Hope and Dreams
Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage, Carnegie Hall
DCINY presents the NY premiere of Heather Sorenson's REQUIEM, conducted by the composer. Opposite will feature CHRISTMAS DREAMS led by co-composer/conductor Joseph Martin, Ms. Sorenson at the piano.
Acts
Heather Sorenson, Composer/Conductor
Sorenson: Requiem (NY Premiere)
Joseph M. Martin, Composer/Conductor
Martin & Sorenson: Christmas Dreams
Also Featuring:
Heather Lake Bays, Soloist
Sue Martin, Soloist
Ryan Johnston, Soloist
Layke Jones, Soloist
Participating Groups
Arkansas Delta Choir
Lift Every Voice Choir
First United Methodist Church of Gainesville, FL Requiem Festival Chorus
Trinity York Mills Choir
Trinity Baptist Church, San Antonio
Saint Andrew United Methodist Church Festival Choir
Central Bearden Choir
First Christian Church
Antioch-Lithonia Missionary Baptist Church Choral Ensemble
Newpraise of Smyrna First United Methodist Church
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor CONCERT CHOIR
First United Methodist Church Choir
Pensacola Christian College Chamber Ensemble
Burks UMC Chancel Choir
"Spirit of Praise" Ensemble
Special Guests
Artist's Name
Joseph M. Martin
Artist's Name
Heather Sorenson
Artist's Name
Heather Lake Bays
Artist's Name
Sue Martin
Artist's Name
Ryan Johnston
Artist's Name
Layke JonesPress & Marketing
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Participating Group Directors
Arkansas Delta Choir
Alex Turner
The Arkansas Delta Choir is comprised of individuals from across Northeast Arkansas. The new ensemble, founded in 2022, is excitedly looking forward to creating a rich heritage of music, both Sacred and Secular, to last for generations to come.
Alex Turner, Director of the Arkansas Delta Choir, is currently staff organist at Graham Presbyterian Church and Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, and concurrently serves the Associate for Music Ministries at First Baptist Church in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He is a graduate of Trevecca Nazarene University (B.A., M.A.), and takes great pleasure in teaching music to the next generation of uprising musicians through his piano and organ studio.
Lift Every Voice Choir
Vanessa Todora Crixell
The Lift Every Voice Choir at Abiding Grace Lutheran Church welcomes all who are passionate about praising God through song. An active group for thirteen years, this is the choir's second trip to New York City to perform in a DCINY production!
Vanessa received her bachelor's degree in Choral Music Education from Baylor University. During her time there, she won a National Association of Teachers of Singing competition and toured the country singing with the Baylor A Cappella and Concert Choirs. After graduating, she was a featured soloist at Carnegie Hall. Vanessa has a deep passion for church music, worship arts, and music technology. She has served as Director of Music Ministries at Abiding Grace Lutheran Church for seven years.
First United Methodist Church of Gainesville, FL Requiem Festival Chorus
Michael E. Ekbladh
Our singer's come from the chorus which premiered Requiem on April 23, 2023 at First UMC of Gainesville, Florida. This will be our third performance of Requiem this year, with many more to follow.
It has been a tremendous journey over these past 2 years bringing Requiem into the world. Commissioned by the congregation of First UMC of Gainesville, Florida with hope and light for the world. May the peace and light of Christ be with you during today's performance.
Trinity York Mills Choir
Michael Gomiega
Trinity Choir is a harmonious ensemble that weaves together a tapestry of retirees, students, and dynamic young professionals, including the gifted Trinity House Band. Fueled by an unwavering passion for worship through song, they effortlessly fuse the timeless resonance of traditional hymns with the vivacious melodies of contemporary compositions, bridging generational divides. Guided by their Director of Music Michael Gomiega, their voices meld in perfect harmony, crafting an immersive musical journey that defies limitations. Rooted in their collective dedication to musical worship, Trinity Choir radiates a captivating spirit of unity, where voices blend and ascend, embodying both faith and artistic fervor.
