The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra & Music School has appointed Troy Quinn principal pops conductor for a five-year term. Announced September 3, 2026, the appointment took effect immediately and formalizes his continuing work with the orchestra's Summer Pops series.
Quinn will also conduct concerts with popular artists at the Providence Performing Arts Center and The VETS, according to the Philharmonic. His previous appearances with the orchestra include performances with Nas and Sutton Foster.
The Philharmonic said Quinn and the orchestra hope to develop a locally produced pops series and expand its occasional movie and film concerts. Those possibilities were described as goals in the appointment announcement, rather than a new season of scheduled performances.
Quinn's connection to the orchestra began before his conducting career. A Connecticut native, he grew up listening to the Philharmonic and sang with it as a member of the Providence Singers while attending Providence College, the orchestra said.
His training later took him to the Manhattan School of Music, where he earned a master's degree with honors. He completed a doctorate in conducting at the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music, according to his official biography. He now teaches on Thornton's conducting faculty and previously taught at Providence College.
Quinn also leads orchestras outside New England. His biography lists him as music director of Kentucky's Owensboro Symphony and Florida's Venice Symphony, and pops conductor of California's Santa Rosa Symphony. His guest engagements have included the Boston Pops and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.
His work extends into television and recording. Quinn's biography credits appearances on Glee and The Voice, along with recording work on The Call of the Wild. It also lists an Emmy nomination for the PBS special A Night at the Oscars with the Owensboro Symphony.
A Providence announcement for the August 5, 2026, Summer Pops concert at Roger Williams Park illustrates the programming he brings to Rhode Island. The free concert at the Temple to Music was billed as Outstanding Overtures, with music drawn from Broadway, film and the classical repertoire. The city listed Quinn as conductor of a 69-piece orchestra performing two 40-minute sets.
Sources:
https://www.riphil.org/the-ri-phil-announces-troy-quinn-as-principal-pops-conductor
https://www.troyquinn.com/about
https://www.providenceri.gov/mayor-brett-smiley-rhode-island-foundation-announce-2026-rwp-pops/