Education
- D.M.A., Doctor of Musical Arts, University of North Texas, 2021
- M.M., Master of Music, Michigan State University, 2019
- B.M.E., Bachelor of Music Education, Baylor University, 2014
Biography
Francis Cathlina, D.M.A. (he/him) is a Vietnamese-American conductor and educator. His concerts invite audiences into a world where choral artistry becomes a powerful storytelling medium.
Dr. Cathlina serves as the Director of Choral Activities at the University of Memphis, where he guides the Choral Area, leads the MM/DMA Choral Conducting program, and conducts the University Singers. Under his direction, the UofM University Singers have been invited to perform at national conferences and released their debut album, Between Love and Law, with PARMA Recordings in October 2026. His creative work has been recognized with the 2025 Dean’s Award for Creative Achievement and 2026 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Engaged Scholarship.
Dr. Cathlina’s teaching develops masterful musicians and responsible citizens. Four of his six doctoral students now hold university faculty positions, including appointments as Directors of Choral Activities. Beyond his institution, conducting honor choirs remains his most cherished creative work: diverse individuals converging in pursuit of a singular artistic vision. Upcoming All-State engagements take him to New Jersey, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Virginia.
A Yamaha “40 Under 40” educator, Cathlina’s work consistently bridges pedagogy with cultural exchange. In 2025, he served as the Choral Conducting Faculty for Brazil’s FIMUS Festival and worked in the Philippines as part of ACDA’s International Conductors Exchange Program. His international work has taken him to China, Canada, and Greece, with upcoming engagements in London and Sweden.
An authority on vocal pedagogy, Cathlina's research focuses on choral tone and conducting gesture. He is published in international journals. He has delivered 88 peer-reviewed presentations, with recent appearances at the World Symposium on Choral Music (Macau, China) and as a headline clinician for the Alabama and Ohio choral conferences.
Dr. Cathlina earned a DMA in Conducting with a Vocal Pedagogy cognate from the University of North Texas, an MM from Michigan State University, and a BME from Baylor University. Before his doctorate, he taught in Texas public schools.
In concert, Cathlina wears an áo dài, traditional Vietnamese formalwear. For him, it is more than concert attire: it honors his heritage while making visible a cultural identity still rarely represented in the choral field.
Beyond the podium, he is a pickleball athlete, coach, and ambassador. He lives in Memphis, Tennessee, with his husband Kyle and their dog, Coco. www.franciscathlina.com