall and winter of 2008, Craig volunteered with the U.S. Department of Labor to direct a choir made up of high school and college age students.
Currently, Craig sings with several church choirs, including regular visits to the Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral, Trinity Choir in Kansas City, MO.
In addition to singing in the choir, Craig is a co-founder of the Simon Carrington Chamber Singers, is the groups Recording and Post-production Coordinator and is on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors.
