Today we’d like to introduce you to JD Burnett (Artistic Director of Kinnara)
JD, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
“Grounded in the belief that communal singing is inherently connective for singers and listeners, Kinnara crafts exemplary musical experiences that speak to the modern soul and creates space for professional ensemble work in America.” This is Kinnara’s mission that has guided our organization since its inception. Founded in 2009 by a group of graduates of Westminster Choir College in New Jersey, Kinnara has blossomed from a volunteer arrangement into one of the foremost professional chamber choirs in the United States. Kinnara draws professional singers from around the city, state, and nation, for its weeklong projects which culminate in concerts presented 3-5 times per year.
Under the direction of J.D. Burnett, Kinnara performs a wide variety of repertoire from all eras, captivating audiences with its unique programming and memorable artistic communication. Heralded as “luxurious, lush, and verdant” (New York Classical Review), and “breathtakingly beautiful” (Arts ATL), Kinnara strives to build a more harmonious and compassionate world through choral music with its passion, creativity, and dedication to excellence.
Distributed internationally by Naxos Records, Kinnara’s 2017 debut album “Provenance” is lauded as “a jewel that combines appealing, varied programming with sterling musical qualities and direct, memorable artistic communication.” (Choral Journal).
In 2019, Kinnara made the strategic decision to relocate from New Jersey to Atlanta, Georgia, recognizing this city’s rich, diverse arts & culture community and long tradition of choral excellence. Following the pandemic, Kinnara commissioned and presented “Southern Dissonance: Portraits of a New South”. This multi-movement work by Heather Gilligan features texts from renowned civil rights activists including Langston Hughes, Stacey Abrams, Jimmy Carter, Alice Walker, Martin Luther King, and John Lewis. The premiere was sung in January 2022, described by ArtsATL as “clear…with ear catching directness”.
Kinnara’s programming has been described by ArtsATL as “savvy”, praising the ensemble’s ability to weave together music from across vast swaths of time and space. For example, Kinnara’s Chorus America concert opened with a contemporary work by American composer Jonathan Woody (who also sang with Kinnara in the concert.) This was then seamlessly followed by double choir motets from the 19th century by Johannes Brahms. By programming a diverse range of compositions, Kinnara’s concerts speak to the modern audience.
Kinnara is unique from other peer ensembles in Atlanta in that we are the only nationally acclaimed professional chamber choir in the city, possibly the entire state, that pays their artists for their time and talent. Kinnara contracts exclusively professional musicians, many of whom are locally and nationally known performers, educators, and composers. In doing so, we offer crucial paid performance opportunities for singers in Atlanta while also bringing the nation’s top talent to our local arts community. Because of the professional calibre of our artists, Kinnara is able to present works that are underperformed due to their challenging and unusual arrangements.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Like many arts organizations, COVID-19 brought significant challenges. After halting all in person events, Kinnara presented an “on-demand” video recorded concert in November 2021. The singers remained socially distanced. So we found ways to use technology to help us share music through the pandemic.
As a small, arts nonprofit organization, Kinnara relies on funding from private and public grants and the generosity of our donor base to fund our mission. Because Kinnara pays our artists for their time and talent, we also face significantly higher costs per project than peer organizations in the area. Thus, the recent reductions in government funding for the arts have posed significant challenges. With fewer funding opportunities available, Kinnara depends heavily on our supporters to support our annual fundraising campaigns which help Kinnara cover the cost of artist contract fees and travel, concert production expenses, administrative costs, etc.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Kinnara draws professional singers from around the city, state, and nation, for weeklong projects which culminate in concerts presented 3-5 times per year, described as “consistently top notch” by ArtsATL. Kinnara concerts have garnered praise from respected critics in choral music such as the the New York Classical Review: “Kinnara revels unabashedly in luxurious sound…lush and verdant,” and the American Record Guide: “…You’d be hard pressed to find a choir that creates a lovelier sound.” Kinnara is unique in its programming which honors classical choral music while also performing a diverse array of modern and contemporary works. We are also proud to be the only nationally acclaimed chamber choir in Atlanta to pay our artists for their time and talent.
In 2024, Kinnara achieved one of its long held goals of performing at the illustrious Chorus America concert. Chorus America is an annual conference for the preeminent choral professionals of the nation and in 2024, it was announced to take place in Atlanta, Fulton County. Kinnara submitted an application to represent Fulton County and perform at the conference’s closing showcase and was honored by being selected. In June 2024, Kinnara presented a 25 minute concert that seamlessly blended 17th century choral works by Johannes Brahms with contemporary compositions, such as Jonathan Woody’s “I Conquer the World with Words” and Byunghee Oh’s “Kawejina Ching Ching”. Kinnara’s programming has been described by ArtsATL as “savvy”, praising the ensemble’s ability to weave together music from across vast swaths of time and space.
In addition to the things aforementioned in previous questions, Kinnara is proud to be guided by the following guiding principles:
GENEROSITY of time, talent, and spirit
AUTHENTICITY of personal and artistic interaction
STEWARDSHIP of the resources and opportunities we’re given
EXCELLENCE of craft
LOVE of each other, the music we sing, and those who listen
These exemplify the heart and mission of Kinnara. We are proud to be an ensemble that is warm, inviting, and engaging while also maintaining the highest standards of choral performance. Kinnara is also expanding our educational outreach opportunities; in the fall of 2025 JD and the Kinnara artists held a masterclass with the Young Harris College concert choir who joined Kinnara for a song during Kinnara’s concert that evening.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
We have learned that great music, sung with humility, has special access to people’s hearts. We have learned that people need the sounds and stories we provide. We have learned that the arts are in many ways the soul of a city. And we have learned that we can overcome obstacles together through our shared belief in the above. We know that our rich inheritance of music for choirs reaches back 900 years, and that wonderful works of art have survived because they are important and beloved and needed. We are constantly reminded that the human voice carries tremendous power to reach the hearts and minds of others, and that singing together amplifies that power.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kinnara.org
- Instagram: @kinnarasings
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kinnarasings/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kinnarasings
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1HHks4MufATmWOd8ZUwV56
Image Credits
Matt Miller
