Biography
Dr. Allison Thorp is the Director of Choral Activities and Associate Professor of
Music at 蘑菇短视频 in Cullowhee, North Carolina, where she conducts
the Concert Choir, University Chorus, and Chamber Singers and teaches courses in conducting
and choral methods. Under Dr. Thorp's direction, the 蘑菇短视频Concert Choir has performed
in venues across the state as well as at Carnegie Hall and St. Patrick's Cathedral
in NYC. The choir is known for its diversity of repertoire including early and world
music as well as historical and contemporary styles. Masterwork performances have
included Bach's <i>Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott</i> (BWV 80) and Poulenc's <i>Gloria</i>.<br><br>Dr.
Thorp is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where she
studied conducting with William Weinert, Brad Lubman, and Neil Varon. She also completed
summer programs at the Oregon Bach Festival with Helmuth Rilling and at Westminster
Choir College with James Jordan. In addition to teaching college courses at the Eastman
School of Music and Marshall University, she has also taught choral, instrumental
and general music as a public school teacher in eastern Kentucky. She previously served
as Director of Music at Louisa United Methodist Church in Louisa, Kentucky and South
Presbyterian Church in Rochester, New York. During her time in Western North Carolina,
she has worked with regional organizations such as the Asheville Lyric Opera, the
Asheville Defiant Requiem, and the Folkmoot Festival Choir. She currently lives in
Waynesville with her husband and son.
Teaching Interests
Dr. Thorp currently conducts the Concert Choir, University Chorus and Chamber Singers.
She teaches Fundamentals of Conducting, Choral Conducting, and Choral Methods. Dr.
Thorp also oversees student teachers in choral music education and community internships
in choral music.
Research Interests
In addition to choral conducting, Dr. Thorp鈥檚 research interests include social justice
in music education and community building through musical performance. She has presented
at state ACDA and NAfME conferences in Arizona, West Virginia, and North Carolina
as well as at national and international symposiums including the Giving Voice to
Democracy in Music Symposium in Montclair, New Jersey, the Suncoast Music Education
Research Symposium in South Florida, the NAfME Music Research and Teacher Education
National Conference, the ACDA Symposium on Research in Choral Singing, and the College
Music Society National Conference.
