Musical Leadership
Current Leadership
Zach Young, Director
Fall 2022 - Present
Zach Young became the Music Director of the Jackson Choral Society in August 2022. He has served as the Pastor of Music and Worship at the First Baptist Church of Jackson since 2015. In his role at FBC, he directs the Sanctuary Choir, Youth Choir, Church Orchestra, and Sanctuary Bells; administrates three children's choirs; and provides pastoral oversight for the Student Ministry. Before coming to Jackson, Zach served in similar positions in Lebanon and McMinnville, Tennessee, and La Grange, Kentucky. A native of Dover, Delaware, his love for choral music was nurtured through lifelong involvement in church music and by singing in and accompanying for a large and vibrant high school choir.
Zach earned a Bachelor of Music from Bob Jones University and a Master of Church Music from the School of Church Music at Southern Seminary. He has been a member of the Tennessee Baptist Church Music Conference and Tennessee Men's Chorale since 2008 and is currently the organist for the chorale. He coordinates and hosts the Jackson Area Handbell Festival, an annual gathering of over 100 handbell players. Mr. Young and his wife, Stephanie, live in Jackson and have three daughters. His desire and passion is to use his musical abilities for the glory of God and the good of God's people.
Mitzi Mathenia, Accompanist
Spring 2011 - Present
Mitzi Mathenia is a collaborative pianist, serving on staff at Union University and at First Baptist Church in Lexington, and has been the accompanist for the Jackson Choral Society since its inception in 2011. She loves spending her days making music and connecting with people in many different musical worlds, from students to professionals, in churches, theatres, universities, community groups, and schools. She and her husband, Randy, have four musical sons; three wonderful daughters-in-law; and three beautiful granddaughters. Her greatest joys come in seeing the countless ways God lets her participate in people's lives in being both a mom and a musician; her greatest passion is to worship God Almighty; and her greatest desire is to live in such a way that — as Bach signed his music, “Soli Deo Gloria” — people would be able to say, to God alone be the glory.
Previous Leadership
Austin Clark, Former Director
Spring 2017 - Summer 2022
While director, Austin served as the Minister of Music/Discipleship at First Baptist Church in Milan, Tennessee. Austin has held church music positions in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Illinois. He has served as a guest clinician at the elementary school, high school, and collegiate level in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Illinois. He has sung in the Tennessee Men's Chorale and West Tennessee Ministers of Music. He has also served as an officer in the Tennessee Baptist Church Music Conference.
A native of Jackson, Austin graduated from Jackson Central-Merry High School. He then earned a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance at Union University and a Master of Music in choral conducting from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Austin currently serves as the Worship & Missions Pastor at Seymour First Baptist Church in Seymour, Tennessee.
Ricky Clark, Former Director
Spring 2016 - Fall 2016
While director, Ricky served as the Minister of Music at West Jackson Baptist Church where he oversaw the choral and worship ministries of the church. Before coming to Jackson, Ricky served in similar positions in churches in Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida and elsewhere in Tennessee. Singing professionally as a part of The CenturyMen and the Tennessee Men's Chorale, he has been a part of concert tours throughout the United States as well as China and Wales. He has served as choral clinician, festival judge and guest lecturer in Mississippi, Florida, and Tennessee, as well as president of the Tennessee Baptist Church Music Conference.
Ricky is a graduate of Union University holding a Bachelor of Music in sacred music and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary where he earned a Master of Church Music.
Ricky currently serves as the Minister of Music at First Baptist Church, Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Darian Krimm, Founding Director
Spring 2011 - Fall 2015
Darian Krimm was the founding Music Director of the Jackson Choral Society. While director, he served as the Director of Music and Worship Arts at Jackson First United Methodist Church, where he oversaw a graded music ministry program and conducted both the Sanctuary Choir and the Prime Ringers.
Darian holds a Bachelor of Arts in music from Anderson University, and a Master of Music from East Carolina University. He is a published choral composer and arranger as well as a soloist, voice teacher, and handbell and choral workshop clinician. Darian has sung professionally with CONCORA (Connecticut Choral Artists), The Voice of the Archangel, and the Trinity Quartet. His choirs have sung in local and international venues, including the Biltmore Estate, Carnegie Hall, and St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin. He served as Assistant Conductor to the American Tapestry Chorus with composer Joseph Martin where the JCS completed a tour of Ireland.
Prior to coming to Jackson, he served as Assistant Conductor of the Choir of Hope & Remembrance in Anderson, SC. He is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association, Chorus America, and the United Methodist Fellowship.
Darian currently serves as the Artistic Director for The Sons of Lafayette Male Choir in LaGrange, Georgia.