Rafael Toro-Quiñones | Alumni

Joy at the Intersection of Music and Service

“I’m kicking myself for dropping a leadership class with Dr. McKelligan,” laughs Rafael Toro-Quiñones ’96. “It was my senior year, and I was feeling overwhelmed. Now, as a lieutenant colonel, I might be in charge of several hundred men and women on a mission. I didn’t know that was my future.”

As an undergraduate from Puerto Rico, Toro-Quiñones was a performance and philosophy double major at DePauw. Even though he dropped the leadership class, he still counts emerita philosophy professor Marcia McKelligan as a mentor, along with other outstanding faculty members who shaped his abilities as a thinker and musician.

“I give a lot of credit to Orcenith Smith, Craig Paré and others for influencing my career today. I recognize their training and the experiences I had as integral in forming my abilities to frame challenges and form solutions.”

Rafael is quick to note that he didn’t set out to become a lifetime military man. “I needed a job after school and this one was set before me. I saw a flyer for the Air Force band in Dr. Paré’s office. It offered me an opportunity to make an adult decision and to take control of my own destiny.” He came in as a bass player and along the way got a graduate degree in conducting at the New England Conservatory in Boston. 

Since then, he and his wife Kristina (Rankovic) Toro-Quiñones ’96 have found joy at the intersection of service and music. “After Kristina became a US citizen, she served for nine years on active duty and five years as a reserve in the band. Once I became an officer, she became a full-time mom. We have both benefitted from this life, bringing music to places around the world, being welcomed with open arms.”

In addition, the couple is now enjoying the opportunity to watch their son Alex ’27 carve his own path at DePauw, a path that shares many parallels with Rafael’s own. “It’s heartwarming to see our son enjoying DePauw and making some of the same personal connections that my wife and I made during our time here,” says Rafael.

Alex is an English Literature and Ancient Greek double major, minoring in Political Science. He’s also an Honor Scholar and continues his music studies while at DePauw under the tutelage of Dr. Steven Snyder. “We love that the university can offer that opportunity for Alex with such an amazing teacher and performer as Dr. Snyder,” Rafael says. “He’s the real deal. My wife and I are both DePauw music alumni and we don’t really give our kiddos an option about having music studies. We believe that music is as important as language, as important as history, or as math and science.” 

During his time on campus, Rafael spent several years working with grade school students in the Gobin Methodist Church choir. His son Alex picked up the organ recently, and after Reverend Bryan Langdoc heard him playing, was invited to play at the church on Sundays. “I got a chance to sit next to him as he played today,” Rafael said. “I can see why he’s been seduced by the instrument. You just fall in love with that sound.” Alex is also an active member of DePauw’s ethics bowl team, a team coached by none other than Rafael’s mentor Marcia McKelligan. 

As he reflects upon his life and career, Rafael is filled with gratitude for the unique work he has been able to do.

“As a DePauw graduate and a member of the United States military, I take pride in being a leader in these peaceful missions,” said Toro Quiñones. “Music is a diplomatic tool, a tool of goodwill and establishing relationships. Sound and rhythm is something everyone can relate to and it is amazing to wear the uniform and use music to open doors, to bring people to the table and have conversations about how we can work better together. It’s a mission full of logistical challenges and all kinds of behind-the-scenes work, but ultimately, your primary objective is to represent where you came from. It never gets old.”

Rafael is Director of Operations for the United States Air Force Band, Joint-Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington D.C.