Conductor

Dr. Colin Holman received his Bachelor of Music degree with honors from the University of Birmingham, England in 1983 and came to the United States with the aid of a Direct Exchange Scholarship and a Graduate Honors Fellowship, completing his master's degree in instrumental conducting and his Ph.D. in musicology at the University of Kansas. He has previously served as director of the University of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, and Wind Ensemble, and the King's Norton Symphony Orchestra, the Valley Civic Orchestra, and the Elgin Area Youth Orchestra. Further conducting credits include the Basingstoke Symphony Orchestra and Male Voice Choir as Assistant Director, four performances in American musical theater, and twelve performances with various ensembles at the University of Kansas, including three with the Collegium Musicum. Dr. Holman has contributed to two publications on early American keyboard music, taught trumpet for two summers at the Midwestern Music Camp, and holds teaching and performing diplomas from Trinity College, London.

In 1992 Dr. Holman moved to Chicago and established his career as a conductor and a musicologist specializing in English music. He has lectured at both the undergraduate and graduate level at several area universities including Northwestern University, Northern Illinois University, and Wheaton College. His extensive conducting credits include work in opera and musical theater, with orchestras and concert bands, and in early music. He was appointed conductor of the Fox Valley Concert Band in January of 1993, and he also presently holds positions as Orchestra Director at Loyola University Chicago, interim Orchestra Director at Judson College, Music Director of the Wheaton College Opera program and Music Director of the international award-winning Chicago Brass Band.