Meet Katy Crumpton | Musician, Voice Teacher, Artistic Director and Conductor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Katy Crumpton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Katy, what inspires you?
I am inspired by people. Their resilience. Their tenacity. Their creativity. And their passions. I think ALL people have a story to tell and something to contribute. I think the most beautiful things happen when we can collaborate.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve been a singer since I can remember. I grew up with parents who played in an orchestra and a woodwind quintet, and also sang in choir. My mother was a music educator, and my extended family members did the same. Reading music was something I think I learned by osmosis. A common occurrence was my large family sitting all over the living room floor during holidays singing Christmas carols, sight-reading music together, or sharing compositions or personal ensemble recordings with each other – and we still do this to this day!
It was no surprise that I pursued a degree in music in college, though when it was time to pick a career path, teaching in a school setting did not light my heart on fire. I opened my private studio when I graduated, and have done that ever since. When I got the opportunity to conduct a choir, I felt like I was stepping foot into a fullness of expression I had yet to really experience for myself. My mother once told me that, as a 7 year old at an large All-Region concert for high school singers in Texas I turned to her and whispered, “I want to do THAT.” “Sing?” she asked. And I said, eyes wide, “No, be the conductor!” I had completely forgotten about that story in the recesses of my memory, but apparently something inside vibrates with authenticity when I can lead voices in song.
In 2024 I was inspired to form Colorado Springs Youth Choir, an auditioned youth choir from across the city and surrounding areas for 9th-12th graders. I wanted to provide and cultivate an atmosphere of collaboration, inclusivity, creativity and excellence for high schoolers. We are not a choir, just for choir’s sake. We strive to make a safe space for musicians to grow in skill and passion.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would start them off in the city to acclimate to the altitude. So we would stay downtown, grabbing coffee at Bird Tree, doing a little shopping around Acacia Park and some easy hiking around Garden of the Gods. We’d have dinner at some unique places like Rabbit Hole for espresso martinis ad dinner. We would absolutely go to Heart of Jerusalem for gyros and check out the Fine Arts Center galleries. We would hike some more in Cheyenne Canyon and Palmer Park. I would see if my favorite jazz artists were playing at Summa, and take in the stars up in the Black Forest area!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My grandma was the most kind and gregarious person I ever knew. She was fiercely inter-dependent, able to stand on her own, but willing to take advice and help from family and friends. She was a champion of the arts and raised a flock of professional and casual musicians. She loved family, but cast her net wide into her community. She embraced and was curious about cultures and loved people with abandon.

Website: https://csyouthchoir.org

Instagram: @csyouthchoir

Facebook: csyouthchoir