Thomas Standish-Rinn currently serves as Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education at Texas State University, where he teaches courses in music education and directs the Aurora Voce Treble Choir. Additionally, Standish-Rinn serves as Artistic Director of the Austin Gay Men’s Chorus. He completed his PhD in Music Education at the University of North Texas, holds a Master of Music Education from Florida State University, and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He has twenty years of public-school teaching experience as a high school choral director in Texas. Choirs under Standish-Rinn’s direction have been honored with invitations to perform for the Texas Music Educators Association and the Southwest American Choral Directors Association.

Standish-Rinn’s research interests include music teacher preparation, psychological factors in music education, and social media in music education. He has presented at conferences nationwide, including the NAfME National Conference, SMTE National Conference, ACDA Symposium for Research in Choral Singing, and the American Choral Directors Association National Conference. Standish-Rinn has recent publications in the International Journal of Research in Choral Singing, the Journal of Music Teacher Education, Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, and the Journal of Research in Music Education, and is a contributing author to GIA’s new edition of The School Choral Program.

Standish-Rinn is a frequent choral clinician, guest conductor, adjudicator, and presenter of teacher training. He is deeply committed to service within the profession, having served as President of the Texas Choral Directors Association, High School Vice-President for the Texas Choral Directors Association, a TMEA Region Vocal Chair, and as a member of the ACDA COVID-19 Response Team. He currently serves as Chair of the Texas UIL Vocal Sight-Reading Committee and as a facilitator for the Society of Music Teacher Education’s ASPA for Supporting Beginning Music Teachers.

NAfME Collegiate Leadership Advocacy Summit 2026. June 22-24. Register now
Image of Hilton at Long Beach. September 30-October 3. 2026 Biennial NAfME Music Research and Teacher Education Conference. Early bird deadline August 12. Hotel block rate good through September 7. Logos for Society for Research in Music Education and Society for Music Teacher Education.
Join the conversation on NAfME Connect. The online community for music educators.