Staff

Artistic Staff

Matthew Abernathy

Artistic Director

American conductor Matthew Abernathy’s refined musicianship, impassioned performances, and collaborative leadership are establishing him as a young choral and orchestral conductor of note. He is currently the Artistic Director of the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay - Principal Chorus of The Florida Orchestra and Visiting Director of Choral Studies at the University of Tampa.

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Matthew Ferrell

Assistant Conductor

Dr. Matthew Ferrell is a seasoned choral conductor with over 22 years of experience teaching high school and college choirs. Renowned for his international performances with the St. Cloud State University Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, he has also contributed significantly to community choral organizations like the Master Chorale of South Florida and Great River Chorale. With a deep understanding of choral music and conducting techniques, Dr. Ferrell has been recognized for his excellence in the field. He completed his Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting at the University of Miami under the mentorship of Jo-Michael Scheibe.

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Rodney Shores

Principal Accompanist

Originally from Greensboro, NC, Rodney Shores is the Principal Accompanist for The Master Chorale, a music educator, performer, choral conductor, clinician, and lecturer who also specializes in the history of Christian worship and liturgy. With more than 28 years of teaching experience at the elementary, middle/high-school, and university levels, he currently serves as Lecturer in Music and Instructor of Voice at the University of Tampa (UT), where he also conducts the University Concert Chorus. Rodney also conducts Serata, an advanced high-school men’s chorus, as part of Tampa Bay’s Lumina Youth Choirs.

Rodney holds the Master of Music degree and the advanced graduate certificate in piano performance and pedagogy from the University of South Florida, where he also completed all coursework for a master’s degree in choral conducting. He holds a doctorate in historical and applied liturgics from the Webber Institute for Worship Studies.

Administrative Staff

Nate Hettinger

Executive Director

Nate Hettinger has proven to be a constant advocate for community arts engagement and music education for all ages. His passion for creating multi-generational music opportunities has led to service in non-profit organizations, higher education, and public education. Most recently, Nate served as Artistic Director of the Mississippi Chorus in Jackson, Mississippi. He led the symphonic chorus in large choral-orchestral works and facilitated collaborations with many of the area's schools and arts organizations. Prior to this, he served on the music faculty of his alma mater, Morningside University, where he conducted choirs, orchestras, and opera productions while coordinating performing arts recruitment.