Graduating magna cum laude in Piano Performance from the University of the Immaculate Conception, Philippines, Michael’s roles as an accompanist/repetiteur at the University of Toronto Scarborough encompass contributions to the Concert Choir and Elementary Musicianship Programs. His diverse musical prowess led to a 2019 pianist performance at the Serenade Festival, hosted at the Kennedy Centre. Presently, he holds esteemed positions as Director of Music and Coordinator for Youth and Young Adults at Trinity Presbyterian Church, York Mills. Additionally, he serves as principal accompanist for the Toronto Beaches Children's and Youth Chorus. Michael sees music's power to unite breaths, purpose, and dreams.
Trinity Baptist Church, San Antonio
Jacob Sensenig
The Trinity Baptist Church Chorale has a rich tradition of choral excellence and worship leadership for nearly 75 years. In addition to weekly Sunday morning leadership, the Chorale has traditionally performed several seasonal and special concerts each year presenting a variety of music from classical oratorios and anthem literature to gospel and contemporary worship music.
Jacob Sensenig serves as the Minister of Music and Worship Arts at Trinity Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas. He holds degrees in voice, church music, conducting, and theology from Western Kentucky University, George W. Truett Theological Seminary (M.Div), and Baylor University (MM/PhD). Jacob's doctoral dissertation examines the music and career of Bill Gaither and explores the intersection of Southern Gospel and early Contemporary Christian Music. He is married to Sarah, a fellow pastor, and they are parents to two daughters, Junia and Sophia.
Saint Andrew United Methodist Church Festival Choir
Mark Zwilling
This church choir out of Highlands Ranch, Colorado is one of the finer church choirs in the Denver Area. At its full size it has 150 members. This choir has traveled to the Lincoln Center, Italy, and has previously performed at Carnegie Hall.
Mark Zwilling holds four degrees in music. He has served the St. Andrew congregation for almost 25 years. He oversees a program of 18 choirs and ensembles, which have over 400 participants each week. Mark has accompanied for the National Endowment for the Arts, and maintains an active private studio in piano, voice and organ.
Central Bearden Choir
Mark Groves
The 85+ member Central Bearden Choir leads the congregation and guests of Central Bearden Church (Knoxville) weekly in worship gatherings, and other seasonal events and concerts throughout the year. Members of the choral organization come together for weekly rehearsal, worship leadership, spiritual growth, and community-building. The choir is recognized as a committed group of choral musicians who sing in a variety of musical styles with excellence. Many members of the Central Bearden Choir are current or retired music educators, conductors, and pastoral musicians, singing alongside a host of others who come together for the love of God, and the love of singing.
Mark Groves has served as the Associate Pastor for Worship & the Arts with Central Bearden Church in Knoxville, Tennessee, since 2020. Mark completed the Bachelor of Music degree in church music (conducting) from Oklahoma Baptist University, and the Master of Music degree in music education from Southwestern Seminary. Mark has served churches through the areas of music, worship, arts and communications in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama, Florida, and Tennessee. He is married to Sarah, and the couple has two adult children and one dog residing in Knoxville, and Wheaton, Illinois.
First Christian Church
Connie Herring
The First Christian Church choir in Hampton, Virginia, is a small, but outstanding group of singers who perform weekly during church services. The group is highly devoted to their cause, with several members of the group driving an hour or more one-way each week to rehearsals. The choir has joined with forces with several other local churches to perform Christmas and Easter cantatas for the enjoyment of the local community.
Connie Herring holds a Masters of Music Education degree from Old Dominion University. She was a National Board Certified Music Educator for 28 years and has conducted Elementary Honors Choirs multiple times in Hampton, Virginia. Connie was chosen to be Hampton City Schools Teacher of the Year in 2010 and honored as an Outstanding Music Educator by the Virginia Symphony in 2015. She has been conducting church choirs in Hampton for over 40 years and has sung with the Virginia Choral Society for 35 years. She has been married to Dennis Herring, a 45 year member of the Virginia Symphony, for 46 years. They have three adult children and four grandchildren.
