Debra Lynn, Conductor
Dr. Debra J. Lynn serves as Director of Choral Organizations and Vocal Studies at Manchester University, teaching applied voice, conducting, vocal pedagogy, opera workshop, history of the Requiem Mass, and music for stage and film. Ensembles under her direction include the A Cappella Choir, Chamber Singers, and Manchester Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. Her ensembles have performed at various locations throughout the U.S., including Carnegie Hall in New York, Sacred Heart Basilica at Notre Dame University, and Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Her A Cappella Choir has traveled to Italy, performing High Masses at the Vatican in Rome and Basilica di San Marco in Venice. In addition, they presented a standing room only concert at the Upper Basilica at St. Francis of Assisi. Other tours have included such destinations as Austria and London. Whether domestic or international, her tours carry a theme of world peace.
Debra holds a Doctor of Arts in Music degree with an emphasis in choral conducting and voice performance from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Prior degrees from Truman State University and William Jewell College include emphases in choral conducting, voice performance, and music education. Dr. Lynn studied conducting under the tutelage of Maestros Paul Vermel, Kurt Klippstatter, Douglas Amman, Fred Stoltzfus, Paul Crabb, and Arnold Epley. She has worked with Metropolitan Opera singers Nicholas DiVirgilio and Mignon Dunn as opera chorus director for Illinois Opera Theatre, based at University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. She has also worked closely with Metropolitan Opera director, Kathleen Smith Belcher.
As a composer, Dr. Lynn writes both instrumental and vocal music, and has received several commissions including Lily and Plowshares Foundation requests. Her works are published by Santa Barbara Music and Manchester Music, LLC, and are available for purchase or rental through J.W. Pepper Music. Debra is in demand as a guest conductor and clinician for various composer forums, choral festivals, and voice and conducting master classes. Debra's special research interests include Film Music, Requiem Masses, Colonial American Music, and composers Charles Ives, Benjamin Britten, and Stewart Copeland (composer and drummer of The Police) with whom she frequently collaborates.
Debra is married to cellist and tubist Robert Lynn. They have many beloved adult children: Bethany, Abigail (and partner Jeremy), and twins Emily and Leo. Although Debra and Robert are empty-nesters in North Manchester, Indiana, they are faithfully guarded by four felines: Ella, Enheduanna, Hildegard and Margarita.
Dr. Lynn's composer web site may be found at debralynnmusic.org. She also produces the podcast "What's the Score?" available from all major podcast providers.