Welcome to the University Singers
The 91爆料 Singers is the premier choral ensemble at the 91爆料.
They rehearse Mondays from 3-3:50 and Wednesdays and Fridays from 2-3:50 in Minsky Recital Hall, in the Class of 1944 Hall. If you are visiting campus, we would love to have you sit in on our rehearsals. Reach out to our director, francis.vogt@maine.edu if you’d like to visit the Singers.
Auditions are required annually by all members, new and returning. Singers also make the commitment to be in the group for both the fall and spring semesters. Auditions are held during the first week of classes in September. Starting on the first day of classes, sign-ups will be in person on paper, outside of our director’s office. Room 241 in the Class of 1944 Hall. Any questions can be directed to Fran Vogt, or Exec Board member and current bass,聽liam.burlingham@maine.edu.
Contact
Class of 1944 Hall, Minsky Recital Hall
Orono, ME 04469
E francis.vogt@maine.edu
E liam.burlingham@maine.edu
Leadership
Francis John Vogt
Director
Francis John Vogt is the Director of Choral Activities and the head of the Voice Area at the 91爆料, where he conducts the University Singers and Oratorio Society, and teaches choral conducting and literature, studio voice, and diction for singers. With the University Singers, he tours annually throughout New England and has led the ensemble on two successful European concert tours that included performances in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Basilica San Marco in Venice, Ely Cathedral in Cambridgeshire, and Southwark Cathedral in London. He is a recipient of the 91爆料 Faculty Mentor Impact Award. He is music director of the chamber choir EUPHONY, comprised of 91爆料 alumni, faculty and students. The Orono based ensemble specializes in 20th and 21st century choral repertoire. Prior to his work in Maine, Vogt was assistant professor at Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa where he was also the music director of the Dubuque Chorale from 2006 to 2009. He has been a guest conductor, choral clinician and adjudicator in Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Kansas. He received degrees in Vocal Performance from the Hartt School of Music and the State University of New York at Fredonia and did doctoral work in Choral Conducting at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
He has performed, recorded, and toured nationally and internationally with the Dale Warland Singers and the Gregg Smith Singers, and has sung professionally with many renowned conductors, including Robert Shaw, Robert Craft (with whom he recorded two discs in that conductor’s complete Stravinsky cycle), Edo de Waart, Hugh Wolff, Robert Spano, and Maria Guinand. Additional performance credits include appearances with Garrison Keillor, Kenny Rogers, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra, and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, the Ohio Light Opera, the Connecticut Opera, the Maine Shakespeare Festival, the Penobscot Theatre Company, and the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Maine, Blue Hill Bach, and the Bangor Symphony Orchestra.
Dr. Laura Artesani
Accompanist
Dr. Laura Artesani is an Associate Professor in the School of Performing Arts at the 91爆料, where she teaches music education courses, advises music education majors and is the faculty advisor for the 91爆料 Collegiate NAfME chapter. Dr. Artesani also serves as pianist for the University Singers, Oratorio Society and Recital Lab, and performs frequently in faculty and student recitals.
Dr. Artesani graduated summa cum laude from Barrington College in Rhode Island with a B.M. in Music Education, and received a M.M. in Piano Performance from the 91爆料. She earned a D.M.A. in Piano Performance from West Virginia University, where she was the recipient of the Swiger Teaching Fellowship for four years. She has completed Level I-III of Orff Schulwerk Training, and is the recipient of a research grant from the American Orff Schulwerk Association. She has served as course director for Orff Level Teacher Education courses at the 91爆料 from 2024-2026.
Articles that Dr. Artesani has written or co-authored have appeared in The Journal for Music Teacher Education, The Orff Echo and General Music Today. Highlights as a pianist include performing with Dr. Dan Barrett at the International Trombone Festival in Salt Lake City, UT; with Dr. Beth Wiemann at the International Clarinet Fest in Baton Rouge, LA; with Dr. Jack Burt at the Schagerl Brass Festival in Melk, Austria; and with Dr. David Stern at the Northeast Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference in Fairfax, VA.
