University of Arizona
College of Fine Arts - School of Music

Choral Studies

Success Stories

James Higgs, DMA 2024

Associate Music Faculty, Cochise College
Artistic Director, Desert Voices
Director of Music, Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church

Mengda Jiang, DMA 2024

Choir Director, The Good Shepherd United Church of Christ
Director, Tucson Sino Choir

Fabián Rodríguez Castro, DMA 2024

Artistic & Music Director, Liminal Voices & Orchestra

Hyoungil Seo, DMA 2024

Artistic Director and Conductor, Seosan City Chorale
Adjunct Professor of Choral Conducting, Hansei University
Instructor of Choral Conducting, Ewha Womans University
Music Director, Seoul Summit Choir
Music Director, Jubilate Music Alliance

Inho Eom, DMA 2024

Resident Conductor, CBS Broadcast Ladies Singers

Mirae Lee, DMA 2023

Director of Choral Activities, Del Mar College

Sinamar Pascua Respicio, DMA 2023

Chancel Choir Director, Christ Church United Methodist
Music Director, Academy of Tucson High School
Artistic Director, Tucson Women’s Chorus

Aaron Rice, DMA 2023

Director of Music Ministries, First Presbyterian Church of Granada Hills

Dane Alexander Carten, MM 2023

Artistic Director, Neoteric Chamber Choir
Conductor, University of Arizona Faculty Staff Choir
Chancel Choir Director, Lord of Grace Lutheran Church

Xuxiang Zou, DMA 2023

Choral Faculty, Shanghai Conservatory of Music

He Huang, DMA 2022

Associate Professor, Director of Choirs, Nanjing Normal University (China)

Erik Peregrine, DMA 2021

Artistic Director, Ensemble Companio

Anne Grimes, DMA 2021

Faculty and Music Department Head, Pima Community College
Resident Music Director, Arts Express Theatre

Luke Diamond, MM 2021

Artistic Director, Tucson Masterworks Chorale
Director of Music, Christ Presbyterian Church
Music Teacher, Canyon View Elementary School

Jeff Vanderlee, DMA 2021

Assistant Professor of Practice, University of Arizona
Director of Music, St. Mark the Evangelist Church

Angelica Dunsavage, DMA 2020

Artistic Director, Phoenix Girls Chorus

Brayton Bollenbacher, MM 2020

Artistic Director, Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus

Nicky Manlove, MM 2020

Director of Community Engagement, Tucson Girls Chorus

Ben Hansen, DMA 2020

Director of Music, Catalina United Methodist Church
Artistic Director, The Helios Ensemble

Yujia Luo, DMA 2020

Director of Choral Activities, Beijing University of Chemical Technology

Donté Ford, DMA minor 2020

Assistant Professor of Music and Associate Chaplain for Worship Arts, Wheaton College

Todd Wachsman, DMA 2020

Music Faculty, Adelphi University
Artistic Director, Forest Hills Choir

Erin Plisco, DMA 2019

Associate Director of Choral Studies, Missouri State University

Thomas Wininger, DMA 2019

Director of Choral Activities, Midwestern State University

Christian Giddings, DMA 2019

Choral Director, Noble High School
Music Director, Tri-City Community Chorus

Jae Ho Lee, DMA 2019

Assistant Conductor, Suwon City Chorale
Music Director, Suwon Youth Choir

Eunji Lee, DMA 2019

Vocal Trainer, Sowon City Youth Choir

Gabriel Machado, MM 2019

Founder and Artistic Director, Coral Nacional Virtual (Brazilian National Virtual Choir)

Sehong Oh, DMA 2018

Assistant Professor, Hannam University

Brett Robison, DMA 2018

Executive Director, Friends of Chamber Music of Kansas City

Jessica Berg, MM 2018

General Music/Chorus Teacher, Virginia Run Elementary School

Travis Sletta, DMA 2018

Director of Vocal/Choral Music, Winona Senior High School

Ziyun Li, MM 2018

Choral Director, Hunan Children’s Choir of the Changsha Symphony Orchestra

Jooyeon Hwang, DMA 2018

Lecturer, Chung Ang University
Lecturer, Seoul National University of Education

Gavin Ely, MM 2017

Music and Stagecraft Teacher, Legacy Traditional School – Surprise
Tenor, Phoenix Chorale

Omaris Maldonado-Torres, MM 2017

Director of Choirs, Olympia High School
Assistant Conductor, The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay

Lynnel Joy Jenkins, DMA 2016

Artistic Director, Princeton Girlchoir
Choral Teacher, Timberland Middle School

Douglas Leightenheimer, DMA 2016

Director of Music, St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church

Jessica Pierpoint, MM 2016

Founder and Director, Vermont Academy of Choral Music
DMA 2023, McGill University

