Gwinnett Young Singers
Faculty and Staff

Lynn Urda, Conductor & Music Director

Lynn Urda founded the Gwinnett Young Singers organization in 1990. Under her leadership and direction, the group has grown from one choir of thirty-four children to an organization of five choirs representing seven counties throughout the metro Atlanta area. She continues to serve as full-time Conductor and Music Director of the Gwinnett Young Singers and maintains an active schedule as a guest clinician, conductor, and adjudicator for All-State and Honors Choirs, choral festivals, and workshops for youth and their conductors. Her career in music began when she was seventeen years old, directing children’s choirs in her hometown church of Bartow, Florida. She has continuously distinguished herself for her unique ways of achieving excellence in choral blend, intonation, and sensitive singing.

Mrs. Urda holds a degree in Music Education and Voice from Florida State University School of Music. She has been a Music Specialist in the Georgia and Massachusetts public schools and has spent most of her professional life serving as a church musician, directing children, youth, and adult choirs. She holds membership in Chorister's Guild, The National Association for Music Education (MENC), Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) and the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), for which she has previously served as Repertoire and Standards Chair for Children's Choirs for the Georgia division of ACDA.

She currently serves as Director of Youth & Children’s Choirs at Tucker United Methodist Church.

Phillip Shoultz, Director of Voice Education & Georgia Young Men’s Ensemble

G. Phillip Shoultz, III, is an accomplished conductor, educator, vocalist, and speaker. He is widely known for his creative rehearsal methodology and ability to inspire singers of all ages and abilities. In 2007 he established the Georgia Young Men’s Ensemble, dedicated to the development and singing in adolescent and teenage males. Mr. Shoultz is a three-time public school Teacher of the Year, two-time ACDA National Student Conducting Competition Semi-Finalist, and has studied music at the University of Georgia and Georgia State University, receiving degrees Magna Cum Laude with High Honors. Additionally, he has pursued post-graduate studies through the Choral Music Experience Institute and the Voice Care Network, where he now serves as a Mentoring Program. Mr. Shoultz frequently appears as a guest clinician for a variety of All-State and Honor Choirs, summer camps, and conferences throughout the country. He adjudicates solo and choral festivals and serves as guest voice educator to many schools, churches, and community organizations.

Mr. Shoultz currently serves as Director of Music Ministries at Druid Hills Presbyterian Church in Atlanta. He is also the Director and Conductor of the Gwinnett Choral Guild, an adult community chorus.