John Kinchen
Chair, Director for Choral Activities, and Professor of Music
Biography
Dr. Kinchen serves as the Chair of the Department of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. He directs the Union Singers, the select auditioned choir, and Voices of Proclamation, Union鈥檚 auditioned vocal a cappella group. He also teaches courses in Worship Theology, Foundations of Biblical Worship, and Advanced Choral Techniques.
Dr. Kinchen is originally from New Orleans, Louisiana having completed his early music studies at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (N.O.C.C.A.). He received the BM in Composition from The Eastman School of Music, the MM in Orchestral Conducting from The Florida State University, the DMA in Music Education from Boston University, and is currently ABD in the Doctor of Worship Studies (DWS) from Liberty University.
His conducting experience began early as he made his conducting debut with the New Orleans Civic Symphony at age 16 and the New Orleans Philharmonic at age 17. Dr. Kinchen studied composition and conducting for three summers at the Tanglewood Institute and one summer at the Festival at Sandpoint. He served as Conductor and Artistic Director for the Liberty University Symphony Orchestra, Director of the NOCCA Chorale, Artistic Director and Conductor of the Gulf Coast Community Orchestra, Assistant Conductor of the Crescent City Symphony Orchestra, Director of the Orleans Music Festival Symphony, and Assistant Conductor of the Florida State University Symphony. Dr. Kinchen鈥檚 teachers have included Donald Neuen, David Effron, Gunther Schuller, Robert Sirota, Phillip Spurgeon, and Bert Braud.
Dr. Kinchen has devoted nearly 28 years as an educator, pastor, and worship leader prior to joining the faculty at Union University in 2018. He previously taught at Liberty University where he served as Associate Dean of the School of Music and brings nearly 20 years of pastoral ministry experience to his leadership at Union. Dr. Kinchen鈥檚 teaching interests include Music Theory, Theology, Worship Studies, Music Education, and Conducting.
Dr. Kinchen considers his family one of his greatest blessings in life. This year, he and his wife, Denise, celebrate 28 years of marriage together, and they enjoy investing time with their two children, Charissa and John 鈥淒awson鈥� IV.
Education
- D.M.A, Boston University
- M.M., Florida State University
- B.M., Eastman School of Music
Recent Photos
9/26/23 | 30950 |
XLJohn Kinchen, Chair and Professor of Music, conducted the Symphony Orchestra in music that included Beethoven's Symphony #7 in A Major and selections from Pirates of the Caribbean by Klaus Badelt. - Kristi McMurry Woody
3/12/21 | 29820 |
XLProspective students check out various departments during the Day at the U academic fair. - Kristi McMurry Woody
