Voices Valiant

Norma Freeman enjoyed a 40-year eclectic K-12 music teaching career in Illinois, Colorado, Texas, and most recently, Michigan, where she served as the director of choral music at Saline High School. Under her direction, the choirs at Saline High School performed at numerous state and national music conferences and were selected by the King Singers to be their demonstration choir at the 2002 NAfME (National Association for Music Education) national conference in Nashville, TN. Norma also directed the Intermediate choral music program at the Interlochen (MI) National Music Camp for 12 years. She has guest conducted, adjudicated and presented workshops in 10 states on choral repertoire, integrated arts curriculum, middle school music, opera education, sight singing, and solo singing in the choir classroom. Norma was a member of the author team for the popular choral textbook series, Experiencing Choral Music (© 2005 Hal Leonard / McGraw-Hill) and is a co-author for the general music resources, Aaron Copland: The Music of an Uncommon Man (© 2012 Hal Leonard) and Cenerentola: A Curriculum Guide (©1993 Dallas Opera). Norma has been honored as the Teacher of the Year by the Michigan NAfME (2002) and MSVMA (Michigan State Vocal Music Association; 2009). In 2017, Norma was overwhelmed to be one of ten national recipients of the Stephen Sondheim / Kennedy Center Inspirational Teacher Award.

Dolly Collins began playing piano at age 4 1/2 in her hometown of Buffalo, New York. Mrs. Collins received a degree in music education from Hartwick College in Oneonta, New York. She has been the organist at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor for 44 years and has taught private piano lessons for 40 years. An eclectic musician, Mrs. Collins played keyboard in the Saline Big Band for over 20 years and also served as business manager for the group. For over 25 years, Dolly has served as the accompanist for the Saline Schools Choral Music Department, accompanying concerts, musicals, dessert cabarets, recitals, and community events. She travels with the choirs for all performances at festivals and invitational events. When not rehearsing daily with the students, Dolly enjoys bird watching and flower gardening.

A two-time Michigan Emmy Award winner, a 2017 Sphinx Medal of Excellence recipient, and a 2015 GRAMMY® Award nominee, Dr. Eugene Rogers is recognized as a leading conductor and pedagogue throughout the United States and abroad. Dr. Rogers is the founding director of EXIGENCE. Recently, he was named as the fifth Artistic Director of the two-time GRAMMY® Award-Winning Ensemble, The Washington Chorus (Washington, D.C.). At the University, Rogers leads the graduate choral conducting program, conducts the chamber choir, and administers the program of over eight choral ensembles. His choirs have toured throughout China, South Africa, the United States, and have appeared at national and regional conferences. In 2016, Rogers’ passion for issues of social justice and music was featured in the award-winning documentary Love, Life and Loss which highlights Joel Thompson’s powerful Seven Last Words of the Unarmed, and in 2013, he co-managed the production of the joint CD Ye Shall Have a Song with the Michigan, Yale, and Harvard Glee Clubs, a collaboration celebrating America’s three oldest collegiate choirs.

Dr. Benjamin Gaughran’s role as a conductor and choral scholar has led him to the University of Michigan (U-M), where he has held multiple positions, including Music Director of Out of the Blue (U-M’s prison outreach choir), Assistant Conductor of the University Choir and Chamber Choir, and Opera Chorus Master in the Voice & Opera Department. He has also been the conductor of the U-M Arts Chorale and Women’s Glee Club, and in 2025, was nominated as an Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor in the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. Today, he serves as Associate Conductor of The Orpheus Singers, Assistant Conductor of the U-M Men’s Glee Club, and Co-Conductor of the University Choir.

Benjamin’s commitment to choral music education extends beyond his work at U-M. In England, he led the music department and choirs at St. Thomas Moore School in London. After moving to the United States, he became the Conductor of the Michigan Youth Chamber Singers and frequently works as a guest conductor and clinician. He is also a sought-after adjudicator for the Michigan Schools Vocal Music Association and collaborates with school choirs across Michigan. In 2025, Benjamin will embark on a new chapter as Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Southern Virginia University, a role he is excited to begin in the autumn.

Community is at the heart of Benjamin’s philosophy, and he is passionate about fostering a space where all singers, regardless of background, can thrive. He currently serves as the Music Director of the Women’s Chamber Chorus in Ann Arbor and Interim Director of Voices Valiant. For the 2024–2025 season, he is also the Lima Symphony Orchestra Chorus Director.

Benjamin’s accolades speak to his dedication and skill: he is a Fellow of the Royal Schools of Music (FRSM) in Choral Conducting, a distinction held by a select few musicians worldwide. He holds a Master of Music (MMus) in Choral Conducting from the University of Michigan and recently completed his Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Conducting under Dr. Eugene Rogers. In 2025, he was named a finalist in The American Prize Dale Warland Award in Conducting. He was also selected as a Fellow in the prestigious Choral-Orchestral Conducting Academy with Chorus America in 2023.

Yet, beyond conducting and academia, Benjamin’s heart lies in the choral traditions of his homeland. In 2024, he secured grants to conduct research into the rich choral heritage of Trinidad and Tobago, a project he hopes will bring the music of the islands into the global choral community.