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Lynn Drafall taught at the Pennsyl- Delores “Dee” Gauthier passed
vania State University for twenty-six away on September 14, 2022, from a
years, after a significant career in the brief, yet very aggressive battle with co-
public schools in Illinois. Revered for lon cancer. Known affectionately as Dr.
her impact on choral music education, G to generations of students, Dee was
she received Penn State’s George W. the cornerstone of the School of Music’s
Atherton Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2008, Choral Music Education program for thirty-two years,
and PMEA’s Citation of Excellence in 2011. In 2013, teaching and placing hundreds of students in music edu-
the PA-ACDA chapter awarded her the Elaine Brown cation jobs throughout the country. Students noted that
Award for Choral Excellence. She was both a past presi- her approach to creating teaching plans and structure in
dent of PA-ACDA and the Eastern Region ACDA. She the classroom was particularly invaluable. Dr. Gauthier
founded the Oriana Singers at PSU and also conducted was also the celebrated conductor of Cantus Femina,
the Concert Choir there, and was a frequent all-state the women’s choir at the School of Music. Cantus Fe-
and honor choir conductor. Her choirs performed at mina, which later became Anima, was featured in per-
conferences of ACDA and PMEA. She instilled in her formances at National Collegiate Choral Organization
students a love of choral music and was a particularly conventions (2008, 2012), the ACDA Regional conven-
strong role model for female-identifying conductors seek- tion (2012), and at the State ACDA convention (2004,
ing leadership positions. 2010, 2014). Dr. Gauthier endeavored to program works

Singing City

75th Anniversary Season

Singing City marks its 75th anniversary this season. Such milestones give
us an opportunity to reflect and take stock of all that has contributed to
reaching this point and where we are headed. Music Director Jeffrey
Brillhart is retiring at the end of this season after a 25-year tenure.
Jeff’s leadership of Singing City took the choir’s level of artistry to
new heights while always remaining rooted
in its mission of bringing diverse people
together through the medium of choral
music. He has given so much to all of us.
Jeffrey Brillhart
We are also very pleased to announce that Rollo Dilworth will become
Singing City’s new Music Director effective July 1, 2023. Rollo’s very
essence is the embodiment of all that Singing City aspires to be and we
are excited about what he will bring to the choir and, by extension, the
City of Philadelphia. Our deepest appreciation to both of them!
Rollo Dilworth

Through Performance, Arts Education, and Fellowship, Singing City Choir is a force for social impact,
bringing people together and lifting the human spirit through the artistry of choral music.
Singing City • 1501 Cherry Street • Philadelphia, PA 19102 • www.singingcity.org

CHORAL JOURNAL February 2023 / 2023 ACDA National Conference Program Book Volume 63 Number 6 151