The Adjudicators

Francis Cathlina, D.M.A. (he/him) is a distinguished Vietnamese-American conductor and educator known for his innovative programming that seamlessly weaves choral music with narrative. His transformative concert experiences invite audiences into a world where choral artistry becomes a powerful storytelling medium.

A two-time GRAMMY-nominated educator, Dr. Cathlina is the Director of Choral Activities at the University of Memphis Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music. He provides visionary leadership for the Choral Area, oversees the Doctoral and Master’s Choral Conducting program, and conducts the University Singers (flagship SATB choir) and Mazi (SSAA choir).

As a first-generation musician, Dr. Cathlina’s Eastern heritage profoundly shapes his teaching. His dedication to collaboration and rigor has earned international recognition, including being named a 2023 National Finalist for The American Prize: Dale Warland Award in Choral Conducting (College Division). The UofM University Singers, under his direction, have been selected to perform at the 2024 Tennessee Music Educators Association Conference. Early in his career, the Texas Choral Directors Association (TCDA) designated him the “Young Director of Distinction.”

Dr. Cathlina’s teaching philosophy centers on developing masterful technicians, creative communicators, and responsible citizens. His former students successfully led programs at diverse institutions—universities, public schools, prominent churches, and community choirs. Driven by a passion for human connection, he finds great inspiration as an honor choir conductor. Upcoming and recent engagements involve the International Mu Phi Convention Chorus, Mississippi All-State Treble Choir, UofM Symphony Orchestra, and honor choirs nationwide.

A recognized authority in vocal pedagogy, Dr. Cathlina's research focuses on choral tone and conducting gestures. He has published articles in ACDA’s "Choral Journal" and has presented over 50 interest sessions across the globe. In 2023, he co-led two Conducting Masterclasses in Greece with the University of Macedonia (Thessaloniki) and Ionian University (Corfu). In 2024, he is set to be the Choral Headliner for the Alabama Music Educators Association Conference.

Dr. Cathlina holds a D.M.A. in conducting with a vocal pedagogy cognate from the University of North Texas, an M.M. from Michigan State University, and a B.M.E. from Baylor University. Before his doctorate, he taught in Texas public schools, working with elementary through high school-age singers. He is deeply grateful for the steadfast support of his husband, family, and friends, who embrace his unique blend of Vietnamese culture and Western upbringing. Dr. Cathlina, his husband Kyle, and their fur baby, Coco, proudly call Memphis, Tennessee, their home. www.franciscathlina.com

Sally Schott completed a 39-year teaching career in the Pasadena Independent School District in 2004, when she became a UH student teaching supervisor. South Houston High School choirs presented invitational performances for national conventions in Washington, D.C. (MENC) and New Orleans (ACDA), and for five TMEA and three Southwestern Region ACDA conventions. Honor choir at the San Antonio Madrigal and Chamber Choir Festival five times, in 1996 SHHS presented a Carnegie Hall recital performance.

Since 2004, Ms. Schott has collaborated on six music reading books for secondary choirs, including SMART, SMART MINOR, SMART MODULATIONS and INSIGHT SINGING. Publications include DVD documentaries featuring Weston Noble, Paul Salamunovich, Sandra Snow, and Charlene Archibeque, and the state-adopted texts Something to Sing About and Sing!. A founding partner of Alliance Music Publications, she serves on the Houston Chamber Choir Educational Advisory Board and as Director of Specialty Festivals for American Classic Tours and Music Festivals. For American Classic, she designs and administers specialty choral festivals, selects clinicians and adjudicators for all spring choral festivals and contributes to performance planning for domestic and international tours.

In 2017 Schott became the 17th recipient of the TCDA Texas ChoirMaster Award. Other recognitions: TCDA Choral Excellence Award; Houston Symphony Farb Award for Lifetime Achievement; Bay Area Chorus Distinctive Service to the Arts; Sigma Alpha Iota Houston Alumnae Music Leadership Award; Pasadena ISD High School Educator of the Year; University of North Texas outstanding music education graduate; Oklahoma College for Women Alumni Hall of Fame.

Professional service: TMEA State Vocal Vice President and President (1981-86); ACDA Southwestern Region President (2000-2002). From 1972 to the present, Ms. Schott has been a clinician, consultant, or conductor at staff development, professional conferences and university workshops throughout Texas and in 25 other states. A Texas Music Adjudicators Association charter member, she judges annual UIL contests and pre-UIL events.

Dr. Hilary Apfelstadt is Professor Emerita of Choral Studies at the University of Toronto where she held the Elmer Iseler Chair in Conducting. From 2013 – 2018, she was artistic director of Exultate Chamber Singers, a semi-professional ensemble in Toronto. After retiring from U of T, she served as Interim Executive Director of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) for a year and has recently done significant conducting residencies at McGill University in Montreal and at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Previous full-time university teaching appointments in the U.S. were at the Ohio State University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

A native Canadian, she has led her university choirs in performances at ACDA conferences and at Podium, the national professional conference of Choral Canada. She has guest conducted numerous honors choruses and festivals throughout North America and internationally, including 40 all-state choirs. She directed the 2014 National Youth Choir of Canada. Her teaching experiences range from public school to community ensembles to church choirs. She holds leadership awards from Choirs Ontario, NC-ACDA, Ohio Choral Directors Association, and both Central and Midwestern ACDA Regions.

During her career, Hilary Apfelstadt has mentored many conductors and advised multiple graduate conducting majors, many of whom now hold significant positions in the profession. She has published numerous articles and book chapters on leadership, choral pedagogy, and Canadian music. Her book on the life and work of Canadian composer Ruth Watson Henderson, I Didn’t Want It To be Boring (Toronto: Prism Publishers), won Choral Canada’s award for Outstanding Choral Publication in 2018. She is currently editing a book on female-identifying choral composers to be published by GIA in 2024. She serves on the Editorial Board of Anacrusis for Choral Canada, and as a writing mentor for NCCO. A life member of ACDA, she is a past national president.