ABOUT HCS

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR - EX OFFICIO

Dr. Kevin M. Klotz earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting from University of Houston’s Moores School of Music. Dr. Klotz also completed his Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting at the Moores School of Music and his Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance at Houston Christian University. Dr. Klotz is the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Houston Choral Society. He is also the Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Music at Houston Christian University. Since 1999, Dr. Klotz has served as Music Minister at St. Laurence Catholic Church.

PRESIDENT

Charles was born and raised in Houston. He comes from a musical family that took a lot of road trips singing harmony from the Baptist Hymnbook. He started playing the trumpet in fifth grade, played in the band through high school and started singing in the school choir as a junior. He was a voice major at Houston Baptist University and during that time also sang with the Houston Symphony Chorus, then called the Houston Symphony Chorale. He and his wife Carol have been married for 10 years and have enjoyed singing together in several community choruses.

SR. VICE PRESIDENT

Amy joined HCS in January of 2017 as a soprano and joined the Board in 2018. She works for a major oil and gas refiner as manager of procurement for capital projects. She and her husband live in Spring and are the proud parents of 2 adult children, Dylan and Hannah (HCS Soprano 1). Volunteering with HCS is a family affair, as her mother, Lane Coco, serves HCS as VP of Fund Development. Amy has loved music and singing her whole life, but never joined a choir until later in life. Singing lifts her spirit and helps leave behind the worries of everyday life. She is so happy to sing with so many talented people who love making music as much as she does.

VP FUND DEVELOPMENT

Lane has served on the HCS Board of Directors since 2017. She is a retired social worker and worked for DePelchin Children's Center as the VP of Program Evaluation, QI. Lane has a master’s degree and PhD in social work from the University of Houston and was selected as a Fulbright Scholar in 2007 to the National University of Ireland in Maynooth where she taught program evaluation and a course in ethics to bachelor and master's level students in the Department of Applied Social Studies. Lane has 2 children and two grandchildren. She is currently working part-time as a social worker with inter-country adoptions.

VP ADMINISTRATION

LeslieAnne has been singing her whole life and majored in musical theatre and education in college. For the last 30 years, she has been a cantor, proclaiming the psalms and leading congregations in worship and song across the Diocese of Galveston Houston. She joined HCS in 2016 and has led the group on tours to Carnegie Hall and Italy. Currently, she is working on planning the HCS 2025 tour of Ireland. LeslieAnne say she is “a sister to 5, wife to just 1, mom of 3, and Nana of 6.”

VP PERFORMANCE

Audra joined HCS as an alto in 2016 when her husband, Dr. Kevin Klotz, became Artistic Director. She has served for several years as Vice President of Performance, where she works closely with the choir community and her husband to bring his artistic vision to life. She is proud to actively participate in bringing beautiful and high-quality music to the Houston area. Also, while not teaching currently, she taught middle and high school English for 16 years. Audra loves spending time with her husband and two young children, Ava and Oliver. When she isn't singing, Audra is an avid reader and loves taking on a good project!

VP COMMUNITY OUTREACH & SPECIAL PROJECTS

Penny joined Houston Choral Society in 1988 and has held various positions during her time in the choir. In addition to her role as VP, Community Outreach and Special Projects, she also is the soprano Section Administrator, and chair of the auditions committee. Penny retired in 2007 after 26 years teaching Elementary School, including elementary music, fourth grade language arts and second grade. She is married and has 2 grown daughters who are also teachers. Currently she is an Independent Demonstrator for Stampin’ Up, making cards, 3-D projects and occasionally doing craft fairs. Penny also leads a Praise and Worship team and a prayer group that is called A Sweet Hour of Prayer for the Nations, which always opens with the first couple of lines of the hymn, Sweet Hour of Prayer.

TREASURER

April works as a CPA in Sugar Land. She has served on the HCS Board since 2021, but has known our Artistic Director, Dr. Kevin Klotz for half her life and says that’s why she’s here! April and her husband, Chris, have three lovely children ages 15, 14, and 11. She loves spending time with her family and doing what she can to serve the Lord!

