Colleen Chester

Dr. Colleen Chester serves as Assistant Professor and Director of Choral Activities at Winona State University, where she received the 2024 and 2025 Outstanding Professor Award. At WSU, Dr. Chester directs all three choral ensembles in addition to teaching courses in music education (conducting, secondary choral methods, vocal pedagogy) and Women in Music. Most recently, the WSU Concert Choir was invited to perform at the 2025 ACDA-Minnesota State Conference. Prior to collegiate teaching, she was the Director of Vocal Music at San Luis Obispo High School and Laguna Middle School in San Luis Obispo, California. Her passion for music-making at all levels has led to her work with numerous church, community, and non-profit organizations, including Choral Arts Initiative, San Luis Obispo Master Chorale, Pacific Chorale, Oregon Bach Festival, and her most recent appointment as the Director of the Rochester Symphony Chorale (MN). Chester is actively involved in the choral community as a clinician, presenter, and honor choir conductor, and maintains a professional singing agenda both as a mezzo soprano soloist and proud ensemble member of mirabai. Chester's scholarly edition of "Virgam virtutis tuae" from Marianna von Martines' Dixit Dominus is currently available as part of the mirabai ICON series through MusicSpoke. She holds degrees from California State University, Fullerton (BA Music Education), University of Georgia (MM Conducting), and Michigan State University (DMA Conducting).