Phyllis J. Merritt - Musican, Educator, Mentor, and Friend
Phyllis J. Merritt is known for her continuous drive toward excellence in
the choral art. She has served as conductor for over 50 Honor Choirs and
All-State Choruses, as well as, clinician, adjudicator, guest faculty member
and master teacher throughout Florida and the Southern, Southwestern and
Mid-Atlantic States.
Choirs under her direction � including the Escambia High School Rebelaires and Escambians (Pensacola, FL), the Singers and Opus One from
Niceville High School (Niceville, FL) and the Trinity United Methodist
Church Trinity Ensemble (Fort Walton Beach, FL) � have presented concerts
before the Florida State Convention of the American Choral Directors
Association (1968, 1980, 1989, 1993), the Southern Division of ACDA (1970,
1974, 1984) and the National Convention of ACDA (1975). Additional
celebrated concerts were presented for the Institute of European Studies
Tour (1970), International Association for Cultural Exchange Tour (The
Festival of Three Cities - 1973), Florida Youth Chorale European Tour
(1979), Young American Choral Festival (Pasadena, CA - 1985) and the Big
Apple Choral Festival (New York City - 1986).
Ms. Merritt has served the choral profession in leadership capacities as
President and District Chairman of the Florida Vocal Association, President,
Treasurer and Convention Program Chair for the Southern Division of ACDA,
and President of the Florida Chapter of the ACDA. She has presented interest
sessions at National and Divisional Conventions of ACDA concerning the
Adolescent Male Singer, Quality Literature for the Show Choir, Survival of
the Experienced Choral Director and Music of Contemporary American
Composers.
Honors from her profession include Teacher of the Year at Escambia High, Meigs Junior High and Niceville High Schools, as well as, Escambia and
Okaloosa Counties. Ms. Merritt received the Florida ACDA Wayne Hugoboom
Distinguished Service Award in 1989, the East Tennessee State University
1990 Distinguished Alumna in the Arts Award, and in 2000 was presented the
ACDA Southern Division Award for Excellence in the Choral Art.
A veteran music educator, Ms. Merritt has experience at the elementary,
junior high, and senior high school levels. She has served as a church
musician in Elizabethton, TN, and in Pensacola, Valparaiso and Fort Walton
Beach, FL. Ms. Merritt received the Bachelor of Science in Music Education
from East Tennessee State University and the Master of Music Education from
The Florida State University