A proud son of the Jersey Shore, Lynn G. Atkins, Jr. was appointed to be Artistic Director of the South Coast Chorale in June 2024.

Atkins has spent the last 20 years exploring music as an educator, a conductor, as well as a professional vocalist. He has had the opportunity to sing in choirs with the New Jersey Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, as well as the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. He has appeared in choirs to accompany such stars as Sarah Brightman, Julie Andrews, Charlotte Church, Denyce Graves, Patti LaBelle, and Linda Eder. As a featured soloist, he has sung with Princeton Pro Musica (NJ), Litha Symphony Orchestra (NY), The Petersburg Symphony (VA), and the Richmond Philharmonic Orchestra (VA), among others.

Lynn’s commitment to the teacher/artist model of musicianship is clear in his work as a music educator. An 18-year veteran of teaching K-12 students, he has consistently built choirs which have won awards and shown mastery of the choral art. His commitment to ensuring marginalized communities are represented in choral music is cemented in his work in creating the framework for LGBTQ Inclusive Curriculum in a joint taskforce between the New Jersey Department of Education and Garden State Equality in 2020. Lynn’s recent scholarship on DEI Strategies for the Choral Music Classroom was presented at the Summer Conference of the California Choral Directors Association.

Dr. Atkins is no stranger to community choral programs. He was appointed Artistic Director of One Voice Chorus Richmond from 2013-2019 and Interim Director of the Richmond Women’s Chorus during the 2014-2015 season. In both positions, Lynn infused the work of community building with a varied repertoire of choral music that ensured inclusion for all.

Lynn received his bachelor’s degree in music education from Westminster Choir College of Rider University in 2004. He was hooded as a member of the first cohort of Doctor of Musical Arts candidates from James Madison University in 2012. With these degrees, he is honored to be a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, the National Music Honor Society as well as Mu Phi Epsilon, the National Music Fraternity.

In addition to his duties with South Coast Chorale, Lynn is Assistant Professor of Music at California State University, Dominguez Hills where he serves as Associate Chair of the Department of Music, as well as Voice Area Coordinator and Director of Choral Activities. He also serves as Artistic Director of L. A. Bronze Handbell Ensemble in Los Angeles.

Angela Gricar is a graduate of California State University, Fullerton. She is originally from Rancho Cucamonga and began piano at the age of 5. She started accompanying in her preteen years, playing for both her children’s choir at St. Peter & St. Paul Catholic Church, as well as various musicals at her middle school of attendance. This included productions of Carousel, The Music Man, The Mikado, and many others.

Her performance venues span churches, schools, restaurants & lounges, wedding venues, funeral & memorial services, and special events. Angela is a strong sight-reader and enjoys playing piano in a cocktail lounge setting where she can take song requests from patrons.

As a substitute teacher, Angela has been blessed to work with children of all ages and abilities. This included stepping in as the pianist for Lincoln Middle School in 2022 and accompanying their daily choir classes as well as their winter concert. Angela has worked as a pianist at various churches across the greater Los Angeles County area. She has been playing piano for Faith United Methodist Church in Torrance, CA since the spring of 2023. Angela is preparing to apply for a graduate program in collaborative piano studies.