GREENVILLE, Pa.-- In his role as the new director of the Thiel College choir, Thomas Wininger, D.M.A., has plans for the organization that will maintain the group’s longstanding traditions as well as incorporate some new ideas, including a performance in Downtown Pittsburgh during the city’s annual light-up night.
Wininger oversees music groups on campus as well as teaching within the Department of Music and Theatre. Class offerings include music appreciation, private voice lessons, handbell choir and more. Wininger responsibilities include the success and growth of the choir program. Wininger began in the position at the start of the academic year.
“I am thrilled to be joining the Thiel College community! We have many exciting things in store this year on campus and in the region,” Wininger said. “You will soon be hearing about an exciting new addition to the Thiel Christmas Festival tradition. I look forward to meeting the many alums and friends of Thiel throughout the year.”
Wininger earned his doctorate from the University of Arizona in the summer of 2019 in choral conducting, a Master of Music from the University of Nevada and a bachelor’s in piano performance from Wartburg College.
Wininger is the eighth choir director in the organization’s 67-year history.
The choir performs several concerts annually at the College and around the region. This year the choir is performing at First English Lutheran Church, 615 Grant St. in Pittsburgh during the city’s light-up night on Nov. 22. The annual Christmas Festival is at 4 p.m. Dec. 8.