R. COLIN ARMSTRONGMusic Director R. Colin Armstrong brings with him a lifetime of musical training, beginning as a trumpet player in elementary in his native Vancouver, Canada. He continued his musical education in college, earning a Bachelor of Music in trumpet performance and a Bachelor of Education at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada.
Following college, Armstrong shared his musical talents as a band, choir and musical theater teacher for middle and high school programs in Alberta. Later, Armstrong attended Canada's preeminent graduate choral conducting program, studying with Leonard Ratzlaf and earning his Master in music. He moved to the United States in 2006 to pursue his doctoral degree in choral music at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He was invited to guest conduct at the 2007 High School Chamber Choir Symposium in Allerton, Ill.
Following this, he became assistant conductor of the Varsity Men’s Glee Club, which included a tour to Europe in May 2008. In 2009, Armstrong joined the music faculty of Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pa., teaching introduction to music, arts in education, ear training, choral methods and leading the SU Chorale.
Dr. Armstrong’s musicology scholarship focuses on the historical development of Russian sacred music. In June 2010, thanks to a Susquehanna University faculty research grant, Colin went to St. Petersburg, Russia, to search various archives and the Russian National Library for 18th-century sacred choral music. Within the field of music education, Armstrong’s interests include improving young chorister literacy, computer applications for ear training, and music teacher training. He presented a session entitled Computer Applications to Connect the Ear to Written Music at the 2013 NAfME (National Association for Music Education) Eastern Division conference in Hartford, Conn. He presented Finding Your Voice in Student Teacher Assessment: Asking for What YOU Need, Incorporating Literacy Skills into Your Choral Rehearsal, and Teaching Music to General Elementary Majors – Sharing Ideas at the 2013 PMEA (Pennsylvania Music Educators Association) Annual In-Service Conference in Erie, Pa. He also presented his dissertation research West Meets East: Giuseppe Sarti’s Influence on Russian Church Music at The Phenomenon of Singing International Symposium in St. John’s Newfoundland in July 2013.
A fervent believer in the importance of creating critically thinking musicians and literate choristers at all levels, Colin incorporates sol feg and Curwen hand signs where appropriate in his rehearsals. He is also very passionate about exposing singers to early practice repertoire, particularly Renaissance and Baroque music.
As a lover of languages, Colin tries to select music that will challenge singers to communicate in European, Asian and African dialects through sacred/secular music from contemporary and early eras. Colin is very excited to begin as the new Choir Director at Hartwick College and the Music Director of the Catskill Choral Society.
TIMOTHY HORNE
Accompanist Timothy Horne has been playing with Catskill Choral Society since 1992. He also serves as music director at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Oneonta and accompanies the Hartwick College Choir. He has been involved with musical theater productions at SUNY Oneonta, Orpheus Theatre, Cooperstown and Oneonta high schools and Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center.
Accompanist Timothy Horne has been playing with Catskill Choral Society since 1992. He also serves as music director at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Oneonta and accompanies the Hartwick College Choir. He has been involved with musical theater productions at SUNY Oneonta, Orpheus Theatre, Cooperstown and Oneonta high schools and Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center.
