Music Staff
Colin MacKnight, Director of Music
Colin MacKnight, called “a stunning player of exceptional ability” by composer and conductor Bob Chilcott, is Director of Music at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Little Rock. At Trinity, he oversees a vibrant music program and is founder and director of the Trinitas Ensemble, Little Rock’s only fully professional concert choir.
Prior to Trinity, Colin was Associate Organist at Cathedral of the Incarnation in Garden City, Long Island; Assistant Organist and Music Theory Teacher at St. Thomas Fifth Avenue, NYC; and Assistant Organist at Church of the Resurrection, NYC.
Colin received his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from The Juilliard School, studying organ performance with Paul Jacobs. For his doctoral dissertation “Ex Uno Plures: A Proposed Completion of Bach’s Art of Fugue,” Colin received the Richard F. French Doctoral Prize.
A frequent competition prize-winner, Colin’s first prizes and scholarships include the 2019 Paris Music Competition, 2017 West Chester University International Organ Competition, 2016 Albert Schweitzer Organ Competition, 2016 Arthur Poister Scholarship Competition, M. Louise Miller Scholarship from the Greater Bridgeport Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (AGO), the 2013 Rodgers North American Classical Organ Competition, and the Ruth and Paul Manz Organ Scholarship. He also won the New York City and Northeast Regional AGO Competitions, leading to a “Rising Star” recital at the 2016 AGO National Convention in Houston. In addition, Colin was a laureate in the 2016, 2019, and 2023 Longwood Gardens International Organ Competitions.
Colin also holds the AGO’s top certifications, Fellow (FAGO) and Choirmaster (ChM), receiving the prize for top Choirmaster score, and was named one of the top “20 Under 30” eminent young organists by The Diapason magazine in 2019. Colin is currently working towards performing the complete organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach in 2025, the 275 anniversary of the composer’s death. Colin MacKnight is represented in North America by Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc.
Katie Gunn, Associate Director of Music
Katie Gunn recently graduated from Indiana University with a master’s in organ performance as a student of Dr. Christopher Young. She completed her undergraduate studies in organ and church music with Dr. Catherine Rodland at St. Olaf College. She previously served as Director of Music at Church of the Nativity (Episcopal) in Indianapolis and at All Saints Episcopal Church in Northfield, Minnesota. Katie won first prizes in the 2023 National Undergraduate Organ Competition and in the 2022 Twin Cities American Guild of Organists Student Competition. Katie grew up as a chorister at Christ Church Cathedral Indianapolis. She is married to Luke Sargent, a trumpet player. In her spare time, Katie enjoys reading and road cycling.