Director of Choral Activities and Associate Professor Christopher Owen earned his Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Minnesota at the Twin Cities in conducting; specializing in choral, symphonic, and wind ensembles.

He served as interim associate director of choral activities after graduating from the University of Minnesota where he directed choirs and taught in the music education department. His research interests include the choral music of Jeffrey Van; the mentoring of induction phase music teachers; and interdisciplinary studies in K-12 educational settings, specifically the connection between music performance and visual art creation.

He has conducted the Minnesota Chorale and the Minnesota Oratorio Society in concert, and has coached the professional men's vocal ensemble, CANTUS, in addition to being an active adjudicator and clinician.