2009 Inductees: SUSAN QUINN
Category: Music

Susan (Murphy) Quinn’s first association with the Kiwanis Music Festival was in the late 1960s as a young member of one of Our Lady of Mercy Choirs. She subsequently made many solo appearances playing Piano or Violin, or in Chamber Groups resulting in recommendations to appear at the National Festivals in 1983 and 1984. For the purposes of the Hall of Honour it is not her performances in piano, voice or violin classes that we are honouring Susan Quinn here tonight, but because of the tremendous success she and her many choirs have had at both the local, national and international levels, but most particularly with the Kiwanis Music Festival.

Before listing those successes, it is appropriate to provide some background on Susan. After graduation from Holy Heart in 1979 Susan completed degrees in Music and Music Education at Memorial University of Newfoundland, with a major in violin, graduating in 1984. She went on to complete a Master's degree in Choral Conducting at the University of Maine in 1995 with 4.0 grade average and was made a member of Phi Beta Kappa ( for excellence in academia). She joined the staff at Holy Heart part time in 1985 and full time in 1990.

The Holy Heart of Mary Chamber Choir was formed in 1990 and is the select choral ensemble of the Award Winning Music Program at Holy Heart. This 42 member mixed voice choir is auditioned annually from a student body of 1000. This Choir has won the Kiwanis Music Festival’s Group Rose Bowl on seven different occasions. It has also been recommended to compete at the Federation of Canadian Music Festivals level on twelve different occasions and has captured First or Second place four times.

The Quintessential Vocal Ensemble was formed in 1993 by alumni of the award-winning Holy Heart of Mary High School Chamber Choir and their conductor Susan Quinn, out of a desire that their musical experiences together continue. This Choir has also had tremendous success, winning the Group Rose Bowl on five occasions. It has also made its mark at the National Festival level with five First or Second place results for National Trophies.

Susan has also had success with other Choirs from Holy Heart including the Girls Choir, The Madrigal Choir and The Male Chorus.

In 2001, in recognition of her tremendous success, Susan was named a recipient of the Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence.

We are pleased to induct Susan Quinn into the Kiwanis Music Festival of St. John’s Hall of Honour in the Music category.

March 2009