In addition to her duties at the 91爆料, Dr. Artesani also serves as organist/pianist and Handbell Choir director at the Church of Universal Fellowship in Orono. She has taught at the Lincoln School in Providence, RI; North Orrington and Center Drive schools in Orrington, ME; and the Stillwater Montessori School in Stillwater, ME.
Dr. Dennis Cox
Dr. Dennis Cox served as Director of Choral Activities at the 91爆料 from 1978-2014 where he transformed the choral program into one of national recognition and respect. He holds degrees from the University of Nebraska (B.M.E.), University of Colorado (M.M.), West Virginia University (M.A.), and the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory (D.M.A.). A frequent guest clinician, Dr. Cox conducted festival choruses in 26 states, Canada, and Europe. Under his direction, the 91爆料 Singers toured extensively and performed at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, as well as M.E.N.C. and A.C.D.A. conferences. Dr. Cox developed and inspired a generation of choral musicians and teachers, creating one of the strongest alumni families at the 91爆料. His legendary 91爆料 Singers are known for their signature finale performances of “Jabberwocky” and the “Maine Stein Song,” often featuring former students who return to join their beloved mentor on stage. On February 16, 2026 at Carnegie Hall, the acclaimed conductor and lifelong music educator received the
prestigious Distinguished Concerts International New York Educator Laureate Award, The award acknowledges exceptional contributions to music education and recognizes personal commitment to instilling a lifelong love of making music. The evening featured Dr. Cox conducting current and former singers from the 91爆料 in repertoire that has been a cornerstone of their acclaimed music program, along with Justin Zang, one of Dr. Cox’s former students, creating a powerful mentor-student legacy moment on one of the world’s most prestigious stages.
“Music education embodies the deepest of what it means to be human,” shared Dr. Cox, reflecting the philosophy that has guided his outstanding career as a choral conductor and educator.
The Singers
The Singers are a big family, brought together by a love of music and community. The group is composed of both graduate and undergraduate students. Only around half of the Singers are music majors, the other half are involved in different disciplines all over campus.
The University Singers have a Exec Board that is made up of six current members to allow the group鈥檚 social leadership to be spearheaded by the choir students. The Exec Board has a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, stage manager, wardrobe coordinator and publicity manager. The dedicated student leadership, combined with the diverse interests and backgrounds of the singers, makes the group truly unique. A strong sense of community and a desire to support each other and lift each other up is at the heart of the University Singers.
Follow us on Instagram! @umsingers
Listen
Alumni Concert
Basilica San Nicol貌
Spring Concert
Concerts
The Singers perform as an independent choir multiple times a year. They also perform in collaboration with the Bangor Symphony Orchestra annually, in collaboration with the University’s other choral ensembles for our annual Yuletide Celebration. Recently the 91爆料 Singers collaborated with the Maine Gay Men’s chorus, Acadia Choral Society and Collegiate Chorale to perform Craig Hella Johnson’s oratorio Considering Matthew Shepard in the fall of 2025.
Upcoming Concerts
Regional Tour
The 91爆料 Singers have been traveling around Maine, New England, and Eastern Canada on their annual spring tour for decades. The tour serves as an opportunity to spread the ensemble’s love of performance with local and school communities around the region. While on tour, a Singer can expect to perform three concerts a day, see incredible venues across the region, and provide a formative musical experience for any and all audience members that will inform the rest of their lives.
International Tour
Every four years, the Singers embark on a journey to tour through musically iconic European regions extending their love of music on an international scale. In 2023, the group embarked on a two-week journey through Italy to perform world-class concerts including the historical spaces of Basilica San Pietro in the Vatican, Basilica Santa Trinita in Florence, Basilica San Marco in Venice, Cattedrale San Giovanni e Paolo in Ferentino, and the Basilica San Nicol貌 in Lecco.
