06/02/2026
The Program in Sacred Music and the Department of Music are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Amanda Quist as Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at University of Notre Dame. Dr. Quist joins Notre Dame from Western Michigan University, where she served as Director of Choral Activities. Previously, she held appointments at University of Miami's Frost School of Music as Director of Choral Studies, and at Westminster Choir College, where she served as Associate Professor and Chair of the Conducting, Organ, and Sacred Music Department. She is the recipient of Westminster Choir College’s Distinguished Teaching Award and the Joan Mazzotti Award for Women’s Leadership. Dr. Quist earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting from University of North Texas, with a doctoral cognate in Voice Pedagogy and Science.
The New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, and New York Classical Review have praised Dr. Quist’s work as “transformative, beautifully prepared, gripping,” “bridging the vocal and instrumental textures with perfect intonation,” and “leaving the audience breathless.” She has collaborated in choral preparations with the Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, New World Symphony, Palm Beach Symphony, Dresden Staatskapelle, Seraphic Fire, and Spoleto Festival USA. Her early music ensemble, Westminster Kantorei, won first place in the 2019 American Prize for Choral Performance and was invited to perform at the American Choral Directors Association Eastern Division Conference, the Boston Early Music Festival, the American Handel Festival, and Interkultur festivals. Under her direction, the ensemble released its first commercial recording, Lumina, in 2017, distributed by Naxos Records. Additional honors include the James Mulholland National Choral Award and the Audrey Davidson Early Music Award. Dr. Quist has received invitations to serve as conductor and adjudicator in Indonesia, Australia, South Korea, and South Africa.
Dr. Quist was recently appointed as Music Director of the Spoleto Festival USA Chorus, and as Conductor of the Adult Choir Camp and Choral Conducting Institute at Interlochen Center for the Arts. A frequent guest conductor and lecturer, she has appeared at national and regional conferences of the American Choral Directors Association and has conducted All-State choirs throughout the United States. A professional member of the Recording Academy, she recently served on the Choral GRAMMY Screening Committee. Members of the Frost Chorale under her direction were also featured on the album DATA by producer Tainy, nominated for Best Música Urbana Album at the 2024 Latin GRAMMY Awards. Her research and writing appear in The Choral Journal, GIA Publications, and Lexington Books. Her compositions and editorial work are published by Walton Music and Gentry Publications, and she serves as editor for choral series with both publishers.
At Notre Dame, Dr. Quist will conduct the Sacred Music Program’s premier choir, Concordia, teach its graduate conducting students, and oversee choral activities within the Department of Music. Information regarding performances and events for the 2026–27 academic year may be found at music.nd.edu and sacredmusic.nd.edu.
