Professor John M. Erwin began his work with the Arkansas Chamber Singers in October 1999. He was raised and educated in Arkansas, earning a Bachelor of Music Education from Arkansas State University in 1967 where he was named Outstanding Graduate of the University. Serving as a Teaching Assistant to the choral director Alfred Skoog, he recieved his Master of Music Education from Arkansas State University in 1968. Studies at other institutions include A.B.D. for Doctor of Musical of Arts, University of Illinois, and graduate work at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Erwin has also studied with Paul Hillier, Robert Shaw, Frieder Bernius, Harold Decker, Weston Noble, Alfred Skoog, and Howard Swan.

John Erwin is the Director of Choral Music at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway where he conducts the UCA Concert Choir and the UCA Chamber Singers. Under his direction, they each have earned national and international recognition for their excellence. In February 2005, the UCA Concert Choir performed at the national convention of the American Choral Directors Association in the Walt Disney Philharmonic Hall in Los Angeles. In 2004 the UCA Concert Choir was a finalist in the Riva del Garda International Choral competition and recieved two gold certificate awards in both secular and sacred categories.