BJ Hillinck is a lifelong musician who's background as a classical instrumentalist and chamber musician greatly influences his approach to singing and vocal directing. He studied cultural history and music at Philadelphia's Haverford College, and directed both the college's orchestra and multiple vocal ensembles in classroom and extracurricular settings while he was a student there. He has spent many summers honing his ensemble singing skills at Westminster Choir College, and studied conducting at Bard College Conservatory's Conducting Institute in 2014.
While relatively new to barbershop, BJ is an active member of the Hell's Kitchen Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, where he serves as both the VP of Membership and as a member of the music team. In these roles, he founded a bi-monthly community service program called "Gotham Gives," which fosters collaboration and community in Voices of Gotham and SAI sister chorus, Sirens of Gotham, by taking members of both groups to volunteer in and around New York City. He is currently organizing several initiatives to promote quartet singing in the chapter.
BJ works as a bookseller at the iconic Strand Bookstore in Union Square. In his free time, he composes and enjoys reading fiction and criticism.
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