Faculty & Staff

Colin Armstrong
Assistant Professor of Music
Phone: 570-372-4536
Email: armstrongc@susqu.edu
Office Location: Fisher G23

Academic Credentials:
DMA, Univ of Illinois Urbana
MM, University of Alberta
BME, University of Lethbridge

Born in Vancouver, Canada, Armstrong began his musical training as a trumpet player in public elementary school. He continued the trumpet through his undergraduate program in music and music Education at the University of Lethbridge in southern Alberta. During his undergraduate years, Armstrong began singing with the U of L Chamber Singers. Upon completion of his B.M. in trumpet performance and B.Ed. in secondary music, he taught in various middle and high school programs.

Armstrong went on to study choral conducting with Leonard Ratzlaff at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. During his residence, he taught ear training to music and music education majors. Upon completion of his M.M. in choral conducting, he taught middle and high school with the Edmonton Public School Board for five years. During those years, he was the invited guest conductor of both middle and high school district honor choruses.

In 2006, Armstrong moved to the United States to pursue his D.M.A. in choral music & literature at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. While there, he studied literature/history with Chester L. Alwes, D.M.A., and conducting with Fred Stoltzfus, D.M.A. In his first year of studies, Armstrong was invited to present his research “Italian influence at the 18th-century St. Petersburg Court Chapel” at the 2007 ACDA National Convention in Miami. He also was invited to guest conduct at the 2007 High School Chamber Choir Symposium in Allerton, Ill. He became assistant conductor of the Varsity Men’s Glee Club, which included a tour to Europe in May 2008.

Armstrong joined the music faculty of Susquehanna University in August 2009. He teaches ear training, choral methods, observes student teachers in choral placements, and conducts the SU Chorale. In Spring 2010, he was awarded an SU Faculty Research grant to complete archival research in Russia. In June 2010, he went to St. Petersburg, Russia, to search various archives and the Russian National Library for 18th-century sacred choral music.

Armstrong is the invited guest conductor of the Columbia/Montour County High School Chorus in November 2010. He is the invited guest conductor of the 2013 Schuylkill County Chorus.

Courses:

• EDUC-300M Arts in Education: Music
• EDUC-601 Independent Study
• MUED-340 Public School Music 2
• MUED-351 Secondary Choral/General Methods
• MUED-400 Student Teaching
• MUSC-077 Training Ensemble
• MUSC-083 University Chorale
• MUSC-101 Introduction to Music
• MUSC-163 Ear Training I
• MUSC-164 Ear Training II
• MUSC-263 Ear Training III