SECRETARY

Amanda has been involved with choir and worship ministry at church her whole life. She joined HCS in the fall of 2022 and loved it so much that she agreed to serve as Secretary for our Board. Amanda works full time as a Scheduling Lead at Chick-fil-A, and in her spare time enjoys reading books, writing songs, and drinking coffee with friends.

BOX OFFICE MANAGER

Nicole joined HCS upon moving to Houston from Newfoundland, Canada in 2019.  She has been Box Office Manager since 2019 and a member of the Board of Director since 2022.  Nicole has been in choirs since elementary school and played piano from the age of 5 and flute as a teenager.  She is happy to serve on the Board as member at-large.

SOCIAL DIRECTOR

Steve has been a member of HCS for 3 years and has sung in local choirs for almost 20 years. As Social Director, Steve plans activities like group get-togethers, singing at baseball games and caroling. Steve finds it an honor to sing with so many talented voices.

DIRECTOR AT LARGE

Justin is a versatile artist in Houston, excelling as a conductor, composer, performer, and educator. He's part of the Deux Voix trumpet and organ duo, performing globally. As a composer, his works have been recognized in various countries. Justin is dedicated to education, managing a teaching studio and his music contracting business. Presently, he's the Director of Traditional Music at a Texas church. He holds degrees from the University of Alabama and the University of Houston. Beyond music, he enjoys sports, travel, and Mexican food. He lives in Houston's Museum District with his partner and their Great Pyrenees, Risa.

DIRECTOR AT LARGE

Veronica’s musical journey began at age 7, and she has even performed for Pope John Paul II. She has performed on stage in various plays, operas, and musicals. Veronica studied music at Sam Houston State University, where she met her fellow trumpet player, JT, who became her husband. Currently, she is a stay-at-home mom to three young children and a menagerie of pets. Her creative spirit is reflected in diverse hobbies like painting, knitting, and bass fishing. Veronica has served as a soprano choir member since 2016 and as a Board member since 2018.

DIRECTOR AT LARGE

Chad joined Houston Choral Society in 2005 and served as its president from 2018 to 2023. As a teenager, Chad was highly active in the choral program at South Garland High School, participating in every singing endeavor imaginable. After earning degrees in engineering from Baylor and Texas A&M, Chad moved to Houston and worked many years in the offshore energy sector. To be closer to his family, Chad recently moved back to the Dallas area and currently resides in Rockwall, Texas.

DIRECTOR AT LARGE

Having served multiple terms on the HCS Board, Lucinda Orr finds that the “at-large” role suits her involvement in a cross-section of initiatives. After joining the organization as a soprano in 2006, she has also sung in HCS chamber choirs and on its tours to Ireland, Austria/Germany, NYC Carnegie Hall, and Italy. For many years, her central-office position in the local public school district facilitated HCS educational collaborations. As a member of Tallowood Baptist Church where HCS rehearses, Lucinda helps to cultivate this partnership. Aside from music, she enjoys collecting vintage postcards.

DIRECTOR AT LARGE

Joan joined the HCS in 2020 looking for a creative and performing outlet and has enjoyed singing new and traditional choral works by composers like Mozart, Beethoven, Dan Forrest, John Rutter, and Ola Ojello. Joan’s background includes music education, musical theatre and sacred music ministry, and holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Texas Wesleyan University. She recently composed a mass that has been performed at her church. Joan is married with three children and has held positions on choir and band booster boards at her kids’ schools. She is an avid supporter of music education in our public schools.

DIRECTOR AT LARGE

Larry is a retired attorney with a long and full career in natural gas law who still works part time from his home office. He joined HCS in 2002 and has held several positions on the Board. Larry has sung in church choirs for about 60 years and lives with his wife Susan, his daughter Julie and her two sons. He enjoys traveling in his free time.

DIRECTOR AT LARGE

Dale has been a member of Houston Choral Society since 2016. Previous choral experience includes singing in college choirs, with the Houston Symphony Chorus, with the St. Laurence Chamber Singers and the Houston Cecelia Chamber Choir.  Dale is the owner of Sweetwater Video Productions and as a FEMA certified Public Information Officer also trains companies in Crisis Communications. He and his wife have three children and two grandchildren.