Jeremy Wiggins is Assistant Professor of Music, Coordinator of Choral Activities and Coordinator of Graduate Studies in Music, at Western Connecticut State University, where he conducts the University Choir and Concert Chorale and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in conducting, choral literature, and music education. Most recently, the WCSU University Choir performed in Carnegie Hall in June of 2022 in collaboration with the National Concert Chorus. Wiggins maintains an active schedule as a conductor, clinician, and presenter throughout the United States, with recent engagements at state, regional, and national conferences. His scholarly interests include conducting pedagogy, choral literature, and culturally responsive teaching practices. In the Fall 2020, I was named the Artistic Director of Charis Chamber Voices, a semi-professional chamber choir based out of Westchester County, New York. Wiggins currently serves as the R&R Chair for Collegiate Choirs for Connecticut ACDA.
While completing his doctoral studies at Florida State University, Wiggins served as the assistant conductor for the Graduate Chamber Choir, University Singers, and conductor of the Choral Union and Summer Chorale. Wiggins also served as the Chorus Master for the opera program in performances of Verdi’s La traviata and the collegiate premiere of Carlisle Floyd’s The Price of Players. In collaboration with his colleagues at FSU, Wiggins established the Canterbury Concert series in Tallahassee, Florida where he conducted the U.S. premiere of Pēteris Vasks’ Da Pacem Domine. While completing his M.M. in Choral Conducting from California State University, Fullerton, he served as the assistant conductor of the Titan Men’s Chorus and Assistant Conductor/Chorus Master for the opera department, where he conducted performances of Strauss’ Die Fledermaus.
Wiggins has received conducting training from André Thomas, Kevin Fenton, Richard Clary, Robert Istad, and Kimo Furumoto at the university level and additional professional training from Duain Wolf, John Alexander, Jerry Blackstone, David Hayes, Lucinda Carver, Paul Rardin, Pearl Shangkuan, and William Dehning. In 2017, he was selected from national auditions to be a Conducting Fellow for the Chorus America Choral-Orchestral Conducting Masterclass. Wiggins has also performed under the batons of Esa-Pekka Salonen, James Conlon, Carl St. Clair, Keith Lockhart, John Mauceri, Steven Mercurio, John Alexander, and John Williams.
Wiggins taught secondary choral music in southern California for nine years. His choirs at San Clemente High School and West Covina HS toured nationally and received top ratings and scores at regional, state, and national choral festivals. Under his direction, both programs doubled in size and increased their presence in the community by partnering with local music ensembles and performances for charitable organizations. Wiggins also served as a faculty member for the Opera Program at the Southern Orange County High School for the Arts.
Hinshaw Music and Gentry Music publishes Wiggins' performance editions of compositions by Joachim Raff and Vittoria Aleotti. Wiggins has served as the President of the Florida State Choral Association and student chapter of the American Choral Directors Association.
Ph.D. Choral Conducting and Music Education
Florida State University
Master's of Music in Choral Conducting
California State University, Fullerton
Bachelor of Arts in Choral Music Education
California State University, Fullerton