Brian J. Winnie, D.M.A.

Dr. Brian J. Winnie is the Director of Choral Studies at Western Illinois University where he supervises the graduate choral conducting program, teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in choral conducting and choral literature, and conducts the Chamber Singers, Treble Choir, and the "flagship" ensemble, the University Singers. He is also the artistic director and founder of withonevoice, a professional, non-profit vocal ensemble of 16 singers based in Illinois with special focus on singing in diverse vocal qualities and commissions. He previously served as the Director of Choral Activities & Voice and was chair of the music department at Southwestern College in Winfield, KS. Prior to his tenure in higher education, Dr. Winnie was the Artistic Director of ChoralSounds NW, a community choir based in Burien, WA, and he taught for seven years in public education at both the middle and high school levels. 

An active festival conductor and adjudicator, Dr. Winnie has been artist-in-residence in Ekaterinburg, Russia and has worked with festival choirs throughout the United States in Pennsylvania, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, Washington, Kansas, Oregon, Kansas, and Alaska. He is a frequent guest lecturer/workshop leader and has presented internationally and nationally on "Contemporary Vocal Technique in the Choral Rehearsal," "Redefining the Choral Warm-Up," and "21st-Century Choral Pedagogy." Dr. Winnie has published articles in the Voice and Speech Review, Choral Journal, Voice Foundation Newsletter, International Choral Bulletin, and ChorTeach, and he is the editor and contributing author to The Choral Conductor's Companion and The Voice Teacher's Cookbook: Creative Recipes for Teachers of Singing both published by Meredith Music Publications and distributed by GIA Publications.

Choirs under his direction have performed at state and regional conferences and received accolades in both international and national competitions. Most recently, the Western Illinois University Singers won the 2021 American Prize in the Performance of American Music (University/College division) and first place at the 2021 International Choral Festival Wales. They have also won gold medals at the 2020 Rimini International Choral Competition (Italy) and the Harmony of Cultures International Competition (France). Dr. Winnie has also been honored with multiple awards. He recently was the recipient the 2022 WIU College of Fine Arts and Communication "Excellence in Scholarly and Professional Activities" award. He was the second-place winner of the 2020 national American Prize in Choral Conducting (Schools Division), received the "Exemplary Teacher Award" at Southwestern College, and the "Outstanding Young Conductor Award" presented by the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Choral Directors Association.

Dr. Winnie currently serves on the Editorial Board for the Voice and Speech Review, is the College/University Repertoire and Resources chair for Illinois-ACDA and serves on the Estill Voice International Board. His past positions have included Secretary for the Central New Jersey Music Education Association and Middle School/Jr. High Repertoire and Standards Chair for ACDA-PA. He is an active member of the ACDA, NATS, and NAfME.

A native of Pennsylvania, Dr. Winnie received his B.S. in Music Education from the Pennsylvania State University, Master of Music Education from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and his Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington. Additionally, he is a certified Estill Master Trainer and  Estill Mentor & Course Instructor of Estill Voice Training. His research interests involve the integration of gesture and voice training in the choral rehearsal and the development of a 21st-century choral pedagogy encompassing all styles of music.