Choral Studies Graduate Students

Welcome to the Choral Conducting Graduate Studio. Our graduate students come from all over the world to study Choral Conducting, and to be a part of the leadership team and Frost Choral Studies family. 

Students take courses in Score Study, Choral Literature, conduct the Frost choral ensembles, have weekly lessons, and work together in Conducting Workshops. Our graduate students are engaged as artists both on the podium and as singers in our award-winning choral ensembles.

The Frost School of Music Department of Vocal Performance includes our Choral Studies, Opera Theater, Vocal Performance, and Dance programs. Our alumni are leading choral music programs across the United States and around the world.

To find out more information about how to apply, please see below:

DEGREES

• Samuel Sherman, Doctoral Student

  

  Samuel Sherman (he/him/his) is an active conductor, performer, and educator within the Miami region. Currently, he is working towards his Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Choral Conducting at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music under the direction of Dr. Amanda Quist. In addition to his academic studies, Samuel is the Associate Conductor of the Miami Collegium Musicum as well as a private voice instructor at the Miami Fine Arts Academy.

  Samuel earned his MM in Conducting from the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver under the direction of Dr. Catherine Sailer. While at Lamont, he was the Assistant Conductor of Voces Fortes, Voces Aureas, and the Lamont Chorale. In addition, Samuel taught Basic Conducting, founded the Lamont Early Music Choir, and was a featured conductor with the Lamont Composers Concert Series. Within his studies, Samuel was featured in the Vancouver Chamber Choir Conducting Symposium.  

  Outside of his studies at Lamont, Samuel acted as the Music Director for Last Note Singers and the United Church of Christ Longmont where he conducted the adult service choir, children's chorus, and handbell choir. Samuel also stood as the Mark Sheldon Conducting Intern for Denver’s premier early music ensemble, St. Martin’s Chamber Choir, the Assistant Conductor at Opera Steamboat, and the featured Choral Clinician with the Yampa Valley Choral Society. As a vocalist, he has had the privilege to perform with the Colorado Ballet, The Evans Choir, and many more.

  Samuel graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with his B.M. in Vocal Performance. At UNC, Samuel acted as an RHA president, Performing and Visual Arts Student Senate Representative, and Member of the Upper Division Honor Program. He was awarded the Research Excellence Award and OUR Grant for his Honor Thesis “The Voice of Androgyny: A Gender Analysis of the Countertenor Within Opera” as well as Vocal Student of the Year. Additionally, Samuel partook in the Summer Performance Program with Opera Classika in Espenschied, Germany.

  Recent engagements include Guest Conducting/Choral Clinician with the New World Symphony BLUE Project. Performing with the Evans Choir at the Lincoln Center and Southwark Cathedral, the UNC Alumni Choir at Carnegie Hall, and the live tapping of “All Without Words” Live featuring multi-GRAMMY award-winning trumpet virtuoso, John Daversa.

• Jennifer Grover, Doctoral Student

  

  Jennifer Grover is coming to University of Miami’s Frost School of Music as a DMA candidate in Choral Conducting and will be working with the Frost Opera Theater as chorus master and as an assistant conductor fellow with Seraphic Fire.  Grover earned her MM in Choral Conducting from Brigham Young University (BYU) under the tutelage of Dr. Andrew Crane, Dr. Brent Wells, Dr. Sonja Poulter and Dr. Jennifer Youngs. She previously studied vocal performance and piano pedagogy at BYU-Idaho then graduated with her B.M. in both Music Education and Vocal Performance from CSU Stanislaus. While there, Grover studied under Dr. Daniel Afonso, Dr. Joseph Wiggett and Dr. Deborah Kavasch.

   Grover owned and operated a private piano and vocal studio while raising her 4 children with her husband in Tracy, California. She founded and served as the artistic director of the Tracy Community Choirs that grew to three ensembles for children, youth and adults during her tenure. Grover was head of choral and piano studies at Tracy High School Performing Arts Magnet for 10 years. Her choirs consistently scored high at festivals across the state.  She was an active participant in ACDA and honor choir events.  She served as chorus master for Opera Modesto producing such operas as “Carmen”, “Madame Butterfly”, “The Mikado,” and “Romeo and Juliet”. She also worked with the Modesto Symphony Orchestra as the youth chorus director.

