Shane Lynch Named Lead Instructor for International Choral Conducting Course W&L’s director of choral activities will serve as an expert guest tutor at The Cork International Choral Festival.

By Lily Caldwell
February 6, 2025

Shane Lynch, professor of music and director of choral activities at Washington and Lee University, was recently named the lead instructor for the International Conducting Course of the Cork International Choir Festival.

The Cork International Choral Festival, founded in 1954, welcomes choirs from around the world to perform in a wide range of events from school concerts to world-class performances. The five-day festival in Cork, Ireland, brings the city to life to celebrate choral music in its many forms and is considered one of the world’s most prestigious and vibrant choral festivals. The 2025 festival runs from April 30 to May 4.

This year will be the third edition of the International Choral Conducting Course as part of the festival. Lynch, along with Anna Fűri from Hungary, will serve as an expert international guest tutor helping mentor other professional conductors on the intricacies and philosophies of choral conducting. The four-day intensive course is intended for those with experience in leading choirs and interested in improving their skills and working with other conductors.

“Needless to say, this is a tremendous honor for me,” said Lynch. “To be asked to work on musicianship at the highest levels with other already accomplished conductors, preparing them to work with such a fine group like Chamber Choir Ireland, is some of the highest praise I could receive from my peers. I am honored to join the list of amazing conductors who have come before me in this role, and I am looking forward to an intensive, exhausting and ultimately amazing experience.”

Following the completion of the conducting course, Lynch will serve on the jury for the Fleishman International Choir Competition where he will judge dozens of choirs from around the world to help select the eventual winners of the various awards of the festival.

Lynch is in his 16th year as a member of the faculty at W&L. He has received numerous accolades as a musician and educator, including the Junior Faculty Member of the Year at Monmouth College and the Outstanding Faculty Service Award at the University of Wisconsin—Barron (now known as University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire – Barron County). He previously served as visiting director of choral activities at Monmouth College and director of dhoral activities at the University of Wisconsin—Barron. Lynch earned a Bachelor of Arts in music and physics from Concordia College, a Master of Music degree in conducting from the University of Northern Colorado and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting from the University of Washington.

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