About the Conductor

Shane Lynch, a noted conductor, composer, and music educator, assumed the position Director of Choral Activities at Washington and Lee University in the Fall of 2009.  He conducts the University Singers, Cantatrici, and the Men's Glee Club, and oversees W&L's innovative and unique conductor mentorship/teacher preparation program. Dr. Lynch is a sought-after clinician, having worked with honor choirs in Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. Quite interested in musical scholarship, some of his recent research includes trends of Neo-Impressionism in modern American choral music and the a cappella Psalm settings of Mendelssohn. He is also noted for conducting large-scale productions, including operas, oratorios, and festival concerts. Dr. Lynch has led choirs on several national and international tours, including featured performances in Scotland, South Korea, and Italy.


Dr. Lynch has received numerous awards as an educator, including the Junior Faculty Member of the Year at Monmouth College and the Outstanding Faculty Service Award at the University of Wisconsin-Barron. An active composer interested in a wide variety of compositional styles and mediums, he has compositions ranging from art song to octavos to choral/orchestral work. Please see www.shanelynchmusic.com for more information about his compositional work.


Prior to his appointment at Washington and Lee, Dr. Lynch served as Visiting Director of Choral Activities at Monmouth College (Illinois) and Director of Choral Activities at the University of Wisconsin-Barron as well as several past positions in church music and teaching high school science. 

Shane Lynch graduated from Concordia College (Moorhead, Minnesota), with degrees in music and physics, received the Master of Music degree in Conducting from the University of Northern Colorado, and completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting at the University of Washington.

Dr. Lynch will be on sabbatical leave during the 2018-2019 academic year.