A Virginia native, Marques L. A. Garrett (he/him/his) is an Assistant Professor of Music in Choral Activities at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the Glenn Korff School of Music. His responsibilities include conducting the auditioned Chamber Singers and non-auditioned University Chorale (soprano-alto) as well as teaching graduate choral literature. Before earning his PhD in Music Education (Choral Conducting) at Florida State University, he was the Director of Choral Activities at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. Additionally, he holds an MM from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a BA from Hampton University.

An active conductor, Dr. Garrett is the artistic director of the Omaha Symphonic Chorus and founding conductor of the Nebraska Festival Singers. He serves as a guest conductor or clinician with school, church, community, and festival/honor choirs throughout the country. In addition to his conducting classes at UNL, he leads conducting workshops at other universities and conferences. His formal conducting studies were with Dr. André J. Thomas, Dr. Carole J. Ott, Dr. Carl G. Harris, Jr., and Mr. Royzell Dillard.

A versatile voice that performs both as a baritone and countertenor, Dr. Garrett has sung with several community, church, and university groups as both a chorister and soloist. He was the baritone soloist for the Germantown Concert Chorus’s performance of Haydn’s Missa in Angustiis. His premiere as a countertenor in Dan Forrest’s Jubilate Deo served as the work’s European premiere in Limerick, Ireland. Additionally, he performed the role of Lil Lud in Bernstein’s White House Cantata with the Tallahassee Community Chorus. Currently, he sings with First-Plymouth Congregational Church, Festival Singers of Florida, and the Jason Max Ferdinand Singers.

Dr. Garrett is an avid composer of choral and solo-vocal music whose compositions have been performed to acclaim by high school all-state, collegiate, and professional choirs including Seraphic Fire and the Oakwood University Aeolians. GIA Publications, Walton Music, Santa Barbara Music Publishing, Hinshaw Music, G. Schirmer, Beckenhorst Press, and Carus-Verlag have published several of his compositions.

As a researcher, his most advantageous topic is the non-idiomatic choral music of Black composers. His lectures at state and regional conferences of the American Choral Directors Association and at other local and national venues afford him the opportunity to showcase this underrepresented area of music. 

Dr. Garrett holds membership in the American Choral Directors Association; American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers; National Collegiate Choral Organization; and Pi Kappa Lambda. With the National Association of Negro Musicians, he currently serves as the national scholarship chair.

Dr. Nana Wolfe-Hill is Associate Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor at Wingate University where she conducts two treble choirs and teaches choral conducting and music education courses. She is a guest clinician for all-county and all-state choruses, festivals, and summer choir camps throughout North Carolina and is the Repertoire and Resources Chair of Women’s Choirs for the Southern Region of ACDA. She had the privilege of conducting Wingate’s Advanced Treble Ensemble at a recent NC ACDA state convention.

Dr. Wolfe-Hill’s current research and efforts revolve around anti-racism, diversity, inclusion, and equity in music and silenced music of North America. Previous research was published as the chapter “Collaboration and Meaning Making in the Women’s Choral Rehearsal” in The New Handbook of Choral Pedagogy (Oxford University Press, 2017). Prior to her appointment at Wingate University, she was Associate Choral Director at Lakeville High School (Lakeville, MN); a conductor and pianist with the Greensboro Youth Chorus (Greensboro, NC); and Associate Director of Music for Children and Youth at First Presbyterian Church (Greensboro, NC).

She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in choral conducting and a Master of Music in collaborative piano performance from the University of North Carolina–Greensboro, and a Bachelor of Music in vocal music education from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. When not making music or teaching, she enjoys reading, gardening, camping, backpacking, weight lifting, doing yoga, cuddling with her sweet dog, and parenting.