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Introducing The Phyllis Merritt Singers

Our Mission

The Phyllis Merritt Singers, Inc. supports public awareness of and excellence in the choral arts by presenting choral performances of distinction; fostering the musical growth of its membership; commissioning new choral works; contributing to the increased knowledge and appreciation of choral music in Northwest Florida; educating the public about the life-long, positive benefits of a quality music education in the development well-rounded, contributing members of society; and encouraing the public to view the inclusion of a high quality musical arts experience as an essential element of a comprehensive education.

Our Founding

The Phyllis Merritt Singers has a unique and unusual beginning. From 1965-1976, Artistic Director Phyllis Merritt led a nationally and internationally renowned group of high school choral musicians at Escambia High School in Pensacola, FL. Known originally as The Escambia High School Rebelaires, and later renamed The Escambians, this group of highly select vocalists established a standard of excellence in the choral arts that is rarely achieved.

During Phyllis Merritt's tenure at Escambia High School, The Rebelaires/Escambians typically performed 75 concerts per year for a wide variety of civic, charitable, government, military, and fraternal organizations, as well as choral festivals and workshops. They were featured at the 1968 Florida State Convention of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), the 1970 and 1974 ACDA Southern Division conventions, and the 1975 ACDA National convention. They also performed two by-invitation European tours in 1970 and 1973.

The seeds of what would eventually become The Phyllis Merritt Singers were planted during a 2003 Rebelaires/Escambians reunion. These alumni launched the idea of a reunion concert and a call went out across the country for as many alumni as could to come to Pensacola, FL to perform in a Christmas concert later that year

And so on December 23, 2003, Phyllis J. Merritt took the podium to once again conduct the Rebelaires/Escambians in their first concert since 1976. Fifty alumni gathered in Pensacola to perform before an audience of 800 people.

This performance was so well received that additional follow-on performances were planned and presented, and what started out as a casual alumni activity gradually matured into a fully functioning, semi-professional choral arts performing organization.

The Phyllis Merritt Singers Today

Since the original founding of The Phyllis Merritt Singers, the performing membership has been expanded to more fully represent the career and accomplishments of it's artistic director, Phyllis J. Merritt.

After completing her service at Escambia High School, Ms Merritt went on to conduct and teach at Niceville High School in Niceville, FL, where she achieved similar outstanding and noteworthy results with the Niceville Opus One select ensemble. She was also active in church music for a number of years as choir director of Trinity United Methodist Church in Fort Walton Beach. During these years Ms Merritt also had the opportunity to associate with, collaborate with, and mentor a number of other colleagues in the choral arts profession.

Now, in addition to the original Rebelaires/Escambians alumni, the performing membership of The Phyllis Merritt Singers also includes alumni members of Niceville High School's Opus One, selected members of the Trinity Ensemble, and invited conductors and singers who have a prior or existing professional or personal association with Ms Merritt.

Taken together, The Phyllis Merritt Singers is a mosaic representing Ms Merritt's life work, which includes over 40 years of the finest traditions and accomplishments in choral music singing.