The Old Jail Art Center

Chorus Abilene, Inc. (formerly The Classical Chorus of Abilene) and its mission to promote choral music through performance and participation began in 1990 with a 23 member adult chorus as the dream of Dr. Betty Karol Wilson. This non-profit corporation now consists of approximately 100 singers, first grade through adult, in four different choirs, from all over the Big Country, under the direction of three conductors.

In 1993, the Youth Chorus (for grades 5 - 8) was created to challenge talented young singers to study and perform the best choral literature for children's voices composed by musicians from around the world. Chorus Abilene expanded its opportunities for young singers with the addition of the Children's Chorus (for grades 1 - 4, begun in 1997) and the Chorale (for experienced singers in grades 9 - 12, begun in 1999); as well as the original Adult Chorus. Singers come from different towns , school districts, and homeschool to sing together.

Members of the Youth Choruses have performed with the Abilene Philharmonic, the Abilene Opera Association, and the Abilene Ballet. They have hosted the Fredericksburg Children's Choir, the Amarillo Boys' Choir, the Texas Boys Choir, the Manila Children's Choir, the New Zealand Youth Chorus, the Moscow Boys' Choir, and the Vienna Boys Choir, and have performed for Barbara Bush. Each year, young singers perform in three formal concerts, two event fundraisers, and entertain at various retirement and nursing home and for numerous community events by invitation. In addition, in 2009 Chorus Abilene commissioned the composition "El Vito" by noted U.S. composer Emily Crocker and in January, 2011, Chorus Abilene will host the American Boychoir, the premiere boys' choir in the United States.

Since the first international youth tour to England in 1997, young singers have traveled to and performed in France, Canada, Italy, the Caribbean, Austria, and Spain, with a trip once again to Italy on the horizon in 2012. They have been fortunate to sing in many well-known cathedrals and tour famous museums such as the Louvre, the Prado, and some of the Vatican museums.

Jonathan Krake has completed his fourth season with Chorus Abilene, serving as the Conductor for Youth Chorus and Youth Chorale. Mr. Krake is a graduate of Hardin-Simmons University where he received both his Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Master of Music in Choral Conducting. In addition to working with Chorus Abilene, Mr. Krake is the Worship and Outreach Pastor at Southwest Park Baptist Church. Prior to his church work, Mr. Krake taught music for five years with the Abilene Independent School District, three of which were spent as the Associate Choir Director and Advanced Placement Music Theory Instructor for an award-winning class at Cooper High School. Mr. Krake also served as the pianist for Broadview Baptist Church where he also served as Interim Music Minister in 2001-2002. Mr. Krake has taught private piano lessons for the past twelve years and private voice lessons for the past five. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Texas Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Convention, Chorus America and Texas Choral Director's Association. He has been honored by being named to Who's Who Among American High School Teachers, the National Dean's List and the Chancellor's List. He and his wife, Amy, are the proud parents of their two sons, Conner and Camden.