A passion for music spans two generations with Ryland and Clara Atkins-Pope. The well-known Harlan County master vocalists and musicians have frequently partnered to teach and to produce artistic programming throughout the Commonwealth.

Following the spring retirement of longtime director SKCTC Professor Ann Schertz, the Southeast Community Choir is now under the leadership of Ryland, who brings impressive experience to his new role. Clara has been the choir’s accompanist for a number of years, and now both mother and son say they are eager to begin this new chapter.

“The Southeast Community Choir has had a rich history over the last 40 years, and college administration sees the importance of continuing this tradition,” Ryland says. “I am both humbled and excited to be the choir’s next leader. Ann championed it, so I have some pretty big shoes to fill.”

Ryland says the SKCTC service area has highly talented singers who continue to benefit from the college’s vested interest in community music enrichment. “The music in our region is phenomenal, and because of Southeast, we have the ability to come together as a community—all ages and all backgrounds—to share classical music. This choir is an ideal collaboration and the essence of community.”

Clara also praises Southeast for supporting the choir as music is valuable to the Appalachian landscape. “It serves to brighten the minds and lives of many older residents and shape the forming of the brains of our young children,” Clara says. “Our community is fortunate to be such a harbinger of song and to have a college that values its place in the curriculum and in the community.”

In addition to directing the choir, Ryland serves as master instructor with Southern Lyric Works and the Studio of Piano Fine Arts, Inc. A graduate of Georgetown College with a bachelor of arts degree in music, he completed a master of music degree at the University of Tennessee. Ryland’s performance credits are many. With the Knoxville Opera he performed “Prince Yamadori” from Madama Butterfly, and “Fiorella” from Il barbiere di Siviglia. With Highlands Light Opera, Ryland performed “Pirate King” from Pirates of Penzance. With the University of Tennessee Opera Theatre, he performed “Sid” from Albert Herring, and “Belcore” from L’Elisir d’amore.

Continuing his private vocal studies, Ryland travels to New York City where he is coached by Maestro David Jones. He is currently employed by the Harlan Independent School District where he teaches elementary music classes, seventh and eighth-grade drama class, and eighth-grade music appreciation. He also directs two choirs—the Harlan Elementary Choir and the Harlan Boys Choir. He continues to serve as a master instructor at the Studio of Piano Fine Arts in Harlan and as an adjunct faculty member at SKCTC.

Clara Atkins-Pope is master instructor at the Studio of Piano Fine Arts, Inc. A graduate of Centre College, she holds a bachelor of arts degree in music. She has been a recognized artist by the Kentucky Arts Council, receiving two individual artist grants, as well as an Encouragement Grant from the Kentucky Foundation For Women. In addition to teaching piano, violin, guitar, harp, and flute at the studio, Clara serves the Harlan Independent School District as the assistant director and accompanist for the Harlan Musettes and Harlan Middle School Choir. She also serves as piano accompanist for the Harlan Elementary Choir, and works alongside Marilyn Schraeder as substitute piano accompanist for the Harlan Boys Choir.

Clara founded The Pleasant Mountains Music Festival, which provided arts programming for children and adults for over 20 years. She also co-founded The Pleasant Mountains Performing Arts & Artists’ Association, Inc., which provided arts programming and music scholarships to students. An SKCTC adjunct faculty member and co-director of the college’s International Festival with Dr. Carolyn Sundy, Clara is guardian of the great Bosendorfer Piano. This prized instrument, which she and Ann Schertz helped choose for the Cumberland Campus, was a gift from the Bank of Harlan.

Retired Harlan Boys Choir director and Harlan High School educator David Davies said the wealth of musical training and talent that both Ryland and Clara bring to the Southeast Community Choir is invaluable. “We are indeed fortunate to have a person of Ryland’s capabilities to lead us,” says Davies. “He brings his outstanding musical capabilities along with a youthful energy that is contagious.”

The choir rehearses on Tuesdays from 7 to 8:45 p.m. with alternating locations in Harlan and Cumberland, and performs two concerts at the end of the fall and spring semesters.

For more information, contact Clara Atkins-Pope or Ryland Pope at 606-573-4994 or email catkinspope0001@kctcs.edu.