B.Mus., University of Wisconsin
M.Mus. in Composition, University of Miami (1980)
Doctoral studies in Composition, University of North Texas

Member of Turtle Creek Chorale, Dallas, Texas (1982-1992)
Composer-in-Residence and Assistant Director of Turtle Creek Chorale (1989-1992)
Member of Dallas Handbell Ensemble, Dallas, Texas

A native of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, Kristopher Jon Anthony received degrees in music at the University of Wisconsin and composition at the University of Miami, and pursued doctoral studies in composition at the University of North Texas.

In 1982 he joined the Turtle Creek Chorale in Dallas, and remained a member until his death. He was a featured tenor in the programs "The Music of America" (1982), "Tux Delux" (1984) and "Texas Countdown" (1985).

As composer-in-residence and assistant director of the Turtle Creek Chorale from 1989 to 1992, Anthony produced three compact disc recordings. His composition When We No Longer Touch: A Cycle of Songs for Survival was commissioned by the Chorale and premiered under the direction of Timothy Seelig at Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas in October 1991.

In 1996 the work was presented by the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC as part of "Music for Life: A Choral Tribute to the Quilt in the Capital." The performance drew these comments from Judy Gruber of the Washington Post:

"'When We No Longer Touch: A Cycle of Songs for Survival' was one of the finest musical events of the season. This is a large dramatic work for soprano, baritone, men's chorus and orchestra, with music by Kristopher Jon Anthony and lyrics by Peter McWilliams. Anthony's haunting score calls for violin, viola, cello, bass, harp, flute, English horn, piano and percussion, and he has woven McWilliams's lyrics with text from the Latin Requiem Mass. The result is very effective but never maudlin. The piece touches on grief, despair, regret, denial and anger, yet it also incorporates hope, acceptance and salvation. The poignancy of 'I Shall Miss Loving You' lingered long after the concert was over."

Anthony was also a member of the Dallas Handbell Ensemble. A number of his pieces for handbell ensemble have been published.

Kristopher Jon Anthony died of AIDS in Dallas at the age of 38 on June 26, 1992.

—Nurit Tilles

WORKS:

CHORAL

Come Love with Me & Be My Life: The Complete Romantic Poetry of Peter McWilliams
for: ?
date: 1991
note: poems read by McWilliams, music by Anthony
recorded: Turtle Creek Chorale, Timothy Seelig, director, Prelude Press 105 (1991).
The Confederate: A Musical
date: 1980
published: University of Miami
note: Masters thesis
source: University of Miami

Traces of My Self
for: string quartet
date: ?
duration: 10:47
recorded: Tesoro String Quartet, When We No Longer Touch: A Cycle of Songs for Survival, Turtle Creek Chorale CD.

Visions
for: male voice, oboe and men's chorus
date: ?
duration: 3:23
note: also for male voice and chamber ensemble
text: Mark Miles
recorded: Kris Anthony, vocals, Tony Balquin, oboe, Turtle Creek Chorale, From the Heart, Turtle Creek Chorale CD (1990). Timothy Seelig, vocals, Michael Sullivan, flute, David Williams, harp, Danny Ray, piano, Anne Albritton, piano, Everything's Possible: Tim Seelig Sings Songs of Love and Empowerment, Turtle Creek Chorale CD.

When We No Longer Touch: A Cycle of Songs For Survival
    Prologue: What Will I Do If It Happens?
    Denial: Why Do I Torture Myself?
    Isolation: The Layers I Have Put Around The Pain
    Anger: I'm Past The Point
    Bargaining: But Today?
    Depression: I Am Missing You
    Acceptance: I Shall Miss Loving You
    Hope: I Have Loved
for: soprano and baritone soli, 240-voice men's chorus, chamber orchestra (violin, viola, cello, bass, harp, flute, English horn, piano, percussion)
date: 1991
duration: 38:00
text: lyrics by Peter McWilliams from How to Survive the Loss of a Love (Prelude Press); excerpts from Latin Requiem Mass
note: AIDS-themed work
published (SATB and TTBB versions): private publication by Carolyn Shinn
premiere: Turtle Creek Chorale, Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas, TX 10/91
performed: Janey Hall, soprano, Craig A. Gregory, baritone, Turtle Creek Chorale, Timothy Seelig, conductor, Constitution Hall, Washington DC, October 1996 ("Music for Life: A Choral Tribute to the Quilt in the Capital" presented by Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses) Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus and Gateway Men's Chorus of St. Louis, Jeffrey McIntyre, artistic director, Georgia Tech Performing Arts Center, Atlanta, GA 6/18/94
recorded: (entire work): Craig Gregory, Nancy Keith, John Carroll vocals, Turtle Creek Chorale, Timothy Seelig, conductor, When We No Longer Touch: A Cycle of Songs for Survival, Turtle Creek Chorale CD.
("I Shall Miss Loving You"): A.G. Black, vocals, Michael Sullivan, flute, Turtle Creek Chorale, Timothy Seelig, conductor, From the Heart, Turtle Creek Chorale CD (1990).
("I Shall Miss Loving You"): Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, Two Decades...Together (2000).

