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Meet the Horn Lake Choir Directors!
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Mr. Carlton Copeland
Mr. Kendall G. Austin is the new Director of Choral Activities at Horn Lake Middle School. Mr. Austin attended Mississippi State University and obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education with a concentration of voice (Summa Cum Laude) in the Spring of 2025. He has studied voice with Dr. Garrett Torbert throughout his undergraduate studies. Mr. Austin also studied applied piano studies with Dr. Tom Jenkins for a number of semesters.
At a young age, Mr. Austin started his journey as a musician at his home church, New Hope Baptist Church in Jackson, MS. During his time at Mississippi State, Mr. Austin has been a member of the premier choral ensemble, State Singers, Cantaré (Chamber Singers), and OPUS (Men’s Choir). He was the student conductor for the women’s chorus, Schola Cantorum. Mr. Austin served in various leadership positions at MSU which included choral council positions of Director of Programming, Assistant Director of Programming, and Director of Representatives. He is also a former choir director and Minister of Music for MSU’s Black Voices Gospel Choir. He also served as the president for The Fellowship Campus Ministry & Bible Study which is supported by Peter’s Rock Family Worship Center COGIC Church in Starkville, MS. Mr. Austin also served on the praise & worship team at Kingdom Vision Church in Columbus, MS.
Mr. Austin is recently the 2025 MACTE (Mississippi Association of Colleges of Teacher Education) Outstanding Intern for Mississippi State University. Also, Mr. Austin was a finalist for the MSU's 2025 Spirit of State Awards, which is the highest honor a student can obtain at Mississippi State. Mr. Austin is excited to begin his teaching career at HLMS!
At a young age, Mr. Austin started his journey as a musician at his home church, New Hope Baptist Church in Jackson, MS. During his time at Mississippi State, Mr. Austin has been a member of the premier choral ensemble, State Singers, Cantaré (Chamber Singers), and OPUS (Men’s Choir). He was the student conductor for the women’s chorus, Schola Cantorum. Mr. Austin served in various leadership positions at MSU which included choral council positions of Director of Programming, Assistant Director of Programming, and Director of Representatives. He is also a former choir director and Minister of Music for MSU’s Black Voices Gospel Choir. He also served as the president for The Fellowship Campus Ministry & Bible Study which is supported by Peter’s Rock Family Worship Center COGIC Church in Starkville, MS. Mr. Austin also served on the praise & worship team at Kingdom Vision Church in Columbus, MS.
Mr. Austin is recently the 2025 MACTE (Mississippi Association of Colleges of Teacher Education) Outstanding Intern for Mississippi State University. Also, Mr. Austin was a finalist for the MSU's 2025 Spirit of State Awards, which is the highest honor a student can obtain at Mississippi State. Mr. Austin is excited to begin his teaching career at HLMS!
