Music Faculty Bios

 Dr. Christopher Quinn, DMA

Director, Department of Music

Christopher Quinn was appointed Director of Music at Westminster College in 1994. Under his leadership, the music program grew dramatically over the next several years. He developed a new music curriculum that included private lessons, performing ensembles, and academic music courses. The music programs’ success culminated in the construction of the Eccles Conservatory for Music and Theatre. “For a program our size, it is one of the finest facilities in the country and a dream come true for the music department.”

In 2003, he was awarded the distinguished Gore Excellence in Teaching Award and the Naomi Weyher Renewal Leave which provided an opportunity to pursue post-doctorate work in conducting. In 2004, he recorded a solo piano cd: A Tribute: The Piano Stylings of Ken Manzer. Last fall, his setting of The Lord’s Prayer was published and has received international critical success. He has several other works near completion and soon to be published.

Dr. Quinn earned a D.M.A. in piano performance and pedagogy from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He is an active pianist, choral conductor, composer, and arranger.

Dr. Karlyn Bond, DMA

Chair, Department of Music

Karlyn Bond caught the attention of Salt Lake City audiences when she gave her first solo recital at the Holladay Library at age eleven and first appeared with the Utah Symphony a few months later at age twelve. Since then her performing career has involved several concerto appearances and numerous solo, chamber, and lecture recitals around the country.

In 1989, Karlyn received her bachelor’s degree in piano performance from Walla Walla College where she studied with Leonard Richter. As a Jacob K. Javits Fellowship recipient she earned her Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees at the University of Southern California where she studied with John Perry and completed areas of concentration in piano performance, music history and literature, instrumental collaboration, and analysis of tonal music.

After graduating from USC in 1994, Dr. Bond moved back to Salt Lake City. She began teaching at Westminster College the next year where she now holds a full-time faculty position as Chair of the Music Department, member of the honors faculty, and Director of the Westminster Concert Series. She teaches a variety of music and interdisciplinary courses.

Since its debut in 2002, Karlyn has been a board member of the critically acclaimed Intermezzo Chamber Music Series in Salt Lake, a summer series in which she regularly performs. She is a member of the Salt Lake-based piano quartet, Quattro Amici, with Utah Symphony Orchestra members Lun Jiang, Roberta Zalkind and Pegsoon Whang.

Literature is one of Karlyn’s passions outside music, and she brought a musical perspective to one of her favorite writers in the independent release of her CD, Piano Classics from the World of Jane Austen in 1996. She also recorded a CD with Utah Symphony principal trombonist, Larry Zalkind, in 2002.

Pegsoon Whang

Pegsoon Whang has been a cellist with the Utah Symphony for years. She is a graduate of the Curtis Institute and Mannes College, where she received the "Most Outstanding Graduating Student” award with her Master of Music degree. She has performed with the Seoul Philharmonic, Jacksonville Symphony, Lawton Philharmonic, and North Carolina School of the Arts Orchestra. As a chamber musician, she has concertized in France, Italy, Germany, and the U.S. She is currently a member of Quattro Amici (with fellow Utah Symphony string players Lun Jiang and Roberta Zalkind, and pianist Karlyn Bond) and the Snake River Chamber Players in Colorado. Festival appearances have included the Grand Teton Music Festival, Kneisel Hall, the Roycroft Chamber Music Festival, and the Colorado Music Festival, where she was appointed principal cello. In her spare time, Pegsoon is an avid swimmer and voracious reader.

Jean Applonie

Jean Applonie received her bachelor degree in choral music education and master degree in choral music performance from Brigham Young University. She taught choral music for Davis and Murray School Districts and served on the music faculty at The Waterford School. Ms. Applonie is co-founder/artistic director of Viva Voce! Women's Choir in Salt Lake City. She opened a private voice studio for ten years and is an active church musician. She has organized and presented for various choral music workshops and festivals.