UArizona Choirs

Congratulations to Dr. Sunny Park, who successfully defended her dissertation today! The title of her document is "A Conductor's Guide to Selected Polychoral Motets from Sulpitia Lodovica Cesis's Motetti Spirituali (1619)." Thanks to her dissertation committee: Dr. Elizabeth Schauer (chair) and Drs. Jay Rosenblatt and James Higgs (members). Sunny currently serves on the faculties of Yonsei University and Dankook University and also is the Associate Conductor of the Suwon Civic Chorale. The University of Arizona School of Music

Congratulations to Dr. Chad Pittman, who successfully defended his dissertation today! The title of his document is "Kevin Allen's Matri Divinae Gratiae and Stowe Missal Eucharistic Motets: A Conductor's Analysis." Thanks to his dissertation committee: Dr. Elizabeth Schauer (chair) and Drs. Pamela Decker and Don Traut (members). Chad will begin his new position as Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Music at Midwestern State University this fall. The University of Arizona School of Music

UA Choirs is pleased to share that Clay Whittington (MM 2025) was recently offered and has accepted a full-time position as Director of Traditional Music Ministries at Mount Tabor United Methodist Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Congratulations and very best wishes, Clay! The University of Arizona School of Music

Congratulations to DMA student Omaris Torres-Frey, whose proposal has been accepted for presentation at the 2027 College Music Society International Conference in Reykjavik, Iceland in June. Omaris's presentation is "From Danza to Choral Song: Exploring Puerto Rican Choral Traditions Through Performance and Practice" - thank you for amplifying this important body of music! The University of Arizona School of Music

UA Choirs congratulates DMA student Brandon Brown on the presentation of a scholarly and beautiful lecture-recital today on the choral music of Mark Butler. The recital took place in Chicago and was performed by members of the Chicago Community Chorus and soloists, with Dr. Keith Hampton at the keyboard. Well done, Brandon!

UA Choirs congratulates Dr. Margaret Palermo (DMA 2026), who has been hired to serve as Artistic Director of the Phoenix Girls Chorus! Dr. Palermo also continues her choral leadership with the Valley Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Chandler AZ. Congratulations Dr. Palermo and best wishes with this new venture! The University of Arizona School of Music

UA Choirs congratulates Dr. Angelica Dunsavage (DMA 2020), who has been invited to present her session "Grounded Body, Resilient Teaching: Mindfulness and Alignment Practices to Combat Burnout" for the 2026 AzACDA Student Symposium. Dr. Dunsavage also recently was offered and accepted a position as Choir Director and Piano Instructor at Paradise Valley High School. She continues her leadership of Valley Women's Ensemble and as Chief Editor of Publications for the National Collegiate Choral Organization. Thank you for your service to our profession!

UA Choirs is pleased to share that Dr. Dane Carten (DMA 2025) has been offered and has accepted the position of Director of Co-Curricular Music at St. Catherine University for fall 2026 - congratulations Dane! We are so happy for you! The University of Arizona School of Music

On May 30, DMA student Sunny Park successfully presented her lecture recital titled "A Conductor’s Guide to Selected Polychoral Motets from Sulpitia Lodovica Cesis’s Motetti Spirituali (1619)." Congratulations on this milestone achievement, Sunny! The University of Arizona School of Music