Deborah Simpkin King, Ph.D., is a choral conductor, new music advocate, and master teacher. She plays an active role in the vibrant Manhattan choral scene and serves the national and international music community through her guest conducting and body of published work. 

In addition to her ongoing role as conductor and founding Artistic Director of Ember, she also serves as Director of Music and Arts at the historic Trinity Episcopal Church in Asbury Park, NJ, as a conductor within Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart Festival and MidAmerica Productions. Her commitment to nurturing the next generation in the arts can be seen through the arts education initiatives at Ember Choral Arts, her long-standing leadership of the NJ-ACDA High School Choral Festival, and the expansion of New York Choral Consortium’s (which she Chairs) work to include young singers through the Big Sing Jr.

Through PROJECT : ENCORE (which she founded), Dr. King is at the leading edge of the new music industry, working with composers in finding post-premiere performances, and performing many premieres herself. 

As a monthly columnist with ACDA’s Choral Journal and host of public radio’s Sounds Choral (syndicated through WWFM) she serves the music community internationally.