Christopher Quinn – Conductor/Composer/Arranger
Dr. Christopher Quinn (Director of Music, Professor) came to Westminster College in 1994 after completing a DMA in piano performance from the University of Colorado at Boulder where he received two awards in teaching. Within the first year at Westminster, Dr. Quinn created several performing ensembles and new music classes. Student interest grew rapidly and a new music minor degree program was created that included private lessons, performing ensembles, and academic music courses.
Under his leadership, the music faculty grew to over twenty-five adjuncts and two full-time music faculty members. Dr. Quinn formed the highly acclaimed Westminster Chamber Singers in 1996. The choir began touring nationally and internationally in 2000 and has a huge following wherever they perform. Most recently, the choir received a one-half million dollar gift to under-right all future tours; they celebrated in 2014 with a hugely successful tour of the United Kingdom.
With the recent construction of The Emma Eccles Jones Conservatory for Music, the music program launched a new Bachelor of Arts degree in music. The program is thriving in its fourth year with the addition of two new full-time faculty members, a staff accompanist, and a technical director.
In 2003, Dr. Quinn was awarded the distinguished Gore Excellence in Teaching Award; an honor bestowed on one faculty member each year. He also received the distinguished Naomi Weyher Renewal Leave which provided an opportunity to pursue post-doctorate work in conducting and a solo piano recording, A Tribute: The Piano Stylings of Ken Manzer. In 2014, Dr. Quinn was awarded a sabbatical leave to study composition with David Zabriskie and Steven Roens. His setting of The Lord’s Prayer has been rearranged with new harmonies and is set to be published in 2015 with several other choral works.
With the growth of the music program came many gifts to the music program. Dr. Quinn has actively participated in bringing over 8 million dollars in gifts to Westminster College. Last year, for his many years of service and excellence, Dr. Quinn was honored to be named the Florence J. Gillmor Professor of Music.