Antioch-Lithonia Missionary Baptist Church Choral Ensemble
James C. Ward
The James C. Ward Choral Ensemble is a group of music lovers invited for the expressed purpose of performing Christmas Dreams at Carnegie Hall. It is composed of members from the five choirs of Antioch-Lithonia Baptist Church and friends in the surrounding community who desire to experience the joy and majesty of performing at Carnegie Hall.
James C. Ward, the Senior Pastor of Antioch-Lithonia Baptist Church, has been a lover of choral music since his early childhood. In addition to his pastoral duties, he directs choirs and composes for holidays and special occasions. He studied music at Morehouse College and sang in its legendary glee club. He is an avid supporter of Maestro Joseph Martin’s Composers’ Seminars and has hosted them several times. Ward collaborated with Maestro Heather Sorenson on five published compositions, four of which were selected to receive the JW Pepper Editors’ Choice Award.
Newpraise of Smyrna First United Methodist Church
Kim Duggins
Newpraise is a vocal ensemble of Smyrna First United Methodist Church in Smyrna, Georgia and led by Kim Duggins.
This multi-generational group has a unique blend of voices who perform varied musical styles with excellence while experiencing the joy of worshiping God through music.
This ensemble thought the years has been invited to perform at events in the Atlanta area, including the 1996 Olympic Games, the Atlanta Braves’ SunTrust Park.
Newpraise has served as guest choir for Heather Sorenson, at Pinelake’s Music Atlanta in 2019, and JW Pepper workshop in Atlanta in 2020.
Through DCINY, Newpraise has performed Ms. Sorenson’s music at Carnegie Hall in 2019, and Lincoln Center in 2022.
NewPraise is honored to be once again to invited to perform in Carnegie Hall to sing Ms. Sorenson’s ,”Requiem”.
Kim Duggins, Director of Music and Fine Arts at First United Methodist Church in Smyrna, Georgia, has had unprecedented success in developing youth and contemporary Christian choirs.
Invited to perform in churches across the United States and Canada, her choirs are open to the community and require neither formal experience nor audition.
Her ability to inspire choir members to lean into their talents and use them to honor God is one of her greatest strengths.
With over thirty -fives years of experience, she is a conference speaker in the area of choir development and has served as a guest conductor to many church and professional conferences
Mrs. Duggins holds a degree in music from Tennessee Technological University. She is married, Jeff Duggins and they have two adult sons, Thomas and Andrew.
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor CONCERT CHOIR
Dr. Michelle Roueché & Dr. Matthew Crosby
The Concert Choir is the primary choral ensemble at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Open to all 3500 students by audition, membership comprises undergraduates from a variety of disciplines including Music, Christian Studies, Nursing, Business, and the Health Sciences. With special emphasis on the great ‘a cappella’ tradition, the choir has performed at the Southwestern ACDA convention, sung for President George W. Bush, and performed in both St. Peter’s Basilica and in the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City.
Michelle Roueché is Professor of Choral Studies at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Choirs under her direction have been invited performers for several Georgia Music Educators conventions, for two Southern Division conventions of the American Choral Directors Association, and also for the Southwestern Division of ACDA. An active clinician and choral arranger, Dr. Roueché is represented by Walton Music and Treble Clef Music Press. Her compositions have been featured at numerous ACDA and All-State conventions, and premiered by choirs across the globe.
