Providence, R.I.--Just three years ago, Troy Quinn '05 was a Providence College student preparing for life after graduation.

Today, Quinn is back at the College as a part-time special lecturer of music and director of the PC Women's Chorus with a host of inspiring experiences to share with his students.

Earlier this year, Quinn, who just began his second year of teaching at PC, was accepted into the London Master Classes program, which he took part in after he finished his graduate studies at the Manhattan School of Music.

The London Master Classes is an organization that pairs leading performers with advanced classical music students and young professionals for advanced study and performances before audiences at major London venues.

Recently, as part of the program, Quinn spent two weeks at the Royal Academy of Music-Great Britain's senior music conservatory. There, he followed a rigorous academic itinerary along side six other young conductors from the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Holland.

"This course was not only a study in the art of conducting, but also a study of me as an individual. It forced me to look at the question 'How effective am I at expressing and communicating an idea using all my musical tools?'" said Quinn.

Much of the daily activity was overseen by Benjamin Zander, noted for being the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra for the last three decades. Each morning, Quinn said, Zander would start the young conductors with two hours of score study and then have the orchestra "critique us as conductors."

"This information is an invaluable tool to learn from, and I certainly have incorporated this aspect of constructive criticism into my own teaching," he said.

Adding to the course's rigor, Quinn noted that "we were being filmed every minute of our day from the time we arrived. So in essence, it really was a classical music reality show."

Still very much in the early stages of his teaching career, Quinn gratefully returned to campus from London with a more learned approach to his role as a conductor and as a leader of students.

"I learned that effective leadership is as valuable as the technique and theoretical knowledge of music," he said. "If we, as musicians, are not able to engage and invigorate others, how can we expect to do justice to the music of these magnificent composers?"

Quinn said his journey from novice music major at Providence College to someone who was chosen to work with one of the most accomplished conductors in the world can serve as inspiration for PC students today.

"It wasn't until coming to PC that I started my formal training," he admits. "I did not even read music before entering Providence College, so I guess it is never too late to pursue something you love and believe in."

He added, "Providence allowed me to explore that love of music with its intimate but strong music program and varied performance opportunities that it offered. Perhaps most importantly, PC taught me that the only good student is a life-long student, and even as a teacher and professional musician, I am still evolving and honing my skills."

-Al Daniel '11

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