Aside from his birth in Hawaii and the short time he spent in the tropical paradise as an infant, Shawn Cullen has never lived outside Tucson.
He’s a product of Tucson Unified schools and the University of Arizona, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
But this summer, he’s packing his bags and heading to Kansas City, Missouri, after accepting a doctoral fellowship at the Conservatory of Music and Dance at The University of Missouri-Kansas City.
“This is a big step for me. I’m a Tucson boy; I know every street by name,” said Cullen, artistic director/conductor of Reveille Men’s Chorus and Desert Voices Chorus. “Now it’s time to experience life in a big city and experience living in cold weather.”
Cullen, 36, will leave his positions at both choruses after their seasons end early this summer.
Meanwhile, the two groups this week jointly launched a national search to find a full-time music director that will split their time between the twin Gay and Lesbian Association choruses, Cullen said.
Reveille is a men’s choir and Desert Voices, which bills itself as LGBTQ, is a mixed voice choir.
Cullen has led Reveille for eight years and Desert Voices for three.
Among the highlights of his tenures: performing with Tucson Symphony Orchestra in the TSO’s 2013 “Broadway Rocks!” concert — the first ever LGBTQ chorus to perform with a professional orchestra in Arizona — and growing Desert Voices’ ranks from 22 singers to 60.
In addition to working with the choruses, Cullen has spent the past dozen years teaching music in TUSD schools and conducts musicals for the UA’s Arizona Repertory Theater including the upcoming production of “Evita.”
He said he plans to pursue a doctoral degree in music education and wants to work with and mentor young teachers as they are entering the field.