  With her children grown, Grover moved to Utah to study and work for two years.  She served the community as collaborative pianist and interim director of the Mapleton Chorale.  At BYU, she directed the University Chorale, taught conducting courses, and was the assistant director of their four acclaimed choirs. She was honored to sing with the famed BYU Singers who competed in the international competition in Tolosa, Spain.  Grover has enjoyed opportunities to give clinics with a variety of ensembles throughout the region, including her alma-mater, CSU Stanislaus, to give a conducting master-class to upcoming music educators.

  As an operatic soprano, Grover has sung throughout Northern California in such productions as Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” and Lehar’s “The Merry Widow.”   She is a pianist and has extensive experience as a collaborative performer.

• Supitcha Kansirisin, Doctoral Student

  

  Supitcha Kansirisin, originated in Thailand, is a first-year DMA candidate in Choral Conducting at the University of Miami Frost School of Music where she studies under Dr. Amanda Quist. She received a Bachelor of Education degree in Music Education from Chulalongkorn University where she studied choral conducting under Dr. Pawasut Piriyapongrat. In 2016, Supitcha was awarded as “the outstanding student-teacher of the Faculty of Education.”  In 2018, she graduated with a Master of Music in Choral Music from the University of Southern California.

   While pursuing her master’s degree, She was an associated conductor of USC University Chorus and participated in the USC Chamber Singers where they performed with outstanding artists such as Craig Hella Johnson, Maestro Carl St. Clair, and The Rolling Stone. Supitcha studied choral conducting and choral literature under Dr. Jo-Michael Scheibe, Dr. Nick Strimple, Dr. Tram Sparks, and Dr. Cristian Grases.

  Supitcha taught at King Mongkut’s International Demonstration School along with directed a choir at Wattana Wittaya Academy in Bangkok. She was also an adjunct faculty at Kasetsart University, directing a Kasetsart University Concert Choir. Supitcha participated in several choral conducting masterclasses with Dr. Tim Sharp, Dr. Rollo Dilworth and Dr. T.J. Harper.

  Supitcha is one of a founder-committees of Thailand Choral Directors Association (TCDA) with the determination to enhance Thai choral directors’ potential to meet international standards. Currently, Supitcha serves as an assistant conductor of the Civic Chorale of Greater Miami.

• Richard Carrillo, Doctoral Student

  

   Richard Carrillo is currently a third-year DMA Candidate in Choral Conducting at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, where he served as instructor of record for the Frost Bella Voce and undergraduate musicianship classes. During this time, he also served as the Associate Conducting Fellow with GRAMMY® nominated professional choir, Seraphic Fire, and the Assistant Conductor Fellowship with the Miami Children’s Chorus.

  In the summer of 2023, Carrillo received the Tinker Field Research Grant, traveling to Mexico City to conduct research for his doctoral dissertation entitled, “A Conductor’s Guide to Frank La Rocca’s Mass of the Americas.”

   Prior to his graduate studies, Carrillo directed choirs at Minneapolis’s Providence Academy, with invitations for his Chamber Choir to perform for the 2016 MMEA State Conference and the 2018 Midwestern ACDA Convention. Before his time in Minnesota, Carrillo taught in Houston, TX, where he also sang professionally with the GRAMMY® Award-winning Houston Chamber Choir for multiple seasons.

• P. Wesley Roy, Doctoral Student

  

  1. Wesley Roy is currently working towards his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting at the University of Miami under the direction of Dr. Amanda Quist. During his studies, he has served as choral TA, student conductor, high school honor choir coordinator with guest artists Voces8 and Jake Runestad, church choir director, choral clinician, choral festival adjudicator, and is currently the Assistant Conductor Fellow for the GRAMMY-nominated professional ensemble Seraphic Fire. Prior to his doctoral studies, he worked in public high and middle schools for ten years, where he taught choirs, music theory, and private voice lessons. He has served on county and state boards for the Florida Vocal Association where he worked as District Chair and also wrote the Florida Choral All-State written examination for ten years. He served on the board of the Florida American Choral Directors Association for five years as Tenor-Bass Honor Choir Coordinator. He has performed nationally and internationally with the Festival Singers of Florida.

