Kirsten Hedegaard has enjoyed a varied career as a singer, conductor, and scholar. As a soprano, she has appeared as soloist and ensemble member with groups across the country, including Philharmonia Baroque, Mercury Baroque, Ensemble viii, Baroque Band, Schola Antiqua, Newberry Consort, Ars Antiqua, Rook Ensemble, Bella Voce, Callipygian Players, Elgin Symphony, Elgin Master Chorale, and eighth blackbird.

Currently Director of Choral and Vocal Activities at Loyola University and Director of Music at the Presbyterian Church of Barrington, Hedegaard has conducted choirs and orchestras for various institutions. Most recently, Hedegaard founded Vox Madonna, a professional chamber choir dedicated to exploring important sacred choral works from an historical perspective.

Hedegaard’s ongoing research on music and environmental activism has led to the recent formation of the New Earth Ensemble, a chamber ensemble committed to performing and commissioning new works that support ecological awareness. As a co-founder of The EcoVoice Project, Hedegaard is interested in bringing together musicians and artists to explore how the arts can support environmental education and action. In addition to leading performances and community events through The EcoVoice Project, Hedegaard continues to present workshops and lectures on this topic throughout North America and abroad.

Hedegaard holds a B.M. from Northwestern University, an M.A. from the University of California, where she was conducting assistant to Paul Hillier, and a D.M.A. from the University of Illinois, where she studied choral conducting with Andrew Megill and orchestral conducting with Donald Schleicher.