Dr. Joshua Habermann

Artistic Director

JOSHUA HABERMANN, beginning his first season with OCS, is also in his thirteenth season as Artistic Director of the Santa Fe Desert Chorale. Since joining the ensemble he has broadened its repertoire to include not only a cappella literature but also choral-orchestral masterworks, and unique concert experiences that combine music, poetry and the spoken word. In 2015 the Desert Chorale was a featured performer at the national convention of the American Choral Director’s Association (ACDA) in Dancing the Mystery, a program featuring the poetry of Sufi masters Rumi and Hafiz. 

Habermann has led honor choirs and choral festivals in North and Latin America, Europe and Asia. As a singer (tenor) he has performed with the Oregon Bach Festival Chorus (Eugene, Oregon), and Conspirare (Austin, Texas). Recording credits include three projects with Conspirare: Through the Green Fuse, Requiem, a Grammy nominee for best choral recording in 2006, and Threshold of Night, a Grammy nominee for best choral recording and best classical album in 2009.

In 2011, Joshua Habermann was named director of the Dallas Symphony Chorus, the official vocal ensemble of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, where he prepares the 200-voice chorus for classical series concerts. Highlights with the DSO include performances of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, Verdi’s Requiem, Berlioz’ Te Deum, and Britten’s War Requiem, which was performed for the ACDA national convention in 2013. Recent international collaborations include performances of Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, and Duruflé’s Requiem with the Swedish Radio Orchestra, and tour performances in Spain, France, Sweden, Estonia and Finland. 

From 1996-2008 Habermann was assistant conductor of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, and professor of music at San Francisco State University, where under his direction the SFSU Chamber Singers received international engagements in Havana, Cuba, and undertook concert tours in Germany, the Czech Republic, and China. National invitations include the Waging Peace Festival in Eugene, Oregon, multiple appearances at the California Music Educators Convention, and an appearance at the American Choral Directors’ Association regional convention in 2008.

From 2008-2011 Habermann was Director of Choral Studies at the University of Miami Frost School of Music, where he led the graduate program in conducting and directed the Frost Chorale. Notable projects included an appearance at the Florida ACDA convention, and collaborations with the New World Symphony and conductor Michael Tilson Thomas in music of Ives, Schubert and Beethoven. During this same period Habermann led the Masterchorale of South Florida in performances of masterworks such as Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Haydn’s Creation, and Mozart’s Requiem.

A native of California, Joshua Habermann is a graduate of Georgetown University and the University of Texas at Austin, where he completed doctoral studies in conducting with Craig Hella Johnson. He now lives in Honolulu with his wife Joanna, daughter Kira and son Kai.

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Jackie Kimbro

Executive Director

Jacquelyn (Jackie) Kimbro has been a member of OCS since moving back home to Hawai’i in 2017. She became the Soprano section leader that season, and then the Executive Director early in 2021. Since entering this position, she helped lead the organization in its extensive Artistic Director search, and has been supporting the development plan of the transition out of the pandemic year. 
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Jackie received her degree in Music Education and Opera Performance from Chapman University, and has been working in a mix of musical and educational roles throughout her professional career. A majority of her work has been in the non-profit education sector, first serving as an AmeriCorps volunteer with City Year Boston and then becoming an impact manager within the organization. She then received her Teaching License from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and taught high school English and Choir at ‘Aiea High School. Currently, Jackie is the Office Manager/Registrar at SEEQS Public Charter School in Nu’uanu.