KATY MCNIFF
​
​
Mrs. McNiff is an award winning educator and guest-clinician, living in the Arizona Sonoran Desert. Locally, she has conducted various community choirs, church choirs and school ensembles.
Mrs. McNiff has taught as a Faculty Associate in Music Education and Student Teaching Supervisor at Arizona State University, where she received the Professor of Impact Award. She is also a former Course Instructor and Ensemble Director at the University of Arizona. She has has led choral ensembles and lecture series in Arizona, Michigan, Oklahoma and California.
Mrs. McNiff is a former Mentor Music Teacher in Arizona public and charter schools. A dedicated Church Musician, she is currently the Interim Director of Music at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church of Oro Valley, Arizona. In the past, she has held Music Directorship positions at the Church of the Painted Hills United Church of Christ in Tucson, Mountain Vista Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Christ Presbyterian Church in Tucson and serving our military families at Christ the King Catholic Church on the Davis Monthan Air Force Base.
​
She is the Founder and Artistic Director of Audivi Vocem Choral Summer Institute LLC, a summer choral festival with two locations serving Arizona, presenting undergraduate students with the opportunity to conduct in masterclass and performance settings. As a classical performer, Mrs. McNiff has joined ensembles with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Kings Singers, and was a vocalist for the Grammy Nominated Orestian Trilogy with the University Musical Society.
​
Mrs. McNiff has completed her Doctoral Residency in Music Education at Arizona State University. She holds Masters Degrees in Choral Conducting from the University of Arizona, in Music Education from Arizona State University and in History from Southern New Hampshire University. She also holds Bachelor Degrees in Musicology and Voice from the University of Michigan and has studied Medieval Musicology at St Peters College, Oxford University.
​
​​
​​​​​
"Music which is appealing in it's simplicity yet has just enough moments of operatic flourish to entertain the audience"
-Lousiville Public Radio
-Review of Thomas Street Opera
-Conducted by Katy McNiff
​
​"Multi-talented and has demonstrated a strong understanding of primary aged children's physical and mental abilities, and thoughtful reflection in the interaction with children. She is highly respected and appreciated for this dedication."​
-Dr. Joan Ashcraft, Director
Fine and Performing Arts
Tucson Unified School District
​
​
"Mrs. McNiff 's fine choral background, allows her to bring strong and creative ideas to her endeavors. Mrs. McNiff's drive, focus, warm good humor, dedication, and boundless energy was terrific in every way."​
-Dr. Jerry Blackstone, PE
University of Michigan, SMTD
​
​
"Mrs. McNiff possesses an incredibly diverse and dynamic skill set. Perhaps most unique of all is her ability to utilize the lens of a human and an educator, always asking: What is
the best for my student’s experience? Mrs. McNiff seeks to create whole human beings who are curious about the world and are empowered to be able to seek answers for themselves."
​ -Mx. Kimberly Waigwa
Gala Choruses, Minneapolis
ACDA DEI Initiative
​
​
​"Students became composers under her care and were able to shine. She was able to target learners with special needs through individualized focus and support. Mrs. McNiff goes the extra mile to make sure everyone has an equal opportunity to learn and access the material."
​ -Mrs. Christine Cassell
Arts Integration Specialist
Tucson Unified School District