Orchestra Kentucky

The Orchestra Kentucky Chorale is a suborganization of Orchestra Kentucky. The group is comprised of twenty-eight adult singers drawn from the Bowling Green area. It usually performs one major work—for example, Handel's Messiah and J. S. Bach's Christmas Oratorio—each season with Orchestra Kentucky, usually in November or December. In the spring it participates with Orchestra Kentucky in a concert of lighter works. Generally, the group has three two-hour rehearsals before the dress rehearsal and concert. Membership is open to all interested adults who are willing to make a commitment to rehearsals and concerts. A short, informal audition is required. Inquiries can be made by telephone (270-846-2426) or by email info@OrchestraKentucky.com.


Richard Suggs joined the staff of First Baptist Church, Bowling Green, Kentucky in August, 1998 as the Minister of Music. In 1992 Richard received his Master's Degree in Church Music and graduated with honors receiving a Performer's Certificate and the award for Outstanding Music Student from the School of Church Music at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky where his areas of concentration were percussion performance and conducting. Prior to post-graduate work, Mr. Suggs earned the Bachelor of Music degree from Belmont University, Nashville, Tennessee in 1985. His conducting instructors and mentors included John Dickson, Doug Smith, Milburn Price, Jerry Warren, Sherry Kelly, Joseph T. Smith and Sandra Willetts. Additional conducting studio/seminar experiences have been with noted conductors including Weston Noble, Moses Hogan, Sir David Willcocks, Rodney Eichenberger, Donald Neuen, Alice Parker and John Rutter. While a student in Louisville, he served as the instrumental music consultant with the Church Music Department of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, served as a Minister of Music of Parkland Baptist Church, and worked as a freelance percussionist and instructor for MOM'S Music and Shuff's Music until moving to First Baptist Church, St. Simons Island, Georgia in 1993. While in Georgia, Richard was the Minister of Music of First Baptist Church, St. Simons Island. He also served the community by holding the position of Music Director/Conductor for the Coastal Symphony of Georgia, a regional semi-professional symphony orchestra. Currently, Rev. Suggs is the Minister of Music at First Baptist Church of Bowling Green. In addition to full-time ministry at First Baptist Church, Richard served as an adjunct choral faculty member in the Music Department of Western Kentucky University, in Bowling Green, Kentucky from 2000 to 2002. Mr. Suggs has enjoyed serving as an adjudicator for instrumental and choral music festivals; as a guest conductor for many festivals and conferences; and, as a clinician for both instrumental and choral events for ACDA [American Choral Directors' Association] and State Baptist Conventions. Richard is married to Mary Landgrave Suggs and they have three daughters, Sarah, Katie and Anna. Email: rsuggs@OrchestraKentucky.com