Conductor, composer, and saxophonist Trent A. Hollinger has been acclaimed as a “dynamic, powerful, and energetic” conductor with a “driving passion to make music at its highest possible levels of accomplishment.”  A Wind Conducting doctoral candidate at the Peabody Conservatory of Music of the Johns Hopkins University, Mr. Hollinger currently serves as Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music at Culver-Stockton College in Canton, MO.  He is active in the area as a guest conductor and clinician, and also serves as conductor of the Quincy Concert Band.

As a composer, Mr. Hollinger’s arrangements and compositions have been performed across the United States.  Recent transcription commissions have included a trumpet concerto for trumpet virtuoso Joe Burgstaller, premiered in January 2010, and a voice and wind band transcription for the University of Northern Iowa Wind Ensemble, to be premiered in November 2011.  For his dissertation project, Mr. Hollinger completed two large scale wind transcriptions from orchestral works by living composers--Ecstatic Orange by Michael Torke (premiered April 2010) and Idyllwild Crown by Christopher Theofanidis (premiered December 2009).   As a professional saxophonist, Mr. Hollinger is an active recitalist, orchestral saxophonist, and chamber artist; prior engagements include performing with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra and the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra.

A strong believer in studying all aspects of music, Mr. Hollinger received three Masters of Music Degrees–Classical Saxophone Performance, Composition, and Wind Conducting–from the Peabody Conservatory.  He also holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Lebanon Valley College in Pennsylvania.  Previous college professorships include Cornerstone University and the Sunderman Conservatory of Music, Gettysburg College.

Mr. Hollinger makes his home in Canton, Missouri with his wife, Amy.