Having been captivated by orchestral string soundtracks in the 1970s and 1980s, orchestral and choral music has been near and dear to Lee for many decades.  Like many young African American children from the South, Lee started singing in choirs in his hometown church, Mt. Pisgah AME.  His love of music was fostered while studying at Cross High School under the tutelage of music teacher, Mildred Gilmore Brevard, who died in January 2008.  A formidable amateur tenor, Lee has performed solos in community choirs throughout the Charleston Metro area and continues to produce choral concerts regionally and internationally.  As a producer and lover of classically-trained voices, Lee fosters local emerging male and female soloists by producing recitals to showcase their talent throughout the CSO Spiritual Ensemble season.

For the past ten years Mr. Pringle has worked in a consulting role with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra as Executive Producer of four major annual productions including its CSO Gospel Christmas and Martin Luther King, Jr. concerts.  Under the banner of the Symphony, he has conducted three international choral tours and produced the concerts of the Symphony’s affiliate groups, the CSO Gospel Choir and the CSO Spiritual Ensemble.

For twenty years Lee has worked in the financial services industry where he has been a Product Specialist, Advance Markets Consultant and Regional Director for both TIAA-CREF and MetLife, Inc.  He is currently a Regional Consultant for Gerber Life Insurance Company, White Plains, New York.

Charleston Symphony Orchestra Executive Producer
Charleston Symphony Orchestra Spiritual Ensemble (2009 -
Charleston Symphony Orchestra Gospel Choir (1999-2010)
Charleston Symphony Orchestra Chorus (1994-2002)
Charleston Men’s Choir (1995- 2000)

Marilyn Austin- Festival Co-Artistic Director

What is true of all arts is supremely true of music.  Music accesses the highest levels of thinking while passionately touching the most basic emotions.  Mrs. Austin feels that she has been truly blessed and fortunate to teach every level of student in Mount Pleasant for twenty eight years.  Her teaching experiences began with First Baptist School of Mount Pleasant, then Whitesides Elementary, James B. Edwards Elementary, Laing Middle School, and Wando High School.

During her years of teaching she also served as chairperson and member on committees for local and state music groups.   Titles held was Spoleto Education liaison for the Charleston County School District, The Young Artist Series Director for Piccolo Spoleto, Solo-Ensemble Chairperson for the South Carolina Music Educators, Lower State Chairperson for the Middle School Choral Clinics, and All State Committee member for the High School Division of SCMEA.

Her fifteen years of service at Wando High School brought local, state, and international music opportunities for the students.  The Wando High School Choir under the direction of Marilyn Austin performed in England, Austria, Italy, New York, San Francisco, Boston, and Bill Clinton’s inauguration in Washington D. C.  Austin’s last concert was held at the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Prague, Czech Republic June 2006. 

Now retired she serves as gallery director for the Gaye Sanders Fisher Gallery in Charleston, has a private piano and voice studio, and serves as a music consultant for Charleston and Berkeley County Schools.