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Phyllis Merritt

(1939-2025)

Phyllis Merritt, past president of ACDA Southern She was recognized with the Southern ACDA Re-
Region and Florida ACDA, passed away on Sunday, gion Award for Excellence in the Choral Arts, the
August 3, 2025. After receiving a bachelor’s in music Florida ACDA Wayne Hugoboom Distinguished
education from East Tennessee State University, she Service Award, and as a Distinguished Alumna in the
taught elementary music in Kingsport, Tennessee, Arts from East Tennessee State University.
before moving to Florida, where she taught elemen- After thirty years of teaching in public schools,
tary, junior high, and high school choral music. She Phyllis retired from Niceville High School in 1990.
also served as choir director in several churches. Phyl- She remained sought after as an adjudicator, con-
lis completed her master’s of music education at the ductor, and clinician. In 2003, The Phyllis Merritt
Florida State University in 1972. Singers was founded, bringing together singers and
During her teaching career, she conducted honors musicians from school and church choirs directed by
and all-state choruses throughout the United States. Phyllis over the years. In addition to community con-
Eight choirs under her direction performed for the certs, they performed at the Pentagon, the National
state, regional, and national ACDA conferences, Holocaust Memorial, the United States Capitol, and
and three choirs made adjudicated European tours. the Biltmore Estate.
She was chosen as Teacher of the Year for Okaloosa Phyllis inspired generations of singers, conductors,
and Escambia counties as well as for Niceville High and educators through her leadership of school and
School, Meigs Junior High School, and Escambia worship choirs, leaving an impressive lineage of stu-
High School. She was also honored as an Outstand- dents, colleagues, and friends who carry on her legacy
ing Secondary Educator of America in 1975. in song.

CHORAL JOURNAL October 2025 Volume 66 Number 3 15