  Roy, an advocate for student and teacher wellness, regularly presents at colleges, universities, and state and national professional conferences. Presentation topics include stress management for performing arts teachers, community-building, and student leadership. He firmly believes in the power of service through musical excellence, and his choirs consistently received high ratings at music assessments and performed for numerous community and charitable organizations. Prior to his work in schools, he received a Master of Music Education in Choral Conducting from Florida State University, where he taught music technology, and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Syracuse University. He anticipates completing his doctoral degree in May of 2025. In his free time, he enjoys baking and cuddling with his sweet little dachshund.

• Sam Scheibe, Master's Student

  

  Sam Scheibe is a choral conductor and composer from Moorestown, New Jersey. Sam received his Bachelor of Music from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, and is currently finishing a Master's degree in composition at the University of Aberdeen in Aberdeen, Scotland. 

  
  Most of Sam's work involves choirs and music made with the voice. He has written extensively for traditional vocal ensembles, solo vocalists, and contemporary a cappella groups. These works have been performed by ensembles such as the Westminster Williamson Voices, the University of Aberdeen Chamber Choir, the City of Palms Master Chorale, and the Westminster Symphonic Choir. Two of his works, O Magnum Mysterium and Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence were released on albums recorded by the Westminster Williamson Voices, and were later published by GIA choral works. 

  Sam's career as a choral conductor has seen him as an intern at First Presbyterian Church of Moorestown and as the Assistant Conductor of the University of Aberdeen Chapel Choir. He is now attending the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami for a Master's in Choral Conducting. 

• Kyra Stahr, Doctoral Student

  

  Kyra Stahr (she/her) is a DMA candidate in Choral Conducting at the University of Miami Frost School of Music where she studies under Dr. Amanda Quist. She serves as a graduate teaching assistant, conducting Chamber Singers and the Symphonic Choir, and performs as a Seraphic Fire Scholar. Stahr also teaches secondary conducting lessons, assists Dr. Quist with a graduate conducting course, and is the associate conductor of the Master Chorale of South Florida.

  Stahr earned her MM in Choral Music from University of Southern California (USC). At USC she was Associate Conductor of Oriana, Associate Director of the South Bay Children’s Choir, served on the Thornton Student Council, and was ACDA student chapter president. She was selected for the 2022 ACDA Eastern Graduate Conducting Masterclass and was awarded the 2022 USC Chamber Singers Ensemble Award, 2023 USC Choral Music Departmental Award, and 2023 Pi Kappa Lambda Eta Chapter Masters Student Award.

  Prior to her time at USC, Stahr was choral director at Bishop O'Connell High School, building the program and earning a Social Emotional Facilitator certificate. She served as the Virginia Senior Honor Choir registration chair and adjudicated for the Virginia Middle School Honor Choir. In 2019 she guest conducted the Shenandoah All County Treble Chorus and was the Northern Virginia Diocesan Youth Honors Choir director in 2020.

  Stahr graduated from Miami University where she earned her B.M. in Music Education and Vocal Performance and a dual minor in Special Education and Musical Theater. At Miami, she led an inclusive choir for adults with disabilities and was awarded the 2017 "Outstanding Future Music Educator" honor, graduating summa cum laude.

  Recent engagements include presenting at the 66th National Conference of the College Music Society, the professional development web series for the National Association for Music Educators, and the 2023 World Symposium on Choral Music. Stahr has been an invited speaker and clinician for the Frost Tau Beta Sigma chapter, the Frost ACDA and NAfME chapters, as well as the Westchester University ACDA chapter and local high schools. In spring 2024 she will present at the ACDA Southern and Southwestern conferences in Louisville, KY and Denver, CO respectively. Additionally, Stahr is the co-creator and co-host of the conduct(her) podcast which has a listener base of over 7,000 people.

• Maxwell Trombley, Master's Student

  

  Maxwell Trombley, conductor, singer, and educator, is a first-year MM student in choral conducting at the University of Miami Frost School of Music. Previously, he taught secondary vocal music in Michigan public schools where his choirs performed in state competitions and regularly received excellent ratings at adjudicated choral festivals. As an active singer, he has sung in the chorus with many of the country's premiere orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, New World Symphony, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and Toledo Symphony Orchestra. Maxwell was also selected as a Seraphic Fire Scholar in the ensemble's Early Artist Program through its partnership with the Frost School of Music. As a scholar, he performed alongside the professional members of Seraphic Fire.

