Kickstart

Christopher Kline- Resident of Lakeland, Florida, Chris graduated with a Bachelor's in voice performance from Florida Southern College in 2013. His main focus was opera until after college when he decided to put all of his musical effort into barbershop. Throughout high school and college, Chris won numerous vocal awards including the Florida Federation of Music Clubs Stephen Foster title, the National Federation of Music Clubs Best Male Singer award, and multiple National Association of Teachers of Singing awards. Chris is currently a member of the Heralds of Harmony Chorus in Tampa, under the direction of Tony DeRosa. Chris also is a choir section leader at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Winter Haven, FL. In Kickstart, Chris is responsible for singing the lush harmonies that are required of baritones. He is very excited to be singing with Jon, Christian, and Nick! Nick Folkes Nick is a music educator and voice teacher in Polk County, where he is also actively involved with numerous other arts organizations. Having studied music education at Florida State University's College of Music, he is trained as a choral director, and as such spent three years directing the Citrus Lakes Chorus, but spends most of his time teaching at the Harrison Performing Arts School giving students one-on-one vocal technique training. He also teaches privately and has served as musical director for numerous productions at both Plant City Entertainment and Lakeland Community Theatre. He finds great joy in returning to teach and mentor in the same county as he received his education, graduating from the International Baccalaureate program at Bartow High School in 2004. All of Nick's free time is spent with Kickstart, A Cappella Praise at the First United Methodist Church, Festival Singers Of Florida, Heralds of Harmony, or HWY 37 South. Each musical endeavor is unique and an extension of his varied musical tastes, fortunately he has a wonderful gal to support him and give him honest critiques: his loving girlfriend Amanda. As tenor for Kickstart, Nick is responsible for all the soaring high harmonies, and being the butt of the jokes, but gladly accepts these duties in order to ring some chords with three amazing and talented singers. He hopes you enjoy what is coming from Kickstart in the next month's! More Bios soon to come! Kickstart is an up and coming Barbershop Quartet from Central Florida.