About Krista
Bio
During a 25-year-career as a professional artist and arts administrator, Dr. Krista Lang Blackwood has built a reputation for her original approach to arts advocacy, her engaging teaching style and her high standard of professionalism. More recently, she has received national attention for her visionary use of social media to keep the arts relevant in our digital culture.
As the Founder, Artistic Director and Managing Director of Octarium, Dr. Blackwood has made the eight-voice vocal ensemble one of the freshest sounds in American choral music.
As the Director of Cultural Arts for the Jewish Community Center of Kansas City, Dr. Blackwood demonstrated a collaborative approach to program-building, a high standard of quality and a cohesive vision for growth and expansion.
Before transitioning to her roles behind the scenes, Dr. Blackwood was a professional mezzo-soprano who toured internationally as a soloist and performed a wide range of musical genres from opera to musical theatre, choral music and oratorio.
Dr. Blackwood was director of choirs and website developer for St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church from 2001-2007. Prior to that, she worked for nature photographer Thomas D. Mangelsen, reorganizing procedures for the secondary market, the wholesale stationary division and launching the human resources department.
She graduated cum laude from Texas Christian University with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. She earned a Master’s degree in Voice, a Master’s degree in Musicology and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Kansas.