Bonnie Kidd
Concert Choir Conductor
Bonnie Kidd began her career with AAYC Concert Choir in 2006. In August 2021, she retired from a long career with the Ann Arbor Public Schools. She was the Director of Choirs at Ann Arbor Tappan Middle School, and Co-Director of Choirs at Ann Arbor Huron High School. Ms. Kidd continues to be the Sanctuary Choir Director at First Baptist Church, Ann Arbor. During her tenure with AAPS, her middle and high school choirs consistently received outstanding ratings at both district and state level choral events. Choirs under her direction have won national and international prizes. Her choirs have been invited to and performed at multiple state level conferences. Ms. Kidd conducted the Michigan Junior High SSA State Honors Choir in 2011.
Under Ms. Kidd's direction, the AAYC Concert Choir has performed with major symphony orchestras, including the Detroit Symphony, Flint Symphony, University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra, and Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra. In February 2018, AAYC Concert Choir traveled to Chicago and performed with the Evanston Children’s Choir and Pro Musica Youth Choirs. In February 2019, Concert and Descant choirs performed Benjamin Britten’s “War Requiem” with the University Musical Society in Hill Auditorium. In November 2019 members of Concert Choir performed in the University of Michigan’s Opera Production “La Boheme”. In February of 2020, Concert Choir performed a concert tour of Milwaukee. In March of 2020, Concert Choir was to perform “Carmina Burana” with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Due to Covid 19 that performance was postponed but Concert Choir did perform in the dress rehearsal with Maestro Leonard Slatkin. In February 2022, Concert Choir completed a concert tour of Pittsburgh, PA. In March 2022, Concert Choir collaborated with the University Musical Society and Joyce DiDonato in performing with the EDEN Project. This work was performed again in Chicago alongside Ms. DiDonato. In the summer of 2023, a new EDEN anthem was composed with singer representatives from many countries. Five AAYC Concert Choir singers participated in this composition. The new EDEN anthem video “Endless Sky” was released worldwide in October 2023. In February 2024, Concert Choir completed another concert tour of Toronto and partnered with the Oakville Children’s Choir, another EDEN choir. Together they performed the new anthem in concert together.
Ms. Kidd studied at the Juilliard School, received her Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from The Cleveland Institute of Music, and her Master’s of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Michigan. Ms. Kidd has been married to Robert for the past 40 years and they have one son, Sam, who sang with AAYC for five seasons. Sam is currently in his first season as an Adler Fellow Young Artist with the San Francisco Opera Company.