High School Choir

Karsten Longhurst is Chair of Vocal Music Education at the Wanda L. Bass School of Music at Oklahoma City University and the Artistic Director of the Canterbury Youth Voices. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Music from the University of Southern California with emphases in music education, arts leadership, and vocal performance. Previous degrees include a Master in Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Utah and a Bachelor of Music in Education and German from Weber State University.

Prior to joining OCU and Canterbury Youth Voices, Dr. Longhurst served as the Director of Choral Music and the Assistant Director of Music Education at Northwestern Oklahoma State University. In 2022, the NWOSU Singers were a featured Honor Choir at the OkMEA State Music Educators Convention. He also taught high school and middle school in Ogden, Utah, and was honored with the Teaching in Excellence award.

Dr. Longhurst is active as a guest conductor, presenter, adjudicator, and performer. He currently serves as the President of the Oklahoma Choral Director’s Association and is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and the National Association for Music Educators. He enjoys performing as a professional solo and ensemble tenor, having collaborated with artists such as the Rolling Stones, Barry Manilow, and Elton John, and as a guest soloist in the Salt Lake City Tabernacle. He has performed with ensembles including the Re:Sound Ensemble, Tactus Vocal Ensemble, Salt Lake Vocal Artists, Brevitas, and the Enid Symphony.