Michael Linton (b. 1952, Long Beach, California) holds a B.M from Wheaton College (Ill), a M.A. from Yale University, a M.M. from The University of Cincinnati and a Ph.D. from New York University. He studied composition with Lucas Foss, Scott Huston, and Krzysztof Penderecki and studied theory and analysis with Jan LaRue.

Before coming to MTSU, Linton served on the faculties of the University of Bridgeport and Northwestern College (MN). He has written on the music of Bach for the journal BACH and continues to write on issues of contemporary music and culture for First Things, The Weekly Standard, and The Wall Street Journal. Linton has twice been a fellow of the National Endowment for the Humanities and was awarded MTSU’s faculty award for excellence in creative work. Linton worked as a music critic for the Connecticut Post and the St. Paul Pioneer Press and has served as minister of music in Baptist, Congregational, and Episcopal churches in Kentucky, Connecticut, Minnesota, and Tennessee. While in St. Paul Linton served director of the Masters Orchestra.

Linton’s “Memorial” was premiered by the University of Michigan’s Chamber Choir in November, 2009 and a CD including his “Three Marian Carols” was released by the Wheaton College Women’s Chorale in October, 2009. The carols are available HERE.

A recording of his “Cantata No. Two”, featuring Wendy White of the Metropolitan Opera, will be releasted in 2010. Some of Linton’s shorter works can be heard on YouTube. They can be accessed HERE.