Amanda Quist
About Amanda
The New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, and New York Classical Review have described Amanda Quist’s work as “transformative,” “beautifully prepared, gripping,” and “leaving the audience breathless.” Dr. Amanda Quist has collaborated in choral preparations with the Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, New World Symphony, Dresden Staatskapelle, Seraphic Fire, and the Spoleto Festival. Her early music ensemble, Westminster Kantorei, won first place in the 2018 American Prize for Choral Performance. Under Quist’s direction, Kantorei was invited to perform at the American Choral Directors Association’s (ACDA) Eastern Division Conference, Boston Early Music Festival, American Handel Festival, and Interkultur, and released its first commercial recording in 2017, Lumina, distributed by Naxos.
Quist is the Director of Choral Activities for Western Michigan University and previously served as Director of Choral Studies for the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami (UM). She leads the graduate program in Choral Conducting and is conductor of the award-winning University Chorale. Under her direction, the UM Frost Chorale was invited to perform with the New World Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, with the Martha Mary Concert Series, and Frost Chorale has been featured on wwfm.org, The Classical Network. She led the choir on an international choir tour through England and France in 2022. Dr. Quist’s current and former students have earned multiple honors awards, grants, and they are leading music in their communities across the United States and abroad.
Dr. Quist was previously Chair of the Conducting, Organ, and Sacred Music Department at Westminster Choir College. She is the recipient of Westminster Choir College of Rider University’s Distinguished Teaching Award, the Mazzotti Award for Women’s Leadership, and the Carol F. Spinelli Conducting Fellowship. Dr. Quist was Director of the Westminster Vocal Institute and Director of Choral Activities at San José State University. Her other honors include the James Mulholland National Choral Award and the Audrey Davidson Early Music Award. She frequently serves as a guest conductor and is regularly invited to headline conferences and serve as a lecturer in the United States and abroad. A professional member of the GRAMMY recording academy, Quist recently served on the Choral GRAMMY Screening Committee for the 64th awards ceremony.
Dr. Quist’s recent publications include “Pedagogy of Choral Sound and Spirit” for the Choral Journal, the forward to David Friddle’s Choral Treatises and Singing Societies in the Romantic Age, published by Lexington Books, an article in Choral Perspectives: Insights from American Choral Conductor-Teachers, ed. Brandon Williams and published by Hal Leonard, and “Choral Resonance: Sound, Science, Spirit” in The Choral Conductor’s Companion, ed. Brian J. Winnie, GIA Publications. Quist’s choral compositions are published by Walton Music and GIA, and she has two choral series, published by Walton Music and Gentry Publications.