Profiles

Born and raised in Southern California, Mexican-American conductor, pianist, and vocalist Eric D. Reyes seeks to make music that communicates beauty, inspires hope, and fosters unity among people. Since 2020, Reyes has served as assistant professor of music instruction and director of choral activities at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, where he has led ensembles including the Chapel Choir and the College Chorus. Reyes formed a treble voice ensemble at Hope called SPERA and is eager to launch a tenor/bass ensemble named VERITAS. Most recently, Reyes pioneered ¡Canto! A Latinx Vocal Intensive, a program that seeks to equip high school Latinx vocalists with resources to study and perform Latinx vocal music. This project was funded through the Mellon Foundation and done in collaboration with Latin Americans United for Progress (LAUP), Dr. Sarah VandenBrink, and Prof. Christina Krause. Reyes is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in choral conducting at the University of Michigan. As a choral artist, Reyes has sung in various ensembles, including VoxGR and the Holland Bach Society. He has been part of leading groups such as the Southern California Children’s Chorus, the Moody Chorale, the University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club, the University of Michigan Orpheus Singers, the University of Michigan Arts Chorale, and the Community Chorus of Detroit. In 2017, Reyes was one of eight rising conductors selected nationwide to participate in a conducting masterclass led by Ann Howard Jones and Jerry McCoy at the American Choral Directors Association’s national conference in Minneapolis. At the University of Michigan completing his master’s degree in music, Reyes received the Brehm Endowed Fellowship in Choral Conducting. Reyes is grateful for the ceaseless inspiration and encouragement from his wife, soprano Jennie Judd Reyes, as well as his mentors and teachers, including Dr. Eugene Rogers, Dr. Mark Stover, Dr. Xiangtang Hong, and Dr. Jerry Blackstone.