‘The definition of beauty’: A Q&A with Dr. Amanda Quist
The new director of Interlochen’s Adult Choir Camp chats about her musical roots, plans for the summer 2025 session, and passion for making music with others.
Whether she’s conducting the Texas All-State Tenor-Bass Choir or preparing the professional ensemble Seraphic Fire for upcoming performances, Dr. Amanda Quist is driven by a deep passion for sharing the joy of singing with artists of all ages.
“I absolutely love making music with people,” Quist said in a recent interview with Crescendo. “Nothing makes me happier than seeing a group of people working together, singing together, and bringing an artistic endeavor to fruition. That, to me, is the definition of beauty.”
Quist’s passion for music-making has propelled her to a vibrant, multifaceted career. Currently the Director of of Choral Activities at Western Michigan University, Quist has held faculty positions at Frost School of Music and Westminster Choir College; prepared choirs for The Philadelphia Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the New World Symphony; served on the Choral GRAMMY Screening Committee for the 64th awards ceremony; and published a variety of compositions, articles, and book chapters.
This summer, the Michigan native will succeed venerable choral conductor Dr. Jerry Blackstone as the director of Interlochen College of Creative Arts’ Adult Choir Camp. We caught up with Quist to learn more about her musical journey, major accomplishments, and plans for this summer’s Adult Choir Camp session.
How did you get started in music? How did you realize you wanted to pursue a career as a choral conductor?
My father is a church organist, so music was always present in my home growing up. We attended church, and he would always be the person at the console. My mother also sang and played the piano—apparently, there were very early moments of her holding me while in Messiah rehearsal.
I wasn’t committed to a music career until very late in the game. I sang in choir all through school, played piano, and accompanied our choirs from time to time. When I got to college, I worked with Duane Davis and Kevin Dobreff; the experience of working with them at the collegiate level was life-changing. It helped me see that music being a bigger part of my life than just a side hobby made a lot of sense. I became a music education major and completed my music degree at Western Michigan University.
What are some of the proudest accomplishments of your career so far?
One of the ‘mountaintop moments’ for me was when I served as the chorus master for The Philadelphia Orchestra’s performance of Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis in 2022. There was just something about the electricity of that choir. It was an incredible experience, all under the baton of Yannick Nézet Séguin.
We took the performance to Carnegie Hall. As the chorus master, you get to sit in the audience, listen, and hope that the choir remembers what you taught them. It was just absolutely transformative to hear that performance. I was really proud, because we had to put that whole thing together in about three days of rehearsal, and that work is one of the most difficult—but also one of the most rewarding—pieces of repertoire.
I just conducted the professional choir Seraphic Fire, which is a GRAMMY Award-nominated group based in Florida. They sang a program of Renaissance music, and a lot of it was music that they had never seen before preparing it for that performance. It really was very special and magical. I think the choir had a real sense of healing, and there was a real light in the room as we were singing this music together—especially in these tumultuous times. What we were able to achieve in such a short period of time was something that I’m really, really proud of.
How did you get involved with the Adult Choir Camp at Interlochen?
I grew up in Michigan, so my family has always known Interlochen as one of the great arts organizations of the world. We had friends who attended Interlochen, including Quincy Davis and his brother, Xavier Davis. When I was at Westminster Choir College, I had students from Interlochen who would apply and be accepted, and they were always excellent.
This fall, I was contacted by [Associate Director of Continuing & Community Education] Gary Gatzke. He said, “Jerry Blackstone has decided to retire from his role as the conductor of this choir. Would you be interested in being considered for the position?” And I said, “Absolutely!”
I haven’t lived in Michigan for about 22 years, so I’ve never had the opportunity to be involved with the Camp. This is my first time back in the state of Michigan in quite some time, so when I received that call to be invited to apply, I was thrilled.
How would you describe your conducting style?
It depends on the situation. For something like the Adult Choir Camp, where we have one week together, my goal is for people to leave the experience feeling inspired, renewed, and that they have grown as singers and choral artists. I like to have fun, but I also like to push the group to be as communicative and cohesive as they can be.
One thing that is unique about me is that I did a cognate in vocal pedagogy and science when I was doing my doctorate at University of North Texas. I’ve always been fascinated with the inner workings of the voice, both at an individual and group level. People tend to tell me, at the end of our time working together, “I’ve gotten more volume out of my voice than I ever have,” or “My support has changed and improved so much.” That’s part of what I do.
I try to invite the choir into the music and engage them so that they feel like they are a part of the creative process. I hope it’s always a participatory environment.
Are there any new elements or traditions that you’re hoping to bring to the program this year?
One thing I’m trying to do is to lean into some of the things that are already in place that I know are important to people: Fun things like talent shows and lectures about the lakes and dunes that are an important part of building community.
I think the biggest difference is going to be that I’m a different person. But I think that people will find similarity in the musical goals that Jerry Blackstone and I have.
The repertoire will probably be a little different. I’ve tried to put some repertoire in there that’s challenging, and some things that are a bit more familiar and tuneful. I always like to include early music, because that has been a major part of my career. We’re doing some movements from Dieterich Buxtehude’s Membra Jesu Nostri because they’re absolutely stunning, but they’re not so difficult that a group of people who are coming together for the first time can’t make a beautiful sound.
Anything else you’d like to share?
In my role at Westminster Choir College, we kept up the Choral Festival that was started by Robert Shaw. That was, I feel, a kindred spirit to this program. We would get together at Westminster Choir College and do a similar structure: We’d have sectional and full-choir rehearsals, then have a big performance at the end.
It was so reinvigorating for me to be part of that. This is sort of an opportunity for me to reconnect with that side of myself. That excites me, because I always remember getting to the end of that festival and feeling like, “Okay, I’m ready for the year.” It was something that was always part of my summers, so I’m very glad to be back in a program like this.
Interested in studying conducting with Dr. Quist? In addition to directing the Adult Choir Camp, Dr. Quist will also lead the summer 2025 Choral Conducting Institute. Apply today.
