Southwestern College has announced that Aaron Knodle will be its new director of choral activities and voice professor.

“Aaron Knodle brings the energy, credentials, and skills to take the choral program from where Dr. Brian Winnie has built it over the past four years and move it forward in artistry and viability,” says Tim Shook, SC’s division chair for performing arts. “Knodle understands the choral program in the liberal arts setting.”

Knodle earned a bachelor of music in organ performance and a bachelor of arts in music education from Luther College, as well as a master’s degree in choral conducting from Boston University.  His conducting influences are Ann Howard Jones from Boston University and Earl Rivers from Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. He will complete his DMA in choral conducting from the University of Cincinnati - College Conservatory of Music in December.
           
Knodle has been active as both a conductor and accompanist in the years leading up to this appointment. As he completes his doctoral degree he has been assistant conductor at the University of Cincinnati - College Conservatory of Music, sharing in the conducting duties of the chamber choir. He has been music director for five annual musical theatre performances at the Starlight Playhouse (Camp Starlight), and was music director at the Dance Gallery of South Dakota Musical Theatre Department. He is currently director of music at Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati, and accompanist of the Cincinnati Children’s Choir.