Southern Miss Gulf Coast Civic Chorale

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The Southern Miss Gulf Coast Civic Chorale is a community outreach ensemble of The University of Southern Mississippi School of Music and Choral Activities. The mission of the Civic Chorale is to provide enrichment and opportunity to the Mississippi Gulf Coast through music and the arts.

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Meet the Artistic Director: Dr. Jonathan C. Kilgore 

Currently serving as Associate Professor of Music and Associate Director of Choral Activities at USM, Dr. Jonathan C. Kilgore conducts Concert Choir, Spirit of Southern, and The Southern Miss Gulf Coast Civic Chorale.

Additionally, he advises and teaches courses in the Music Education curriculum and serves as the Undergraduate Coordinator for the School of Music. Dr. Kilgore came to Southern Miss after eight years as Director of Choral Activities and Fine Arts Department Chair at the Jackson County Campus of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

Prior to his appointment at MGCCC, Dr. Kilgore served as Director of Choral Activities at Jackson Academy in Jackson, MS.  For nine years, he served in the Music & Worship Ministry of First Baptist Church with Larry Black.  Since leaving Jackson, Dr. Kilgore has taken interim and supply positions at churches in Mississippi and Alabama.

Dr. Kilgore has conducted a variety of ensembles, including show choirs, concert choirs, and vocal jazz and contemporary a cappella ensembles.  He has planned and led concert tours to Brazil, Canada, Hawaii, California, and Texas, as well as many trips in the Southeast region.  In addition, choirs under his leadership have performed in Austria, the Czech Republic, and throughout Italy.

Active as an adjudicator and clinician in the southeast, Dr. Kilgore has served as President of the Mississippi Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association, responsible for planning and executing six annual events to further choral music and choral music education in the state. Additionally, the position served as the Mississippi representative at all regional and national conferences. Currently, he is serving as Treasurer for Mississippi ACDA.

In addition to his duties with the American Choral Directors Association, Dr. Kilgore maintains membership in the College Music Society, the National Association for Music Education, and the National Collegiate Choral Organization.  He holds the Doctor of Musical Arts and the Master of Music in Choral Conducting Performance & Pedagogy from the University of Southern Mississippi and the Bachelor of Science in Music from Millsaps College. 

The 31st Season - 2025-2026

Festival of Choirs
Tuesday, October 14 | St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church
Long Beach | 7:00pm

Holidays With The Civic Chorale
Tuesday, November 18 | Fleming Auditorium at USM Gulf Park
Long Beach | 7:00pm
Sunday, November 23 | St. Michael Catholic Church
Biloxi | 2:30pm

Concert with the Gulf Coast Symphony Youth Orchestra
Sunday, March 1 | Biloxi High School Performing Arts Center
Biloxi | 7:30pm

Spring Concerts
Friday, April 24 | Fleming Auditorium at USM Gulf Park
Long Beach | 7:00pm
Sunday, April 26 | St. Peter's By-The-Sea Episcopal Church
Gulfport | 2:30pm