Kimberly Souther

Assistant Professor of Music, Director of Orchestras

Contact
Department of Performing Arts
Office: 119A
Email: kwsouth@clemson.edu

Education
Doctorate of Music, James Madison University (2023); Master of Music, Shenandoah Conservatory (2019); Bachelor of Music, James Madison University (1998)

Courses
Symphony Orchestra, String Orchestra, Musical Pit Orchestra, History of American Music

Research Interests
Audience Engagement, Silent Film

Kimberly Souther serves as Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Orchestras at Clemson University. Kimberly conducts the Clemson University Symphony Orchestra and Clemson University String Orchestra and directs the Clemson Musical Pit Orchestra. In Virginia, she conducted the Shenandoah Valley Youth Concert Orchestra, James Madison University Opera, Musical, Chamber, and Symphony Orchestras, and Nelson County Community Orchestra and has served as guest conductor for Sinfonietta Memphis, Wintergreen Music Festival, Four County Players, and Peninsula Players. She was also Executive Director of Shenandoah Valley Preparatory Music, and Festival Director for the International Heifetz Festival in Staunton, Virginia. She currently serves as Chair of Development for the College Orchestra Director's Association. Souther studied orchestra and opera conducting techniques with Marzena Diakun, Larry Rachleff, Donald Schleicher, Carl St. Claire, Michelle Merrill, Foster Beyers, Carl Topilow, Chris Zimmerman, Angel Velez, and Joshua Weilerstein. Her involvement with the Silk Road Ensemble, multiple multi-genre bands, silent film and cinematic orchestras transfers to her pursuit of eclectic programming and creative audience engagement. Her current research in orchestral programming strategy engages the need for creative connection and accessibility for all symphony orchestra audiences in the United States and will result in new collaborations with Harold Lloyd, Entertainment. Souther looks forward to the upcoming 26-27 season as the Clemson Orchestras present "The Theory of Relativity," a season of connection and collaboration honoring all colleges on campus. The orchestras will perform on tour in Vienna, Salzburg, and Prague, and will premiere a new score and restored film, "Safety Last" at the MuTh, in Vienna. They will also perform the American premiere of Christopher Slaski's "Frank Lloyd Wright Suite" in December.