Iain Quinn

Born in Cardiff, Wales, Professor Quinn serves as Professor of Organ and Coordinator of Sacred Music at Florida State University and Director of the annual interdisciplinary Festival of the Creative Arts. He is an Honorary Research Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music and has published more than one hundred works across multiple disciplines. He is also an elected Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales, the Royal Historical Society and the Society of Antiquaries. He holds a PhD (musicology) from the University of Durham and is an elected Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales, the Royal Historical Society and the Society of Antiquaries.

His research explores the connections between history, literature, music, politics and religion. His academic appointments and fellowships include positions as Visiting Fellow at Harvard University and Visiting Composer in Chapel at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. He was a Fulbright Scholar at The Rimsky-Korsakov St Petersburg State Conservatory, and has received the Rudolph Ganz Fellowship at The Newberry Library in Chicago, the Alfred A. and Blanche W. Knopf Fellowship at the Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas at Austin, and the Edith and Richard French Research Fellowship at Yale University's Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. Earlier in his career he received a fellowship from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust for research in Brazil.

Alongside his academic career, Professor Quinn has over thirty years of experience as a public speaker on both sides of the Atlantic. His talks cover modern British and American politics and culture, the history and repertoire of classical music and music and literature. His recent work examines contemporary political and cultural developments in Britain, Europe and the United States.

Professor Quinn is the author of five books: The Genesis and Development of an English Sonata (2017), The Organist in Victorian Literature (2017), Music and Religion in the Writings of Ian McEwan (2023), Rudolph Ganz, Patriotism, and Standardisation of The Star-Spangled Banner, 1907-1958 (2023), and Cultural Dissonance: Brexit Reconsidered (2026). His more recent publications reflect an expanding engagement with wider cultural and political themes, bringing historical and cultural perspectives to contemporary debates. In addition to his books, which are now appearing in audio versions and translation, he has written for EUObserver and the White House Historical Association.

Potential speaking topics: 

• The Rise of Populist Leaders in the US and UK: Contrasts within the Special Relationship
• Brexit Reconsidered: A study through cultural and historical lenses. A predictable result
• Why Brexit Wasn't a Surprise: Institutional and Cultural Blind Spots and Public Disengagement
• Two Democracies, One Conversation: What the UK and US Can Learn from Each Other Culturally
• Accountability Without a Cultural Safety Net: Lessons for Corporate Governance from Political Failure
• Populism Explained: The Cultural Roots of Political Disruption
• Cultural Dynamics and History: Music, Immigration and Politics in the US
• Faith, Culture and Institutions: What Sacred Music Reveals About Organisational Values
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Read more about Professor Quinn's work, expertise and publications on his website.
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"A fascinating talk that was pitched absolutely perfectly! Many people commented on how much they appreciated your words and how much they learned. The clear historical context enriched our understanding of an important topic."
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The Revd Dr Peter Anthony
Vicar, All Saints, Margaret Street, London