Thomas Lerew, DMA 2016

Associate Professor of Choral Music, Liberty University

Heather Mitchell, DMA 2016

Artistic Director, New Jersey Choral Society
Founder/Artistic Director, FIVE LINES
Assistant Artistic Director, Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia
Assistant Director of Choirs, The College of New Jersey

Jason Dungee, DMA 2016

Director of Choral Activities, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Timothy Cloeter, DMA 2016

Artistic Director, Masterworks Chorale of Toledo
Director of Music, Perrysburg First Church

James Stirling, MM 2016

Music Teacher, ASU Preparatory Academy

Richard Hintze, DMA 2015

Director of Choral Activities, Spring Arbor University

Timothy Campbell, DMA 2015

Assistant Professor, University of South Dakota
Chorus Director, South Dakota Symphony Orchestra
Artistic Director, Transept

Brent Rogers, DMA 2015

Conductor, Giving Voice Chorus
Service Manager, Schmitt Music

Carlos Zapien, DMA minor 2015

Director of Music, Cathedral of Saint Augustine
Artistic Director, Ars Vocalis Mexico

SeungYong Shin, DMA studies 2014

Lecturer, Hansei University
Permanent Conductor, Suncheon City Choir
Conductor, Jamsil Church

Luke Lusted, DMA 2014

Minister of Music, First Baptist Church of Shreveport

Daniel David Black, DMA 2014

Director of Choral Activities, Houghton University

Scott Glysson, DMA 2014

Director of Choral Activities and Vocal Studies, California Polytechnic State University

Mindy Martin Forehand, MM 2014

Director of Choral Music, Ola High School

Jeffrey Gonda, MM 2014

Choral Director, Hampton High School, Georgia

Blair Buffington, DMA studies 2014

Artistic Director, Mt. Pleasant Chorale
Music Director, Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra Chorus

Casey Cook, DMA 2013

Founder and Artistic Director, Artifice
Choral Musician in Residence and Director, American University Chorus

Bethany Johnson, MM 2013

Music Director, Waverly Presbyterian Church

Marcela Molina, DMA 2013

Executive Director, Tucson Girls Chorus
Director, Tucson Symphony Orchestra Chorus

Jennaya Robison, DMA 2013

Artistic Director, National Lutheran Choir

Matthew Goinz, MM 2013

Artistic Director, The Sound Between
DMA 2022, University of Maryland

Gregory Silverman, DMA 2013

Director of Worship Arts, Desert Hope Lutheran Church
Executive Director, Silverman Ministries, Inc.

Andy Bade, DMA 2013

Classical Music Program Coordinator, Arizona Public Media

Louis Spinelli, MM 2013

Teacher of Vocal and General Music, Bergen County Academies

Brad Miller, DMA 2012

Associate Professor of Music/Choral Conductor, The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University

Alan Stevens, DMA 2012

Chair, Department of Music and Director of Choral Activities at East Tennessee State University
Artistic Director of the Knoxville Gay Men’s Chorus

Philip Moody, DMA 2012

Artistic Director, CORO
Co-Director MM in Choral Conducting, Simpson College
Assistant Director, True Concord Voices & Orchestra

Addie Akin, MM 2012

Director of Choirs, St. Louis University High School
Executive Director, Vox Una Youth Chorale

Scott Finch, DMA 2011

Associate Professor of Music, Covenant College

Chris Thomas, DMA 2011

Director of Choral Activities, Rowan University
Artistic Director, Greater South Jersey Chorus

Cyril Jolly, MM 2011

Minister of Music, Duke Memorial United Methodist Church

Erin HyunJin Cho, DMA 2010

Choir Director, Chorallen and Church of the Ascension Choir (Munich)

Charles Brown, DMA 2010

Director of Choral Activities, Concordia University–Chicago

Jon C. Peterson, DMA 2010

Director, All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir
Director of Music Ministries, First Congregational Church of Hudson
Artistic Director, Hudson Community Choruses

Elliot Jones, DMA 2010

Director, The Capitol Choral and Orchestra
Music Director, Pioneer Congregational United Church of Christ

Trent Brown, DMA 2009

Artistic Director, Symphonic Chorale of Southwest Florida
Director of Choral Activities, Florida Gulf Coast University

Herbert Washington, MM 2009

Harvey K. Smith Artistic Director, Phoenix Boys Choir
Co-Founder, The Choral Window
Founder, VocaSol

Sara T. Schwindt, MM 2009

Assistant Director, Winchester Community Music School

John Perkins, DMA 2009

Associate Director of Choral Activities, Butler University
Director of Music, Castleton United Methodist Church

