Accolades
Best Country Song – The Akademia
Music: Billy Kirchen Vocals, George Byrne Lyrics, Brandi Shea, Produced by Alex Elena and Topher Mohr.
The Akademia and Music Industry News Network (MI2N) have issued a press release announcing the winners and finalists of the December 2015 Akademia Music Awards. MI2N is the largest online daily newswire reaching millions in the music industry worldwide. Since 1998, MI2N has kept professionals informed on the latest developments shaping every facet of the industry, including up-&-coming artists.
Best Country Ballad – The Akademia
Akademia Music Awards January 2016
Music and Lyrics: Billy Kirchen
Vocals: Lola DeLeon
Produced by: Alex Elena & Topher Mohr
“In the time I have known Billy, he has proven to be extremely hard working and dedicated to every art project that he has conceived and created. He has the ability to take an original idea and see it to its successful conclusion, whether that be directing Shakespeare productions, taking inner city children to perform in New York along side top name celebrities, or composing an opera.” To read the full letter, click here.
Brian Walsh
Executive Director of Television & Marketing for Australian arm of Fox Television
“While I do not critique other composer’s music, I have to say I am impressed with your CDs”
Marvin Hamlisch- Grammy, Tony, and Academy award winning composer.
Biography
whose musical compositions span different genres including musical theatre, opera, country, and
adult contemporary. A self-taught composer, his writing is shaped by an instinctive,
performer-driven compositional voice developed outside traditional academic
constraints—resulting in music that prioritizes emotional immediacy, narrative clarity,
and theatrical scale. Praised by legendary composer Marvin Hamlisch and Brian
Walsh of Foxtel, Australia for his consummate artistry, Kirchen has performed at New
York City Center alongside Natalie Cole, appeared with Dolly Parton, and headlined
the North American premiere of Damn Tango. He brings to the development of new
musical theater a rare combination of vocal authority, compositional depth, and
storytelling vision.
Kirchen is the composer, co-lyricist, and book writer of the original musical Mirrors, a
new work that reflects his distinctive voice—melding emotional intimacy with large-scale
theatrical storytelling. His original compositions have premiered internationally, including
The World’s Our Playground in Tochigi-Ken, Japan.
His music has been featured at national events such as the USA Gymnastics
Championships and the All-Star Indoor Soccer Games, and he has performed for
Wisconsin Governor Scott McCallum and at the Wisconsin Sports Hall of Fame
induction ceremonies. These engagements underscore his ability to write and perform
for expansive audiences while maintaining narrative focus and emotional impact.
As a performer, Kirchen’s theater and operatic credits include Oscar in Marc Blitzstein’s
Regina, the Prince in The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, and La Bohème with the Great
Lakes Opera Company, as well as featured soloist appearances with the Boca Raton
Pops Orchestra. He has performed extensively in New York, Los Angeles,
Milwaukee, Chicago and Miami.
Committed to mentorship and legacy, Kirchen founded the Prayer for a Nation
Children’s Choir in response to 9/11 and has been widely recognized for his leadership
in arts education, adapting and directing Shakespeare and new theatrical works for
young performers while nurturing emerging voices.
He began his professional career with the Kids From Wisconsin touring ensemble,
started piano study at age five at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, and trained
vocally with Adele Borouchoff and renowned coach Seth Riggs. His honors include
multiple Akademia Music Awards and induction into the Akademia Music Hall of
Fame.
