Cyril A. Myers, Jr.

Cyril Myers, Jr., singer, choral director, and saxophonist, is a visiting instructor in choral studies, music education, and aural skills at Indiana University-Purdue University in Fort Wayne, Indiana, a position he has held since 2008. A graduate of Andrews Academy and Andrews University, where he was a scholarship student and completed a B.Mus. in vocal performance in 1991, Myers received an M.Mus. in choral conducting from Western Michigan University in 1999 and a D.M.A. in choral conducting at Michigan State University, where he was a graduate teaching assistant in the choral program.

Since completing his undergraduate degree at AU, Myers has taught music at Mile High Academy in Denver, Colorado; Battle Creek Academy in Michigan; Harris Junior Academy and Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton, Oregon; Dakota Adventist Academy in North Dakota; and Walla Walla College, now University. Starting in 1987, he has also worked extensively in church music in a variety of roles.

While pursuing his master's degree at WMU, he was a Thurgood Marshall Graduate Teaching Assistant and was chosen as an honorary speaker for WMU’s 1996 Diversity Day activities. He worked as music director in the university's theater department while a student and following graduation returned to serve as music director for WMU's 1999 Christmas Review, 'Tis the Season, and a 2001 production of Archie and Mehitabel by George Kleinsinger. While a student at WMU, Myers also conducted a twenty-voice ensemble, the Westersingers, and served as assistant conductor when the WMU chorus performed in Carnegie Hall in 1997.

As a graduate teaching assistant for Charles K. Smith, Director of Choral Studies at MSU, he has taught undergraduate conducting classes, was director of the opera chorus for a production of La Traviata in 1999, and assisted as needed with other aspects of the choral program. He has studied at MSU under Smith and Jonathan Reed, who teaches conducting and choral techniques and methods.

Myers was invited to sing in the world premiere of Appomattox by Phillip Glass, which was presented in October 2007 by the San Francisco Opera. He has been a member of the Male Ensemble Northwest since 2004 and is a singer in the 54-voice professional choir, conducted by Helmuth Rilling, at the Oregon Bach Festival.

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Sources: Cyril A. Myers resume and cover letter, 11 April 2001; Indiana University-Purdue University in Fort Wayne website; Heidi Shoemaker, "A New Song in the Air at DAA," Mid-America Outlook, August 2006; Lake Union Herald, February 1995, 16; Lake union Herald, July 2012, 26.