Kenneth Anderson (musician)
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Anderson is a renowned musician
and choir director of the Gospel
tradition. Anderson currently serves as director of the Martin Luther King Community Gospel Choir of San Diego, University of California San Diego Gospel Choir, and the Grossmont College Gospel Choir. Anderson is also on the voice faculty of Grossmont College
in El Cajon, Ca
as well as UC San Diego in La Jolla, Ca. He also serves as an Associate Pastor and choir director of Grace San Diego of the North Park region of San Diego, Ca.
, Anderson then moved to San Diego with his mother shortly after. He started playing piano
at church by the age of 6, with formal lessons beginning at age 11 with Joseph Taylor. At the young age of 16, he became the choir director of Mount Olive Church of God and Christ in San Diego. Aside from Gospel music, Anderson was heavily influenced and inspired by classical music
at an early age. Anderson attended Patrick Henry High School
and was a member of the honor society
until graduation in 1976.
In 1989 Anderson became the director of the University of California San Diego Gospel Choir. Taught as a class, the enrollment at one time reached 1,600 people. The enrollment now caps at 800 with an average around 600 per semester. In October, 2010 Anderson was one of 8 teachers honored in the UC San Diego Teaching Awards.
In 1996 Anderson became the director of the Martin Luther King Community Choir San Diego, a non-profit organization
that raises money for seniors in high school pursuing higher education
specifically in the arts. As of 2008, the choir has raised over $100,000 in educational grants towards 54 different students. The choir has performed all over San Diego County, taken two European Tours and has been invited to Carnegie Hall
in New York, NY
on multiple occasions.
In 2006, Anderson was approached by the Grossmont College Music Department to start a Gospel Choir. Currently, the choir is in the process of recording a studio album
of popular Gospel traditions. Along with the MLK Choir, they have also been invited to Carnegie Hall.
”, and ‘Judas’ in “Jesus Christ Superstar
”. Most recently in 2009 he played the role of "The Celebrant" in Bernstein's Mass. He was also cast in the San Diego Opera
's 2008 production of Aida.
Ken teaches class voice at Grossmont College along with his private voice students from all over San Diego County
.
since 1988, stating he never found "the one" to marry, but finds raising kids "very fulfilling".
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and choir director of the Gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
tradition. Anderson currently serves as director of the Martin Luther King Community Gospel Choir of San Diego, University of California San Diego Gospel Choir, and the Grossmont College Gospel Choir. Anderson is also on the voice faculty of Grossmont College
Grossmont College
Grossmont College is a community college located in El Cajon, California, in the county of San Diego. The campus sits in the Fletcher Hills community of El Cajon and is bordered by the cities of San Diego and Santee. Grossmont College is one of the two colleges that make up the Grossmont-Cuyamaca...
in El Cajon, Ca
El Cajon, California
-History:El Cajon is located on the Rancho El Cajon Mexican land grant made in 1845 to María Antonia Estudillo, wife of Miguel Pedrorena. In 1876 Amaziah Lord Knox , a New Englander who had recently moved to California, established a hotel there to serve the growing number of people traveling...
as well as UC San Diego in La Jolla, Ca. He also serves as an Associate Pastor and choir director of Grace San Diego of the North Park region of San Diego, Ca.
Early life
Born in Oklahoma CityOklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
, Anderson then moved to San Diego with his mother shortly after. He started playing piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
at church by the age of 6, with formal lessons beginning at age 11 with Joseph Taylor. At the young age of 16, he became the choir director of Mount Olive Church of God and Christ in San Diego. Aside from Gospel music, Anderson was heavily influenced and inspired by classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
at an early age. Anderson attended Patrick Henry High School
Patrick Henry High School (San Diego, California)
Patrick Henry High School is a public high school in San Diego, California. It is part of the San Diego Unified School District. It is attended by students in grades 9-12 residing in Del Cerro, San Carlos, Allied Gardens, Mission Valley and the College Area....
and was a member of the honor society
Honor society
In the United States, an honor society is a rank organization that recognizes excellence among peers. Numerous societies recognize various fields and circumstances. The Order of the Arrow, for example, is the national honor society of the Boy Scouts of America...
until graduation in 1976.
Choir directing
Ken Anderson taught choir at Curie Elementary School for 22 years.In 1989 Anderson became the director of the University of California San Diego Gospel Choir. Taught as a class, the enrollment at one time reached 1,600 people. The enrollment now caps at 800 with an average around 600 per semester. In October, 2010 Anderson was one of 8 teachers honored in the UC San Diego Teaching Awards.
In 1996 Anderson became the director of the Martin Luther King Community Choir San Diego, a non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
that raises money for seniors in high school pursuing higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
specifically in the arts. As of 2008, the choir has raised over $100,000 in educational grants towards 54 different students. The choir has performed all over San Diego County, taken two European Tours and has been invited to Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
in New York, NY
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on multiple occasions.
In 2006, Anderson was approached by the Grossmont College Music Department to start a Gospel Choir. Currently, the choir is in the process of recording a studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
of popular Gospel traditions. Along with the MLK Choir, they have also been invited to Carnegie Hall.
Voice teacher and solo vocalist
Classically trained by Eileen Moss since his early 20's, Anderson has been an active solo performer in San Diego in Gospel and classical genres. His roles have included ‘Joe the Loiterer’ in the La Jolla Symphony production of the opera “The Mother of Us AllThe Mother of Us All
The Mother of Us All is an opera by Virgil Thomson to a libretto by Gertrude Stein. It chronicles the life of Susan B. Anthony, one of the major figures in the fight for women's suffrage in the United States...
”, and ‘Judas’ in “Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
”. Most recently in 2009 he played the role of "The Celebrant" in Bernstein's Mass. He was also cast in the San Diego Opera
San Diego Opera
The San Diego Opera Association is a professional opera company located in the city of San Diego, California and is a member of OPERA America. It was founded in 1950 to present productions by San Francisco Opera in the San Diego area...
's 2008 production of Aida.
Ken teaches class voice at Grossmont College along with his private voice students from all over San Diego County
San Diego County, California
San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...
.
Other Notes
Anderson has raised ten foster childrenFoster care
Foster care is the term used for a system in which a minor who has been made a ward is placed in the private home of a state certified caregiver referred to as a "foster parent"....
since 1988, stating he never found "the one" to marry, but finds raising kids "very fulfilling".
External links
- http://www.mlkccsd.org
- http://www.gracesd.com/
- http://www.lajollasymphony.com/index.php
- http://www.sdopera.com/Home