Dr. Jamie Spillane recently retired as Director of Choral Studies and Associate Professor of Music at the University of Connecticut, concluding a career that has profoundly shaped the choral landscape of New England.

In his decades of transformative leadership in secondary and collegiate choral programs, Dr. Spillane has taught and conducted thousands of students through his full teaching load, honor choirs, summer festivals, and guest residencies. Each ensemble under his direction reflected his exacting musicianship, expressive artistry, and unwavering belief in the power of choral singing to build community and deepen humanity. His students have gone on to distinguished careers as conductors, educators, professional singers, and arts leaders, multiplying his influence across the region and the nation.

At UConn, Dr. Spillane built and sustained a vibrant multi-ensemble program, including the UConn Concert Choir and Chamber Singers and five other choirs, mentored undergraduate through doctoral conductors, and led performances of exceptional artistic merit, including major collaborative works and premieres that resonated far beyond campus. Recent performances he has led include a collaboration with CONCORA to present Craig Hella Johnson’s Considering Matthew Shepard throughout New England; the world premiere of Steven Sametz’s A Child’s Requiem about the Sandy Hook tragedy; and a performance with Jacob Collier of World O World.

Prior to his collegiate career, Dr. Spillane taught public school music in Puerto Rico and Fairfield, Connecticut. For many years he was chair of the Ledyard, Connecticut, High School Music Department, where he directed a choral program that grew to include over four hundred singers performing in ten award-winning choirs that was twice selected as a Grammy Signature School as one of the top schools for music education in the United States.

Dr. Spillane studied conducting under Dr. Bruce Chamberlain, Dr. Peter Bagley, Lawrence Doebler, Helmut Rilling, and Robert Page. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Ithaca College, a Master of Music Education from the University of Connecticut, and a DMA in Choral Conducting from the University of Arizona.

This past year ACDA Eastern Division named Dr. Spillane as the first recipient of The Jamie Spillane Award, which recognizes sustained service and leadership, strong character and integrity in a dedicated champion for the choral arts. The citation notes that, “In every capacity he serves, Jamie brings a philosophy of ‘cheerful flexibility’ and ‘easy joy’ as he ensures that all choral stakeholders feel a sense of belonging within the organization, and that they can benefit from ACDA.”

Dr. Spillane’s legacy is measured not only in performances and accolades, but in the generations of singers who learned from him that choral music is an act of service, empathy, discipline, and shared purpose. Choral Arts New England takes great pride in celebrating that legacy and honoring his decades of visionary leadership, transformative teaching, and steadfast commitment to choral excellence.