  In addition to his work as a singer and teacher, Maxwell is an active conductor, participating in masterclasses and summer programs at prominent institutions. Maxwell serves on the summer voice faculty and managerial staff at Interlochen Center for the Arts. He also maintains a robust career in sacred music, directing and singing in various congregations. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education in Vocal Music from Eastern Michigan University.

• Jisu Oh, Doctoral Student

  

  Jisu Oh is a first-year DMA candidate at the University of Miami Frost School of Music under the supervision of Dr. Amanda Quist. She developed her strong musical skills over more than 10 years of experience, working as a singer and accompanist at Incheon Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church since her youth. Fueled by her passion for music, she earned her BA in choral conducting with a vocal minor from the Korea National University of Arts (KNUA), the most prestigious music school in Korea. She expanded her musical knowledge and experience by conducting various choirs in Korea; notable performances include Rheinberger’s Mass in Eb, Cantus Missae with the Collegium Vocale Seoul, and Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms with KNUA Chamber Choir.

  Dedicated to her lifelong goal as a musician, Jisu shared her musical talents and knowledge with society. Actively engaged in teaching, she collaborated with KNUA, Korea Arts & Culture Education Service, and Incheon 2nd Presbyterian Church, instructing culturally underprivileged students in different regions of Korea.

  After completing her BA at KNUA, she conducted the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) choir for two years. During her time with the HUFS choir, where she interacted with and taught non-music major students, she discovered her passion for choral music and educating students through music. This realization prompted her decision to broaden her perspective by studying abroad in the US, where she earned her MM at the University of Texas at Austin in choral conducting under the supervision of Dr. James Morrow and Dr. Susan Pence. At UT Austin, she served as Associate Conductor of the Concert Choir and Tenor-Bass Choir and as a Teaching Assistant for the Undergraduate Choral Conducting class.

  During her time at UT Austin, Jisu cultivated herself to promote lesser-known yet beautiful Korean choral music to musicians in the US and beyond. Her interest lies in facilitating easier access to Korean music for them and advancing its promotion. Presently, she is actively continuing her research.

  Jisu was a finalist in the 2022 Korean Choral Directors Association (KCDA) choral conducting competition and led a reading session at the Florida ACDA in 2023. Currently, she holds the positions of organist and assistant choirmaster at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Miami.

• Gabriel Harley, Master's Student

  

  Gabe Harley is a MM first-year choral conducting TA working under Dr. Amanda Quist. Within Gabe’s teaching assistantship, Gabe is the associate conductor for Miami Children’s Chorus where he conducts two ensembles; SSA ensemble Allegro and TB ensemble Vivace. Recently, Gabe was selected as a Seraphic Fire Scholar to sing with the esteemed group in their January concert series, “In her Own Voice”.

  Prior to Frost, Gabe formerly taught as a middle school choir teacher in the Delaware public schools for five years. Although a Delaware native, Gabe was also the Baritone staff singer for St Peter’s Episcopal church in Philadelphia, PA since 2019. Additionally, Gabe is an active member of the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir which is under the direction of Dr. Joe Miller and in collaboration with the Philadelphia Orchestra under Maestro Yannick Nezet-Seguin.

  Gabe received his Bachelor’s of Music Education Degree from Westminster Choir College in 2018. While at Westminster, Gabe was a member of the Westminster Choir under the direction of Dr. Joe Miller and early music ensemble, Kantorei, for three consecutive years, under the direction of Dr. Amanda Quist. In 2017, Gabe traveled with the Westminster Choir to participate in the World Choral Music Symposium in Barcelona, Spain. In 2022, Gabe Co-Directed the “Sing Philadelphia” children’s choir summer camp at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.

  Gabe says, “Having the privilege to learn under Dr. Quist again is pure joy. Westminster provided such a strong foundation for my musicianship, and leadership as a conductor. Now, it is time to cultivate my skill sets into fresh, new ideas that will effectively showcase beauty! Dr. Quist is an incredible mentor, and truly loves to see the success of each of her students.”

  Gabe has held leadership positions on the board for Delaware Music Educators Association (DMEA) as the Solo and Ensemble Festival chair. Regarding Gabe’s ACDA involvement, he has also served as Delaware ACDA’s Membership chair for the  2022-2023 year.