Dr. Matthew Crosby is Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Choirs under his direction have toured to Japan, Wales, Spain, Portugal, Canada, and across the United States. A graduate of UMHB, he earned his Master’s degree in Choral Conducting from Westminster Choir College where he studied under Joseph Flummerfelt and was a member of the prestigious Westminster Choir. He recently completed his DMA in Choral Conducting at the University of Arizona where he studied under Dr. Bruce Chamberlain. A gifted pianist, Dr. Crosby enjoys composing and collaborating on recitals
First United Methodist Church Choir
Andrew McCormick
The First United Methodist Church Choir is the primary vocal ensemble for adults at the First United Methodist Church in Lincoln, Maine. Consisting of roughly a dozen members, the choir provides special music weekly for worship services and is also involved in community outreach. The singers enjoy performing works by both Joseph M. Martin and Heather Sorenson and recently presented Sorenson’s "Carols: A Cantata for Congregation and Choir" to the community during the Christmas season. They are thrilled to have this opportunity to travel to New York City and perform at Carnegie Hall.
Andrew McCormick, conductor and pianist, is currently in his eighth year as director of music and worship at the First United Methodist Church in Lincoln, Maine. A native of Lincoln, he now conducts the choir that he grew up singing in. Mr. McCormick received a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from the University of Maine’s School of Performing Arts in 2005 and has worked as a soloist, accompanist, and musical director for community and professional theater productions. He currently operates a private piano studio and is a member of Music Teachers National Association and Maine Music Teachers Association.
Pensacola Christian College Chamber Ensemble
Dr. Cléusia Gonçalves
Pensacola Christian College’s Chamber Ensemble, a small choir of gifted singers, was formed in 1991. They frequently perform for concerts, church programs, and conferences. Their repertoire consists of sacred and Classical selections including masterworks such as Handel’s Messiah, Poulenc’s Gloria, Haydn’s Te Deum, and Bach’s Magnificat.
Since 2015, Dr. Cléusia Gonçalves has served as the music director of this elite ensemble.
Dr. Cléusia Gonçalves was born in Brazil. She has a bachelor’s degree in choral and orchestral conducting from the State University of Campinas (Unicamp), a master’s degree in vocal performance from Pensacola Christian College and a DMA in conducting from Louisiana State University.
Cléusia has served on the music faculty of PCC since 2001 and is the director of Campus Church Rejoice choir since September 2021. She has been frequently invited to perform and teach in workshops and music festivals in Brazil and the US.
Burks UMC Chancel Choir
Alexander Lee Harper
The Burks UMC Chancel Choir is an all-volunteer ensemble focused on leading congregational hymns in worship and presenting anthems and cantatas for special services and occasions. They are accompanied at home by Roy Treiyer and Bradley Bee on piano. The choir is currently looking forward to celebrating the 150th anniversary of their church with joy, grace, and reverence.
Alex Harper hails from Whitwell, TN in the beautiful Sequatchie Valley. He is an alumnus of Berry College where he earned a Bachelor's in Music Performance. He first answered the call to lead worship playing guitar and singing with small group student fellowships, and has grown into a praise band leader and choir director blessed to be able to serve his congregation and the community at large. An accomplished musician on a variety of stringed instruments, he has a special focus on arranging classic hymns and spirituals for contemporary praise bands to carry the churches musical traditions forward.
"Spirit of Praise" Ensemble
Amy Brock
The Christian Academy of Knoxville “Spirit of Praise” Ensemble, out of Knoxville, Tennessee, is an auditioned group of students ranging from ninth through twelfth grade. While the Ensemble performs both spiritual and secular pieces, each student strives to bring glory to God in every note sung and hopes to use their gifts to minister to those who hear them. The Spirit of Praise Ensemble has many opportunities each year to perform in a variety of different ways, singing in local churches, airports and ministries as well as mass choirs and competitions in Chicago, Disney World, NYC and more.
Amy Brock is the director of the Christian Academy of Knoxville’s Spirit of Praise Ensemble. She is the high school director of the Choral and Musical Theater Program, which also includes choir, worship band, guitar, theater/choreography and musical theater. Amy is a graduate of Carson-Newman University with a Bachelors Degree in Vocal Performance and a Masters of Education.
In addition to teaching and directing Amy is active in her community. This includes praise and worship in her church and community musical theater. She had the great honor of being one of the soprano soloists in the Knoxville regional premier of Heather Sorenson’s Requiem.