Lucik Aprahamian, DMA 2009

Director of Choirs, Greenhill School
Founder and Artistic Director, Dallas Girls Chorus

Chris Fresolone, DMA minor 2009

Music Teacher, The Gregory School

Alexander Shawn, DMA 2008

Director of Music, Balzac United Church

Abby Frost, MM 2008

Director of Choirs, Ipswich High School
Choral Director, First Church in Wenham

Justin Raffa, MM 2008

Artistic Director, Mid-Columbia Mastersingers

Adam Eggleston, MM 2008

Artistic Director, The Astoria Choir
Visual and Performing Arts Chair, The Buckley School

David Fitzpatrick, MM 2008

Artistic Director and Conductor, Montgomery County Chorale and Orchestra

Sherrill Blodget, DMA 2008

Director of Choral Activities, Castleton University

Tony Thornton, DMA 2008

Artistic Director of the Sarteano Choral Workshop (Italy)
Founding Artistic Director, Illuminati Vocal Arts Ensemble

Anthony Bernarducci, MM 2007

Director of Choral and Vocal Studies, Clemson University

Aaron McDermid, DMA 2006

Director of Choral Activities, University of Jamestown

Lani Johnson, DMA 2006

Freelance writer, editor and graphics designer

Joel Schwindt, MM 2006

Assistant Professor of Music History, Boston Conservatory at Berklee

Christopher  L. Bartley, DMA 2006

Music Director and Instructor of Music, University of Pittsburgh–Greensbury

Brian Wismath, MM 2006

Faculty Member, Victoria Conservatory of Music
Music Director, Victoria Choral Society

Joni Jensen, DMA 2005

Director of Choral Activities, Texas Woman’s University
Associate Dean and Musical Director, Millennial Choirs and Orchestras

Lee Nelson, DMA 2005

Director of Choral Activities, Wartburg College

Jamie Spillane, DMA 2004

Director of Choral Studies, University of Connecticut

Eric Holtan, DMA 2004

Music Director, True Concord Voices and Orchestra

Nicole Lamartine, DMA 2003

Director of Choirs, Central Washington University

Bradley Barrett, DMA 2003

Director of Choral Activities at Chorale Midwest
Founder, Director and Voice Teacher at Barrett Vocal Arts Institute

Emilie Amrein, MM 2003

Associate Dean for Community Engagement & Executive Director, University of Texas at San Antonio
Founding Director, UTSA Arts

Brandon Johnson, MM/DMA 2002/2003

Director of Choral Activities, Eastern Michigan University
Conductor and Artistic Director, Michigan Pro Musica
Founder & Artistic Director, BEYOND Choir

Lisa Billingham, DMA 2001

Director of Choral Activities, George Mason University

Matthew Mehaffey, DMA 2001

Director of Choral Activities, University of Minnesota
Artistic Director, Oratorio Society of Minnesota

Michael Culloton, MM 2000

Director of Choral Activities, Concordia College – Moorhead
Artistic Director and Conductor, Fargo-Moorhead Choral Artists
Conductor, Trinity Lutheran Church Cathedral Choir

Giselle Wyers, DMA 2000

Professor of Choral Music/Music Education, University of Washington

Terrie Ashbaugh, MM 1999

Terrie Ashbaugh, MM 1999
Executive and Artistic Director, Arizona Women’s Chorus

Lisa Fredenburgh, DMA 1996

Choral Faculty, VanderCook College of Music

Timothy Peter, DMA 1993

Director of Choral Activities, Stetson University

Michael J. Weber, DMA 1990

Associate Director of Choral Activities and Music Education, North Dakota State University

Lori Wiest, DMA 1990

Director, University of Arizona School of Music

David Mennicke, MM/DMA 1987/1989

Director of Choral Studies, Concordia University – St. Paul

Geoffrey Boers, DMA 1987

Director of Choral Activities, University of Washington

Christopher Cock, DMA 1987

Director of Music Ministry, Community Presbyterian Church of Clarendon Hills
Phyllis and Richard Duesenberg Chair in Lutheran Music, Valparaiso University (retired)

Wyant Morton, MM/DMA 1986/1992

Director of Choral Activities, California Lutheran University

J. Edmund Hughes, DMA 1986

Adjunct Professor, University of Puget Sound (retired)
Music Faculty, Chandler-Gilbert Community College (retired)

Julian Ackerley, BM/MM/DMA 1975/1977/1983

Director, Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus

David Ashcraft, BM/MM/DMA 1974/1976/1986

Choral Director and Fine Arts Department Chair, Sahuaro High School (retired)
Choral Music Coordinator, Tucson Unified School District (retired)
University Supervisor, Northern Arizona University (retired)
Choral Music Education Instructor, University of Arizona School of Music (retired)