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2026 ACDA Southern Region Conference March 4-7, 2026 Memphis, Tennessee

Stetson University University of Memphis
Concert Choir University Singers

The University Singers is the flagship SATB en-
semble at the University of Memphis. The ensemble
includes auditioned graduate choral students and un-
The Stetson University Concert Choir is one of four dergraduates from across the campus. Through con-
choral ensembles in the Stetson University School of ceptual programming and diverse repertoire, Univer-
Music. It is a highly selective principal vocal touring sity Singers engages audiences in thought-provoking
ensemble made up of forty-eight vocalists. The Concert performances. The ensemble maintains a robust sched-
Choir has performed concerts throughout the United ule that empowers its members to grow as artists and
States and Europe. The group has appeared in perfor- citizens. Recent performances include the 2024 Na-
mances for NCCO, Southern ACDA Region, MEA, tional CMS Conference, 2024 TnMEA Conference, a
and at numerous conventions of the Florida Vocal As- 2023 international tour to Greece, and tours through-
sociation, Florida ACDA, and Florida MEA. Concert out the United States.
Choir comprises upper-class music majors and singers
representing numerous academic areas. Francis Cathlina, DMA, is a Vietnamese
American conductor. He is the director
Timothy Peter is a professor of music at of choral activities at the University of
Stetson University. He is a native of Min- Memphis, where he received the dean’s
nesota, received his undergraduate de- award for creative achievement. He leads
gree from Luther College, and completed the choral area, the MM/DMA choral conducting
his DMA at the University of Arizona. program, and conducts the University Singers. A two-
Before coming to Stetson University, he was professor time Grammy-nominated educator, Cathlina draws on
of music at Luther College and served as the head of his Eastern heritage to foster excellence and collabo-
the music department. He has been a high school cho- ration. He conducted in Brazil and the Philippines
ral director and church musician in Minnesota, Iowa, in 2025 and was the headliner for the 2025 Alabama
Arizona, and Florida. Peter joined the faculty of the MEA Conference. The University Singers, under his
Stetson University School of Music in the fall of 2012 direction, have been invited to perform for national
and conducts the Stetson Concert Choir. He has held and state conferences. Cathlina has over sixty presen-
positions as the ACDA regional R&R chair for college tations worldwide, international publications, and a
and universities and the state and regional chair for TB robust conducting schedule. He earned degrees from
choirs. UNT, Michigan State, and Baylor.

CHORAL JOURNAL January 2026 Volume 66 Number 5 115