Staff

A proud son of the Jersey Shore, Lynn G. Atkins, Jr. was appointed to be Artistic Director of the South Coast Chorale in June 2024.

 Atkins has spent the last 20 years exploring music as an educator, a conductor, as well as a professional vocalist. He has had the opportunity to sing in choirs with the New Jersey Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, as well as the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. He has appeared in choirs to accompany such stars as Sarah Brightman, Julie Andrews, Charlotte Church, Denyce Graves, Patti LaBelle, and Linda Eder. As a featured soloist, he has sung with Princeton Pro Musica (NJ), Litha Symphony Orchestra (NY), The Petersburg Symphony (VA), and the Richmond Philharmonic Orchestra (VA), among others.

 Lynn’s commitment to the teacher/artist model of musicianship is clear in his work as a music educator. An 18-year veteran of teaching K-12 students, he has consistently built choirs which have won awards and shown mastery of the choral art. His commitment to ensuring marginalized communities are represented in choral music is cemented in his work in creating the framework for LGBTQ Inclusive Curriculum in a joint taskforce between the New Jersey Department of Education and Garden State Equality in 2020. Lynn’s recent scholarship on DEI Strategies for the Choral Music Classroom was presented at the Summer Conference of the California Choral Directors Association. 

 Dr. Atkins is no stranger to community choral programs. He was appointed Artistic Director of One Voice Chorus Richmond from 2013-2019 and Interim Director of the Richmond Women’s Chorus during the 2014-2015 season. In both positions, Lynn infused the work of community building with a varied repertoire of choral music that ensured inclusion for all.

 Lynn received his bachelor’s degree in music education from Westminster Choir College of Rider University in 2004. He was hooded as a member of the first cohort of Doctor of Musical Arts candidates from James Madison University in 2012. With these degrees, he is honored to be a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, the National Music Honor Society as well as Mu Phi Epsilon, the National Music Fraternity.

 In addition to his duties with South Coast Chorale, Lynn is Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at California State University, Dominguez Hills, in Carson, CA. He also serves as Artistic Director of L. A. Bronze Handbell Ensemble here in Los Angeles.

Lindsey Hundley is a graduate of the USC Thornton School of Music and Interlochen Arts Academy. Since moving from Colorado to Southern California in 1999, Hundley has established herself as a piano soloist, vocalist, music director, arranger and composer. Hundley performs a broad range of styles from familiar jazz standards and blues to Brazilian/ Latin, classical, R&B/pop and original compositions . Hundley has performed alongside internationally known artists including: Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Patrice Rushen, Bennie Maupin, Barbra Streisand, Kurt Elling, Sweet Baby J’ai, Bob Mintzer, Louis Bellson, Gina Eckstine and Jack Sheldon. Some of Hundley’s performance venues have included the Ford Amphitheater, the RedCat Theater, The Coach House, The Orpheum (Memphis), Spaghettini, Biscuits and Blues, Humphrey’s by the Bay, Steamers and Soka Performing Arts Center. Hundley has been a headliner at the Long Beach Bach festival and her ensemble “Lady Jazz” has performed for the Palm Springs Women’s Jazz Festival.

As an instructor, Lindsey has had the pleasure of working with children and adults of all ages. Hundley works as a private teacher, choir director, show choir band director, choral and band arranger and much more. In her role as music director, she and her students have performed at the Segerstrom Performing Arts Center, winning several awards at the Macy Awards and receiving multiple first place awards in show choir competitions.

After 12 seasons as Artistic Director and Conductor of the South Coast Chorale, Chris Smith continues to support the mission and vision of the organization as a strategy and operations consultant. He has had a broad musical career as a singer, vocal coach, and music director. His 32 years of studying voice began at a young age, performing with the internationally acclaimed All-American Boys Chorus. He has since performed with symphonic and choral groups across Southern California, including the Pacific Symphony, the LA Philharmonic, and the LA Master Chorale. His theatrical performance credits include several roles with local community and regional theaters, as well as LA Opera and Opera Pacific. After graduating from the Cal State Long Beach music program, Chris returned to the All-American Boys Chorus were he served as a vocal coach and associate conductor. Chris continues to be a sought after vocalist and music director in the local community.

In addition to his musical endeavors, Chris works in Entertainment for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and together with his husband Robert, recently welcomed their daughter Skyler into the world.