HANDBELL ENSEMBLE

Dance of Joy
for: handbell ensemble

The Cottonbell Strut
for: handbell ensemble

ARRANGEMENTS

Alleluia by Larry Gatlin
for: chorus
duration: 1:54
recorded: Turtle Creek Chorale, From the Heart, Turtle Creek Chorale CD (1990).

The Holly and the Ivy
for: handbell ensemble

Psalm 133
for: handbell ensemble and chorus

Sing We Now of Christmas
for: handbell ensemble

Largo from Concerto No. 4, Op. 8 (Winter)
for: handbell ensemble

ORCHESTRATIONS
(all on Turtle Creek Chorale recording Peace)

Gloria! Fanfare for Christmas by Bob Krogstad
He Shall Feed His Flock by John Ness Beck
O Holy Night by Adolph Adam, arr. by Ronn Huff
What Child Is This? arr. by Mark Riese
The Jesus Gift by Gilbert Martin, arr. by Ronn Huff
Ave Maria by Franz Biebl
Still, Still, Still by Norman Luboff
White Christmas by Irving Berlin, arr. by Roy Ringwald
Sing We Now of Christmas arr. by David York
Who Is She That Travels? by Owen Goldsmith, arr. by Anne Albritton
The Three Kings by Healey Willan, arr. by Joseph Runnin
The First Noel (English Melody) arr. by Rhonda Polay
Peace, Peace by Rick and Sylvia Powell, arr. by Fred Bock

UNCOMPLETED WORKS:
Unknown

WRITINGS:
Unknown

DISCOGRAPHY:
"I Shall Miss Loving You," A.G. Black, vocals, Michael Sullivan, flute, Turtle Creek Chorale, Timothy Seelig, director, From the Heart, Turtle Creek Chorale CD (1990).
"I Shall Miss Loving You," Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, Two Decades...Together (2000).
"Visions," Kris Anthony, vocals, Tony Balquin, oboe, Turtle Creek Chorale, From the Heart, Turtle Creek Chorale CD (1990).
"Visions," Timothy Seelig, vocals, Michael Sullivan, flute, David Williams, harp, Danny Ray, piano, Anne Albritton, piano, Everything's Possible: Tim Seelig Sings Songs of Love and Empowerment, Turtle Creek Chorale CD.
"When We No Longer Touch: A Cycle of Songs for Survival," John Carroll, vocals, Craig Gregory, vocals, Turtle Creek Chorale, Timothy Seelig, conductor, When We No Longer Touch: A Cycle of Songs for Survival, Turtle Creek Chorale CD.
"Traces of My Self," Tesoro String Quartet, When We No Longer Touch: A Cycle of Songs for Survival, Turtle Creek Chorale CD.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

• "Choral Tribute to the Quilt" by Judy Gruber (review of When We No Longer Touch), The Washington Post, October 15, 1996.
• CD review of When We No Longer Touch by Bruce Michael Gelbert, New York Native, June 1992 (issue #480).
• CD review of When We No Longer Touch by Kurt Fowler, PATLAR Magazine: The Voice of Lesbian and Gay America, July 1992 (issue #121).

PERFORMING RIGHTS AFFILIATION:
BMI (under the names Kris Anthony and Alan B. Skipton)

RESOURCES:
Turtle Creek Chorale
P.O Box 190137
Dallas, Texas 75219
(800) 746-4412
fax: (214) 528-0673
www.turtlecreek.org

MUSICAL EXECUTOR:
Unknown

OTHER CONTACTS:
Dr. Timothy Seelig, Artistic Director
Craig Gregory, Assistant Director
Turtle Creek Chorale (see Resources, above)