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Vocal Arts Faculty


Matthew BurnsMatthew Burns
Assistant Professor of Voice
mburns5@memphis.edu



cathlinaFrancis Cathlina
Assistant Professor
Director of Choral Activities
francis.cathlina@memphis.edu



FrizzellEmily Frizzell 
Assistant Professor of Music Education, Choral
emily.frizzell@memphis.edu



Stephen KarrStephen Karr
Assistant Professor
Opera Musical Director
sfkarr@memphis.edu



carlos santelliCarlos Enrique Santelli
Assistant Professor of Voice
csntelli@memphis.edu



benBenjamin Smith 
Associate Professor
Stage Director for Opera
bwsmith7@memphis.edu


VillarrealPaulina Villarreal
Assistant Professor of Voice
pvllrral@memphis.edu



wilsonMary Wilson
Associate Professor of Voice
mwlson19@memphis.edu



Recent Research & Creative Activity


2022

  • Mary Wilson, Teaching Fellowship Program advisor and teaching artist at the International Performing Arts Institute in Bavaria Germany every July.
  • Mary Wilson, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park Oratorio Competition for young American singers specializing in oratorio repertoire.
  • Mary Wilson performances.  Handel “Apollo et Daphne” with American Bach Soloists.  Handel “Messiah” with Nashville Symphony.  Beethoven Symphony No. 9 with Pacific Symphony. 

2021

  • Mary Wilson was a soprano soloist for the Whitacre Five Hebrew Lovesongs, Sarasota Ballet.
  • Mary Wilson was awarded University Research Professorship “to acknowledge outstanding contributions to the University’s education, research, outreach and service missions.”

2020

  • Paulina Villarreal was appointed Young Singer's Program Director for the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival.
  • Mary Wilson performed as a soprano soloist for Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis with the  Colorado Symphony.
  • Paulina Villarreal organized and directed "Voces a la Distancia," Northern Mexico's first national virtual voice competition, a part of Cantos para Hermanar al Mundo concert series.
  • Mary Wilson performed as a soprano soloist for Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra.

2019

  • Paulina Villarreal was a mezzo soloist for the world premiere of Mango Suite (Derek Bremel, composer/Sandra Cisneros, poet) with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra.
  • Paulina Vilarreal organized and directed "Cantos para Hermanar al Mundo" 4th concert edition and tour of Coahuila, Mexico.
  • Benjamin Smith founded Memphis Light Opera and oversaw all aspects of its first production, “The Gondoliers.”
  • Mary Wilson was a soprano soloist for Bernstein’s Symphony No. 3 “Kaddish,” with the Nashville Symphony.
  • Benjamin Smith was the Stage Director for “Il tabarro” with the Mobile Opera.