BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dr. Cari Earnhart serves as Director of Choral Activities and Chair of the School of Music at California State University, Fresno, where she conducts the university’s premier choral ensembles and teaches graduate conducting courses. Under her leadership, the Fresno State Choirs have earned national recognition, including performances at the California All-State Music Educators Conference (CASMEC) and the Library of Congress in honor of U.S. Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera. In 2024, Dr. Earnhart made her Carnegie Hall conducting debut with National Concerts.

An active conductor, clinician, and adjudicator, Dr. Earnhart has worked extensively with choirs throughout the United States and internationally. She previously served as Director of Choral Activities at the American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates and as Artistic Director of Nassim al Saba, specializing in Arabic choral repertoire. Her international collaborations include conducting engagements in Hungary, Türkiye, and Italy.

Dr. Earnhart regularly presents lectures and workshops on Arabic choral music, conducting, and vocal pedagogy, reflecting her commitment to artistic excellence, cultural exchange, and the transformative power of choral music.

She remains actively engaged in professional leadership at the regional and national levels. Dr. Earnhart has served on the ACDA Western Region Board since 2016 and is currently President-Elect. She has held leadership roles for multiple ACDA regional and national conferences, including Interest Session Chair for the 2027 ACDA National Conference. In California, she serves as Education and Student Outreach Director for the California Choral Directors Association (CCDA) and currently serves as Past President of the Fresno-Madera Counties Music Educators Association.

Dr. Earnhart holds Bachelor’s and Master of Music degrees in Vocal Performance and Vocal Pedagogy from Oklahoma State University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from the University of North Texas, where she also completed related field studies in Vocal Pedagogy. Before joining the faculty at Fresno State, she taught in a wide range of educational settings, including Middle School (TX), Oklahoma Panhandle State University, Oklahoma State University, the University of North Texas, BT Müzik Evi in Istanbul, and the American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.