Our Directors | The King’s Counterpoint

DAVID E. A. ACRES
MUSIC DIRECTOR

David Acres joined the choir of Exeter Cathedral, England in September 1960 as a probationer, where he was instructed in music theory, piano and voice by Lionel Dakers, Director of Music at Exeter Cathedral and, then after, Director of the Royal School of Church Music at Addington Palace, Greater London. David was appointed Head Chorister of the Cathedral choir in 1965, and during his tenure became the primary soloist, taking part in multiple recordings and broadcasts (one of which, “Christmas Music”, is still available today!). He sat and gained his musical theory examinations up to grade 4 and piano up to grade 5. Learn more about David...

JUDITH O. ACRES
EXECUTIVE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Praised for her "excellence of style and ease of expression," Charleston native and soprano Dr. Judith Acres is at home with a repertoire ranging from medieval song to Baroque opera and oratorio to American musical theater. Her performances have taken her across North America and the UK, appearing as featured soloist with a number of leading period and modern ensembles and orchestras and as presenter, guest artist and faculty at a variety of international workshops and festivals. Learn more about Judith...

EMILY REEVES BOHL
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Emily Reeves Bohl is a choral conductor and music educator whose experience spans from early childhood to secondary, university, and community settings. She has served as Director of Choral Activities at Berkeley Center for the Arts at Goose Creek High School since 2020, where choirs under her direction consistently receive superior ratings in adjudicated settings and have performed at the annual conferences of both SCACDA (2023, 2025) and SCMEA (2024). Emily is a past recipient of the SCACDA Emerging Scholar Award (2024) and SCMEA Outstanding Young Music Educator Award (2025). She has served as a clinician and guest conductor in varied settings, and is also active as a presenter, specializing in the Kodály concept and its applications to Choral Pedagogy. Learn more about Emily...

JOSHUA T. WALD
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

Joshua Wald is a native of Anderson, South Carolina, and currently resides in Johns Island. He is a graduate of Winthrop University where he received both a Bachelor of Music Education with a Vocal Performance Certificate and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting. Joshua is active as a voice teacher, director, and singer throughout the Carolinas, and is the Choral Director at West Ashley High School. He is a member of South Carolina Music Educators Association (SCMEA), National Association of Teacher of Singing (NATS), Pi Kappa Lambda, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Learn more about Josh...

KYLIE SMOAK
ENSEMBLE LIAISON

Kylie Smoak is the Director of Bands at East Edisto Middle School and has been in education for three years. As an educator in Dorchester District Two, she has been an active staff member with the Fort Dorchester and Ashley Ridge High School Bands. A graduate of the University of South Carolina, she studied the clarinet under Professor Joe Eller and played bass clarinet with the university’s wind ensemble for several years. Kylie played clarinet in the university marching band, the Mighty Sound of the Southeast, for two years and served as drum major for three years. She also played trumpet in the Carolina Basketball Band and the Swing Shift Big Band. Learn more about Kylie...