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Hickory Choral Society
Hickory Choral Society
The Hickory Choral Society (HCS) is a regional all-volunteer ensemble dedicated to community engagement and the transformative power of choral music. Founded in 1978 following an ad hoc performance of Handel’s Messiah led by founding Artistic Director J. Don Coleman, the organization has presented an annual concert series for more than four decades. Coleman served as Artistic Director until 2019, shaping the ensemble’s artistic identity and longstanding traditions. Since 2020, HCS has been led by Ryan Luhrs.
The ensemble comprises approximately 100 singers from across western North Carolina and performs repertoire ranging from major choral-orchestral masterworks to sacred and secular literature, contemporary compositions, and music representing diverse cultural traditions. HCS has collaborated with distinguished conductors including Sir David Willcocks, Mack Wilberg, Anton Armstrong, Elena Sharkova, André Thomas, Frances Fonza, Anne Barry, and Brandon Boyd, and has performed with both the North Carolina Symphony and the Western Piedmont Symphony.
In addition to regional performances, the ensemble has appeared at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Washington National Cathedral, and has toured internationally in the United Kingdom, Austria, and the Czech Republic. HCS is also recognized for its commitment to new music, most notably through collaborations with Dave Brubeck and the commission and premiere of Dan Forrest’s Requiem for the Living in 2013. Beyond performance, the Hickory Choral Society supports music education through teacher grants and seeks to foster connection and social harmony through collaborative artistic experiences.
Ryan Luhrs
Ryan Luhrs
Artistic Director
Ryan Luhrs has served as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Hickory Choral Society since 2020, succeeding founding conductor J. Don Coleman following his distinguished 42-year tenure. Under his leadership, the choir has expanded its artistic and community engagement through collaborations and a repertoire that represents both the choral-orchestral canon and a wide spectrum of musical and cultural traditions. Recent projects have included presentations of Mass: A Celebration of Love and Joy by André J. Thomas, Requiem for the Living by Dan Forrest in collaboration with Hickory Ballet & Performing Arts, Alzheimer's Stories by Robert S. Cohen, and the premiere (virtually) of Karen Marrolli’s “Undivided”.
Luhrs is also Associate Professor of Music at Lenoir-Rhyne University, where he directs the A Cappella Choir and College Singers, and teaches courses in choral conducting, music education, and sacred music. He additionally serves as Music Director at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Hickory. His research on choral music as a means of fostering social connection and breaking down barriers has been published in The Choral Journal and presented at regional and national conferences. He holds a Ph.D. in Choral Conducting & Music Education from Florida State University, a Master's of Sacred Music degree from Luther Seminary (with St. Olaf College), and a B.A. in Music from Luther College.
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